Archiving Your Typewritten Work

Typewriter Video Series Episode 307. Joe offers thoughts on mixing various sized sheets of paper into one archiving system.

[@eternalmiasma5586]

My brother has a friend in college who used a type writer but obviously all the work is submitted digitally so he set up a camera above his type writer that just detects what he types and automatically transfers it to a google dock so he has a physical and digital copy. Gotta love engineering students

[@shehuehue]

His love for typewriting certainly is admirable

[@gmgrecords3436]

I would love to make a similar contraption if you have any info?

[@kdietz65]

This gives me an idea. I have 35 years worth of handwritten spiral notebooks that I want to archive to document my life. Most of it is just junk though ... to do lists and random scribbles that make no sense to anyone, but there are occasional legit journal entries and such that have archival value. The notebooks are all different sizes and styles, and its too much bulk to keep all of it. I want to go through all the notebooks, separate the bindings, throw out the junk, date stamp the remaining, and rebind it all into a common size. This method might work for me. Thanks.

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

I bought a box of large coils online for coil binding. I take 4 or 5 notebooks of information, remove the wire coil, and put the used pages into one coil bound book. The holes in standard cheap notebooks are all the same. I also bought clear plastic front covers and black back covers that are really cheap online. I have a coil binding punch machine that a relative gave me, so I can punch the covers. Since I have the punch, I can also coil bind computer printouts, such as important reference books that are easier to use in hard copy than on the computer screen.

[@JessicaFEREM]

The thing that often gets thrown out is the "junk" but that's also super important for archivists, like what was going through these people's minds.

[@kdietz65]

@@JessicaFEREM Agreed. You never know when some brain fart scribbled hastily into the margin is going to become historically significant.

[@douglasjackson9058]

I use a 3 hole punch and a 3 ring binder. I only type on 8 1/2"x11" paper. I use the junk mail that comes in the mail everyday!Endless free supply. One side advertising,bills,etc other side is blank,and generally high grade paper.

[@JessicaFEREM]

Cant forget the barbarian method, just using a 3 ring hole punch and punching 2 holes instead of 3.

[@thethriftyfawn]

Just when you think there's no other way to archive paper, Joe Van Cleave figures out another one! The person who finds your stash 150 years from now is in for a treat Joe! And awwwwww, the comb binding! Never knew what that was called! My award winning stories and illustrations from childhood are in those! (my writing skills at age 9 and 10 make me feel so rusty now lol)

[@maryannemoll]

I like this a lot. I really also like seing different sized papers inside a single loose-leaf volume. I think it’s adorable, as if it’s chaotic, but actually isn’t. And your explanation about linear access and random access is very insightful. I never thought of it that way.

[@JessicaFEREM]

If you're gonna use the A5 3 ring binders, you can easily stick the paper sideways and make a whole punch of hole punch strips and tape them there.

[@jamdiversified9698]

Love this idea. Space and material efficient whilst also creating a sub level of organisation within a folder! Also, cutting, punching, sticking and organising bits of paper is simply satisfying for me.

[@anetakowalska2556]

I am fascinated by your films, they draw me into the atmosphere that I love. Paper, ink, machine hammers, I love and fully share. I would love to see a video in which you show your place to write, organize it, even the contents of drawers. The atmosphere in which you write. I'm looking for inspiration and I'm in the process of creating my place.

[@l00t3R]

So why not just get a two hole punch? And a two ring binder. I know you can get them. I have one.

[@jordanibarra9211]

I actually tape the paper before I hole punch it to reinforce the holes.

[@_landro_1092]

But why didn't you set the margins so that there'e enough space for hole punching? Also on the right to make notes or editing markups? Anyway, I do think, that a half size sheet would easily hold with two holes punched in a three hole binder. Fun fact: In Germany we do have 😀 Lochverstärkungsringe 😀 so make even very thin paper hold in German standard two hole binders like those from Leitz or Herlitz.

[@ZCJKF13GDG4]

If you being old timey anyway just keep a fireplace you can throw the papers into after you're done mashing on the keys

[@beebot]

I have one word - well.. two words... "Spring Binders". Never have to punch a page again. Pricey, but neat. In many ways your system does work better haha - but I still love my spring binders.

[@joaoalbertodosanjosgomes1536]

Another very interesting video.👍. Congratulations (to you).

[@Slig1977]

Wow I'm getting so many smart new ideas from both Joe and the people here in the comment section. I like to use random generators from sites like springhole to help with my creative writing. I'll cycle through them on my phone and if I read something I like, I'll type it on a notecard in my typewriter. I've got a color code system I'm working on to stay organized. Anyway, great video Joe! You've got a new subscriber.

[@Lesliemcconnell]

Just watched again to take some detail down. The thought hit me, do you make an Index for each binder, like a separate beginning page with key words or topics in Alpha order and across from the word a date or page number (…. In the spirit of what you were saying about being able to find something) ?

[@sistergoldenhair0727]

Fantastic idea about pasting smaller paper to normal sized paper!

[@Lesliemcconnell]

Kevin just know that if your note pages are 2 sided, the over page 2 text will be slightly covered by the 3:hole flap. If you are working in single typewritten pages you will be fine.

[@freddales8697]

Thanks! Also, that Greek yoga pun made me laugh 😊

[@VOIDVIDS]

this is so rad

[@AtelierDBurgoyne]

That makes a lot of sense. The little details re where to put tape are important. I have been trying to use letter-size folded in half, to make a page 5.5" by 8.5" standing vertically in the typewriter with the fold on the right hand side. This has the benefit of having a backup sheet attached. Then I use the other side if needed for a second page or save it for the next time I type, being careful to orient it the same way up. Daniel

[@lgerback34]

I found a hand operated comb binding machine at a junk store for $9. I love it.

