Creating Family Archives

Detailing Dad’s Life Story

Detailing Dad’s Life Story

“I wish I'd asked Dad while he was around.”

Far too often, my clients tell me that they regret not interviewing their father about his life story as they create their family archives.

For this Father’s Day, why not conduct an oral history interview of your father? You’ll not only create a memory, but you will capture stories for the next generation

How to Preserve Polaroids

How to Preserve Polaroids

I was given a Polaroid camera when I was a teenager that I loved. I liked the look of the photos and the ability to have photos developed instantly. In the course of creating my family archives, I found many of those old photographs and wondered what was the best way to preserve them.

What Does "Archival Quality" Mean?

What Does "Archival Quality" Mean?

When you are creating your family archives, you will most likely have to rehouse your family treasures in suitable storage containers, such as folders, enclosures, and boxes. These items are often described as “archival” or “archival quality” by their manufacturers, but these terms convey no specifics about their preservation use.

Stop Damaging Your Family Photos and Learn to Protect Them

Stop Damaging Your Family Photos and Learn to Protect Them

An essential part of your family heritage is in danger of being lost, and yet few are aware of it.

Most of us have family albums in our possession. They are a wonderful way to reconnect with the past. You would think that storing photos in albums would be the safest way to protect them.

Jumpstart Your Family Archives Project with a Free Download

Jumpstart Your Family Archives Project with a Free Download

Many of us organize a lifelong collection of personal papers and photos either when we have free time, such as in retirement, or when we have to deal with the belongings of a someone who has passed away. Often the project seems daunting because we don’t know where to begin.

Once you jump over that mental hurdle, you will be amazed at what you discover.

Copyright Fundamentals for Family Historians

Copyright Fundamentals for Family Historians

It may seem as though you wouldn’t have to worry about copyright issues when you are creating family history projects. If you have original diaries, photos, and letters in your possession, you might also think that you own the rights to them, especially if they are old. However, even though you may own the physical materials, the author of the documents retains their legal copyright, sometimes for much longer than you would assume.