White Gloves

[Sue Mackay]

I want to get myself a pair of white gloves for handling old documents, but am not sure what type I need to get or where I get them from. Any ideas?

[Mutley]

There is some useful information here
http://www.conservationregister.com/familydocuments.asp?id=4

Surgical/latex gloves can be bought quite cheaply, often online from stationery companies like Viking Direct.

[Penny Gallo]

Your hands can end up quite sticky with latex gloves. You can get white cotton gloves from some posher department stores as apparently (!) some people use them for housework. I always use these for handling textiles, so I don't know if they would be acceptable for paper - the only problem might be that they are not quite as delicate as latex.

[Bo Peep]

I want to get myself a pair of white gloves for handling old documents, but am not sure what type I need to get or where I get them from. Any ideas?

I did have a few pairs hanging around here. I will see if I can find a pair for you. They are the type recommended by County Record Offices,

[Ron Leech]

Hope this is permitted!

At one of last years family tree exhibitions a firm whose web site is arcare.com was handing out white cotton gloves.

[Lesley Robertson]

I want to get myself a pair of white gloves for handling old documents, but am not sure what type I need to get or where I get them from. Any ideas?


I got mine from a photographic shop (a proper one that sells darkroom supplies, not an instant picture place). I also usually carry thin latex gloves because with very fragile paper, I think they're easier to use - I get them from Gamma (our local giant DY emporium), but some archives worry about chemicals from the latex.
The ones I get supplied with at work for the little Archive I run are now off-white, apparently they're using unbleached cotton (which seems like a good idea). I've no idea who sells them - mine come from the University's Museum of Technology.
Lesley

[Sue Mackay]

Thanks all. I don't think I could use surgical gloves - my hands would sweat too much using them all day. I spend the day at Kew periodically photographing BMDs and other announcements from original early 19th century South African newspapers. These come in huge old binders with three years' worth of papers, and I am never asked to use anything other than wedge supports for the binders. Sometimes, however, it is difficult to turn the pages one by one, and I really have to concentrate hard on not licking a finger! I think cotton gloves might be the answer.

[Geoffers]

I think cotton gloves might be the answer.

I use white cotton gloves and fine them perfect - just make sure that they are washed and well-rinsed occasionally.

[Copper]

I have to use cotton gloves inside rubber gloves as my hands are allergic to rubber. I buy my white cotton gloves from Boots but other chemists might stock them.

[Colin Moretti]

If they're for use at Kew, ask at the document issuing area, they keep them under the counter (in the Map Reading Room, at least) - I was issued with a pair there to keep me clean, I was looking at Chancery records and they were filthy :eek:

Colin

[NickM]

There is some useful information here
http://www.conservationregister.com/familydocuments.asp?id=4

Surgical/latex gloves can be bought quite cheaply, often online from stationery companies like Viking Direct.

You shouldn't really use latex gloves, because some people are allergic to latex, and although the allergy is quite rare, it can be strong enough to kill, so it's not worth taking the risk. Ask for nitrile gloves, not latex. These don't cause allergic reactions, and they are not so sticky. Just Google "Nitrile gloves" for suppliers.

You can buy researchers cotton gloves from conservation-by-design - cost £10 to £13 for 10.

[Astoria]

Hairdressers suppliers also supply non-latex gloves for hairdressers who are allergic to latex or para dyes. They are of good quality and come in different sizes, usually in boxes of a hundred, they are quite reasonably priced too.