Archive Treasures &
How to Look After Them
P Michell. 2015
updating Oct 2023 - in process.
Need: ‘glad’ bags, A4 protectors, pencil, digital camera / phone)
We all have ‘treasures’ hidden put away for a ‘rainy day’ work. Below is some handy guides to assist in dealing with these special heirlooms. They may be photographs, objects, paper, ephemeral (medals, etc.) and so on.
Some of these have links which should be clickable.
Preparation:
Purpose of your treasures – custodian / story telling / further research / amplifying knowledge / joy /
Third generation of research (1, 3, 5 etc)
Overview – assess what have you got. Document at this stage.
Management.
May need assistance, technology – camera, classes, etc.
Computer vs paper.
Computer (Mac environment better) / Ipad
Simple and free – spreadsheet – Excel / Numbers
Tapforms – simple database (tapforms.com – approx $45)
Mac Family Tree (approx $50)
Get a 1Tb hard drive backup for your project (approx $100)
Be professional – back up regularly. (back up, back up and back again)
Paper
Hardbound book.
Softbound for ALL notes. (Exercise books is good for this.)
- Who is going to do it? Self / Professional / Friend or Relative.
- Costs – sadly yes. Not horrendous or ongoing if you DIY.
- Read about others experience.
- Take your time. But … don’t dawdle.
- Recommend – a day or ½ day / week for the project. That way things will get done. Don’t go too crazy or it will consume you! Anything not done can wait til next work time.
- Digitise everything pics, slides, etc . (Unfortunately this is a process that may have to be repeated over time.) Do so at highest level possible. Storage is cheap.
- Identify, identify, identify – draw little pictures with names on back of photos with soft 2B pencil.
- B & W photos generally stable. Colour not. Prioritise colour.
- Identify – dates, people, location, special events
- Storage location – dark, cool & stable – not near sun
- Summarise / document family with treasures.
- Why are some things important. Context.
- Collocation – sometimes things that are jumbled randomly together may be a reason for this. If separating – document what was together! Could be very useful later.