perserving old papers - kind of off-topic

"Because you scrapbook you can take the big box of family photos" said my mother many years ago when my parents moved. So I'm in custody of photos, documents, bibles, a quilt. (And I'm the one who has no children to pass this stuff on to)

Anyway, for the documents, bible and the quilt I originally bought the acid-free boxes from Michael's and had them stored each in its own box. Then I was given an archival project for work because I scrapbook. After a bit of internet research I found a local camera shop that sold museum quality archival items. After my work project I changed the family stuff to museum quality boxes.

For your project, see if there is a local to you place that sells archival items. If not you can order boxes and tissue paper from Uline. I would sort the items by branch of the family tree and pack them in boxes with the tissue paper between each item and label each item on the outside of the box.

ETA: For newspaper clippings you can get clear AF envelopes, or folders. So future generations can see the clipping but don't have to handle it. Also depending on how old you may want to use 100% cotton gloves to handle the items. I had to that with my work project.

ETA 2 :  I bought the archival spray mentioned by workingclassdog, but I never used it. Oops!

Yes, funny. Especially since I'm a DIGI scrapper! LOL!

Definitely to each their own on how to save original documents... some are like me and some go the distance... in either case both ways work out.  Good luck!!

I've bought storage items from this company: before www.pfile.com/

The crazy thing about the stuffing things randomly into drawers method is, while it makes it a pain to find and isn't very reliable for keeping things safe, a lot of it still survives - it's amazing! I think the key is keeping things out of sunlight and avoiding too much finger touching (unless the things are better used and enjoyed rather than preserved for posterity - depends on what it is). Although some archives prefer not to have people wear gloves because you lose dexterity if you can't feel your fingers and can actually do more damage from clumsiness than the finger oils would do.

I did a local history project with the library where volunteers had clipped newspaper stories and put them in basic cardboard boxes to save for future filing. Some of the newspapers were from 1942 and even earlier and no one had quite managed to do anything with them. They were a bit brittle and discolored, but they survived, even with such minimal care. The bits that didn't survive were the folds. So I would advise laying things flat wherever possible, or having the creases in places where information won't be lost, and then leaving stuff alone in a closed box, pref an acid free box.

Sorting and cataloguing, adding notes about WHY this stuff is important, is probably more valuable to the future/family than anything else. And the work you're already doing scanning and sharing

I always photo copy newspaper clippings using the color option as I don't think the archival mist stuff works so great.

i was the family genialogist too all my life. it was great fun. i love it. i have a heritage challenge at scrapbook.com for years you are welcome to use it mi have monthly ideas but you never need to use them. i love scanning old photos & stuff I use the oriuginals photos and stuff to scrap here is the challenge you can check it out

Those mists are temporary acid-killers but they don't go to the core of the issue which is the actual paper, most of which is not 100% cotton but cheap tree pulp. You cannot save tree pulp forever. You can't even save wood forever. It will degrade. The idea is to block the amount of acid circulating between the different documents you're preserving using individual protective layers and an acid-free archival box. 

Linda if there are some very important documents and the acid-free page protectors aren't giving the documents enough support (physically) because they've started to degrade, look into something called polyester envelopes. They are more expensive but they give more support, won't damage or discolour your documents. 

Final basic advice: avoid touching documents with your hands. The natural oils are terrible for old documents. Wear gloves if possible or wash your hands just before (and dry them carefully with a clean towel) and lay out your documents on a completely clean surface. 

i read somewhere that the sprays people used ..you need to do it again

Yes, because they're buffers, only a temporary solution to a long-term and unavoidable problem of wood pulp products.   The danger is integral to the paper itself, and every treatment or handling increases the risk of damage.