How to Archive Your Family History Documents, Photos, & Artifacts

[@TanyaRadic]

every family needs a family historian and preservationalist. We all need to know our orgins.

[@suellenw561]

When my husband's uncle died, I inherited all his genealogy research. His widow & 4 children all said it would be thrown away if I didn't take it. We bought 2 - 18 gal totes to bring it home in. I wrote to Find-a-grave to have his memorials transferred to me. They did. However, someone else had posted his memorial before I thought about it. I wrote that person at least twice but never heard back. It took several communications with FAG before I was able to get the transfer. Their policies had changed & *I* was not a close relative even tho I had been given the other memorials. I finally realized I could ask his oldest son to open an account, have his Dad's memorial transferred to him & then he would transfer it to me. When I told FAG that, I soon had his memorial. Sometimes, we need to work around the "rules."

[@shannonsteeves2989]

Great show! So much valuable information.😊

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@marilynnelson5496]

Thank you for featuring this great topic. I appreciate the tips!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thanks Marilyn!

[@darlenesye1609]

I Am Really convinced a family member couple related to Melissa were neighbors of mine. I'm going to contact Melissa about that. Related to her or not, I'm remembering the day when I moved into that house December 23, 1992. Pauline brought us a crock full of DE-licious green beans and if I remember correctly, a pan of cornbread. She brought them just in case I was too tired to cook dinner that day. I Had planned on being prepared to be too tired to cook a stovetop dinner but that 'dinner' was going to be some of those Maruchan Instant soups in a cup.

[@GenealogyTV]

Yum Cornbread!

[@patricianazareth7351]

Excellent video, so many important tips for preservation..

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you Patricia

[@glallison1]

Thank you, Connie, thank you, Melissa! Great info!

[@GenealogyTV]

Glad it was helpful!

[@suellenw561]

The archival sponge that was referred to sounds like the cleaning sponge I bought at a paint store. It has a slightly sticky feel to it but that seems to come from the sponge itself not from something added to it. I use it after sanding to remove the last little bit of dust. I had to check about 10 places to find one. Is this basically the same thing?

[@lisasunderman7737]

Great information, thank you for all the tips!

[@GenealogyTV]

Thank you Lisa.

[@rosannelytle6428]

Thank you for this information, now I have to find out how to preserve my grandfathers ribbons that his horses won at state fairs.

[@GenealogyTV]

Interesting. Do you want store them or display them?

[@sl5311]

This video was great but it made me sad. I am older adopted man and my adoptive aunt (mother's sister) grabbed a lot of the family heirlooms after my a-mom died. My adoptive sister grabbed anything else. Essentially I have nothing of my adoptive family to remember them by. And because I have Mormon genes, I am the family historian. But after all of this, it feels is like I never existed. Adoption feels great to everyone, but at the end, you find out you really weren't part of the family like you thought. I have a wife and a son, but they aren't historian types.

[@GenealogyTV]

I'm so sorry. Have you reached out to family to see if you can get copies of photos ? Also, try searching in yearbooks for photos of your family. You might find them there. Also, I did an episode about 10 Places to Find Photos of your Ancestors. kzbin.info/www/bejne/haObfYdmqtqEb5o Just know that you do exist. We hear you. Good luck in your search. I wish you well.

[@unapologeticallyme8513]

Thank you so much this helped me alot with ideas on how to store my family trinkets and documents

[@GenealogyTV]

You are so welcome!

[@shirleyaustin681]

Wonderful information. Thank you so much! 😉

[@GenealogyTV]

You are so welcome!

[@chieffamilygenealogyoffice621]

I almost didn’t watch this episode but am glad I did.- I have 2 scrap books that a friend of my mothers put together for me in the mid to late 50’s. Will take pics of the pages and then hit Gaylord for boxes...!

[@GenealogyTV]

Well I'm glad you watched too! Enjoy.

[@donnatotten5854]

I purchased archival cardboard boxes to archive old baby clothes and letters. I have recently found a mouse has been living in the box. We live in the country so mice are common. Any suggestions on how to keep the boxes secure from mice? I have them stored off the floor on metal shelves in a downstairs closet.

[@GenealogyTV]

Plastic boxes with lids are harder for mice to eat.

[@donnatotten5854]

@@GenealogyTV Found Gaylord has some Polypropylene storage boxes. I think the problem is the handhold cutouts on each side of the box which allows mice to enter the box.

[@sumandas8399]

Can I use tracing paper for archival work?

[@GenealogyTV]

Only if it is acid free.

[@sumandas8399]

@@GenealogyTV thanks a lot!

[@lonestarladytyler1980]

Love your videos! So informative! Question for you - is there a way to share photos with others when they are not part of your family and you don't have enough information to find the right family for them? My husband's great-grandfather left some photos that must be friends or neighbors, could be distant family, I suppose. There are 3 or 4 really nice photos that have a name, (e.g. Mr. Flemons and family) but no other information. Just wondering if you might know how to connect them to people. I would hate to throw them out when someone might really appreciate having them. Thanks, Kathy Tyler

[@GenealogyTV]

Oh please don't throw them out. I have a couple of ideas. I started a Facebook groups for different branches of my family, invited them and then shared short stories, but always with photos. Many times I shared images that I didn't know who they were and sometimes the family could identify them. You may also do the same on Pinterest or Flickr. You could also go to this family in your tree (if you're on Ancestry), and select the closest person in your tree that you know is from this family, click through to their profile, then click Member Connect and find others working on the same person. Then reach out to them or invite them to your new Facebook Group. Here is a video I did about Member Connect. Please don't throw them away.

[@lonestarladytyler1980]

@@GenealogyTV Thank you! I'll work on it.

[@fishinwidow35]

@@lonestarladytyler1980 Family Treasures Found fb group

[@marthacollins2672]

I just found this posting. I come to Tyler Tx a couple of times a month. If you still have old photos without a home, I would like to help, if there is anything I can do. I am my family's genealogist in my genera

[@marthacollins2672]

I hit the wrong button... I have plenty of my own projects to work on, but would be happy to help some if you need a fresh set of eyes.

[@marlorenee4193]

I've never seen anything like this. I wonder if y'all have my wedding video? By chance. 😂 Doubt it. I lost it. I have no idea where it went. I suspect it was in a DVD case that was donated or a DVD player that was given away. I still hope that one day I will magically come across it.

[@GenealogyTV]

I hear you! I’m missing a family heirlooms that I too hope magically appears some day. Lost it in a move.

[@xmc7189]

Misplacing items is a common problem of you're forgetfull. It happens to me often🙈

[@cjrwars]

Do you have anyone that you know or have worked with that did personalized bibles using archival paper ? I want to start a family bible and am hoping someone is already doing work to preserve the writing in them.

[@GenealogyTV]

See if this helps How to Preserve Old Photos and Scrapbooks: The Archive Lady - Melissa Barker kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2Lai4KsqqyngdU

[@schadesloth7933]

Some great tips here. I know from personal experience how important it is to keep photos in a cool, dry place as several of my family photos have been lost to or damaged by damp. Melissa has an awesome job!

[@GenealogyTV]

I agree. Melissa is awesome. 👏 👏

[@TanyaRadic]

Method of organization? By person? Classification?

[@GenealogyTV]

By person

[@fishinwidow35]

We use those soot sponges to clean antique bisque dolls

[@fishinwidow35]

One thing you did miss, my grandmother put many of her photos in those photo albums with the sticky pages and they need to be removed. I'm at a loss.

[@GenealogyTV]

I'm checking with Melissa on this one.

[@fishinwidow35]

@@GenealogyTV Thank you.