What To Do With Old Journals or Diaries - Tips to Preserve History

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

What To Do When Genealogy Research All Done? 👉🏼 kzbin.info/www/bejne/poTbmGClr8SAiMk

[@mysmithfamilyvideos]

When my mom passed in 2010 we found close to a 1,000 letters that my grandmother had recieved in her life time from her sisters, brothers and friends (1919 to late 1970's). Including letters from her boyfriends. It took almost a decade to scan and transcribe them. I've compiled about 800 of them into two books. The last 200 were written by my mother from mainly 1960 to the early 1980's. I'm still trying to think of the best way to handle them because they deal with my brothers and sister as we grew up.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

That's awesome. I'll be sharing part two on Thursday on our second channel about things to do with the letters but it looks like you might have taught the lesson instead of me. What To Do With Old Family Letters? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKuXd6xqqpySrbM

[@mysmithfamilyvideos]

@@FamilyHistoryFanatics I'll be watching. I just hope I did it the best way.

[@prye1]

From: Just the Tiff Member (2 years) ​Another tip on finding a place to scan books is to check if your library has a large bed scanner. One of the libraries here actually has a top down scanner. It is great because you don't damage it. Doesn't damage the book bindings.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks Patricia for posting her comment from the chat.

[@mamakatz]

Great tips. I bought archival tissue when I found out about it. I have been wrapping things in it that I have gotten from family members. I then put it in a box and add an index card with what's in the box. I do need something to help preserve an area rug that was in my paternal great grandfather's office.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Rugs! That's a huge challenge. Good luck.

[@jaymm165]

Great tips. I'm the family archivist and have a diary written in 1900 by a school teacher on our famioy farm before a school nearby was possible, plus many my father wrote at his farm in the 1980s, 1990s. We have scanned some. I've wrapped them in pvc free freezer bags with a label on the outside, but I should get them boxed. For now they are all in a large plastic container in my office. I also need to decide what should happen to them later. You've inspired me to get to it.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

My pleasure to inspire you. Good luck. Then tell me what you decide.

[@staceycoates1418]

This has been very helpful. I just spent three hours in my church vault researching the old books on who joined and was baptized, ect.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

I'm so happy to help with tips. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@Jan-xp8yi]

Some counties have digital projects that preserve such collections. Watauga County NC library has Digital Watauga. You can look at their collections online!

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Way cool. Thanks for sharing!!!

[@godisloveireland]

Great tips! I need some cardboard type boxes to fit a diary

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

You'll find so many online that ship to Ireland. Good luck.

[@SalonBarbette]

Great information. And, I hope it helps gets your husband out of the doghouse, too. LOL

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

Thanks for commenting and watching. I'll forgive him this time. ;)

[@robinbond7878]

Since most schools have removed cursive from their curriculum sadly, future generations will find it difficult to read these family treasures. They will also not be able to read our founding documents, with will be more problematic, as over time, as those of us that can read it are gone, it can be changed over time to say anything that someone with their own agenda would like it to. I love old diaries. Several of my Great aunts publish theirs. Family history is very important.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

The inability to read the 'previous script' is not new in history. Many Chinese people can't read the previous generation's script. But, yes, we should transcribe the documents so others can read them.

[@robinbond7878]

Yes, and I am encouraging my children to teach their children cursive so that they will not have to have anything transcribed for them but also so that they can be the transcribers. I did enjoy your video. My cousin ( second) was our family geologist. She kept all of our family documents including b & d certificates, land deeds, copies of DD 214’s newspaper clippings etc. Before she died, she put them all into a book and made copies for anyone in our family that wanted one. I had it copied on to a CD rom. She spent hours and hours doing this. I am very grateful to her.

[@sharonmitchell4814]

I read a comment posted by Ancestry facebook group saying that USB Thumbdrives are not stable devices. I gave digital copies of 20 years of childhood photos to my daughters 2 years ago. Now I am worried that I should have done something different.

[@FamilyHistoryFanatics]

It's 'good enough' for now. However, it's time to start looking for additional digital storage options.

[@mysmithfamilyvideos]

I use an external hard drive for records. A 2 TB is under a $100 and is portable so when I visit family I can share the latest additions.