[@typewritermuse]

This solves so muchh in my life. Thanks for sharing Joe

[@loveisall5520]

What a cute little Olympia! I have a Baby, a Rocket but also the Olympia SF. BTW I have well over 10K typewritten pages I've written over the years stored on digital media. Otherwise my study would be crammed with notebook after notebook...

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

Don't ever dispose of original analog media, as electronic files can become unreadable by newer software over time. I had a great graphics software back in the Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 era that can't be read by another software. To rescue those files, I had to download software to make a virtual computer in memory and load it with Windows XP and then my old graphics software. Can you tell I never throw anything away? This goes double for music tapes, video tapes, and photos. A digital copy might not be very good quality, but a better quality might be available years later.

[@joeycredible]

Thanks for this useful video.

[@kdietz65]

How about this idea ... take a bound Moleskine notebook. Number all the pages. Then, carefully cut the pages out of the binding and separate the signature pages. Do all your typing on the pages in sequential order. When finished, sew the signature pages back together and glue it all back into the binding.

[@katherinehall1967]

Good idea. Also, Leuchtturm 1917 books are already prenumbered and have front blank index pages.

[@thethomasraymond]

Instead of 3 hole binders I have been using 26 holes or 30 hole binders. It helps by putting less pressure on the ring where it rips. MUJI has many great options and they are now becoming standardised. I have A5, B5 and A4. They also come in lined and clear. It's a great system for me, its changed everything moving to loose leaf from a bound notebook system. Great video Joe.

[@Joe_VanCleave]

Their binders look interesting, but I don’t see any paper punches for the ring system.

[@skywatcher5725]

I admire that you are so organized..

[@CDash162]

I love this archiving idea. I'm going to try that. 👍

[@MillyToast]

I love this method. I will definitely try this. Just a bit worried about the sellotape though because it goes brittle with age and detaches.

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

Modern "magic" clear tape from Scotch lasts much longer than the old original Scotch tape. Also, if it detaches, you can just put a new piece of tape on.

[@deeman1643]

thank you

[@michaelbrown5044]

Thanks!

[@tracyclark7560]

Cool

[@bletheringfool]

This is great if you want to type on random sized paper. I've found various sheets I'm going to experiment with

[@LuisBorba]

Another great, informative video, Joe. Thank you.

[@iLVCA]

Always nice videos Joe BUT more paper (recycled) and less plastic Joe!!! Use paper folder with rings stop plastic! And I prefer to not make holes in my writings. I use (paper) boxes divided per writing type. Sometimes acid free and anti molding paper for archive purposes. But in anycase I use paper boxes with anti mold solutions and keep them in a cool dry places all the time. Paper boxes (reuse those from online purchases or supermarkets) different sizes and easy to categorize. Keep it simple Joe paper boxes divided per writing. easy free and most of all are made in from paper! No holes no other materials. Hope it helps change your mind to start avoiding using plastic and other stuff that are not friendly. Tape (plastic) also the 3M after some ten years were out and they don't stick anymore. Double work. So keep it simple keep it paper! Luca Facchini Studio

[@Lesliemcconnell]

As usual, I enjoyed your practical idea especially since it comes at the perfect time. I have kept journals since age 18 and I am now 68. Those are all in hard cover lined journals of cursive script reflecting my love of fountain pens. In the past two years I have entered the typosphere. I had not used a typewriter since my mom’s Royal in university. So I have been typing on half sized sheets and pasting the entries into the journals which are becoming quite swollen. So I shall emulate your three ring suggestion and add in case of fire or disaster, I shall scan first to my journal file in Dropbox for backup. Thank you Joe, I love the idea of being able to pick up the book/ binder and flip through actual pages. I shall combine handwritten with typewritten, as I go through phases where my pens and inks cry out for attention.

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

Just a little tip. Dropbox and other online places are there at the whim of their corporations, and your files may be deleted with little or no notice. You need to save those files on your own hard drives or flash drives, and make multiple backups so they will never go away. I have never lost a computer file since I got my first PC in 1989. But the MySpace account was deleted when they changed their business plan, things I posted on CompuServe are gone, and my very first website is gone from Earthlink.

[@georgegonzalez-rivas3787]

Meh. Use the Notes app in your iPhone to convert your typed pages into a pdf.

[@CDash162]

This is kinda a niche thing George. These people type up their work and archive them to be read many years into the future. I've done the iPhone notes thing and personally I prefer to hang with this guy. He's different and interesting.

[@georgegonzalez-rivas3787]

@@CDash162 You're welcome to do whatever you like. Buy typing on paper and leaving it there, as a relic, is not for me. I got my first typewriter to be able to write in a secluded cabin without power. KNowing that I could scan the text and then keep working on it in my computer. This makes my vintage typewriters active parts of a professional writing system -- not a hobby. They are a great way to 'text dump" because I'm not distracted by the need to correct spelling/grammar or reformat --- all that comes in later drafts.

[@bletheringfool]

@@georgegonzalez-rivas3787 alright mate

[@bite-sizedshorts9635]

But are you sure you'll be able to read those ancient PDF files in 40 years? I have graphics files that can only be read by the original software, and that software will only run on the original operating system. It's better to have hard copies, as you don't need a device and electricity to read them. I have everything I've written in the last 50+ years in hard copy. Of course I have scanned versions just so they'll be handy when I'm sitting at my desk working on my computer. And almost everyone I know of has lost their precious cellphone multiple times.