Creating my own archive
I have become/am becoming the receiver of a family history collection covering multiple generations, back to civil war photos, of multiple family collections. These include many many journals, news clippings, letters collections, family letter chains, loose unlabeled photos, albums, mission paraphernalia, certificates of all types, ... I need information on how to organize these things so they can be located when needed. Fileing in a simple timeline isn't going to work. Scanning everything is preposterous. Is there a resource that can teach me how to Archive?
Best Answer
-
Where do I start looking for textbooks on Collections Management?
I would start at the reference desk of a local public library, especially the main branch, else the nearest college or university library.
0
Answers
-
Wow! It sounds like you have some really great collections from your family. That can be a lot of work. Unfortunately, FamilySearch doesn't provide any programs that would organize all of that info. We do have memories where you can add them to the individual people or add them to your Gallery, but beyond that, FamilySearch doesn't have a tool that you might be able to use for that.
Two suggestions I have are:
1 - RootsTech.org has many wonderful classes on every aspect of Family History. You can go to Sessions and then type in a search word like "organize" and it will show you all of the classes for that topic. RootsTech is a wonderful tool for learning and for finding resources that can help
2 - FamilySearch has a Solutions Gallery. Within the Solutions Gallery, you can find other companies/apps that work well with FamilySearch. Solutions Gallery link can be found at the very bottom of each page in FamilySearch.
Best wishes as you continue to gather and organize your family's historical records.
2 -
Plan with the end in mind.
What happens to the collection after you pass away? Is there a younger family member who wants it? Or a local historical society with good collections management? Or a university or state manuscripts library?
Once you identify a repository or recipient, consult with them about the most useful way for you to organize the collection now.
There are numerous textbooks and courses on the topic of collections management.
1 -
Dear Dontiknowyou, :)
Collections Management sounds like a very useful phrase.
As for who to pass it on to... I'm only 45. My aunt (76) who currently owns the collections and has all the information and names stored in her head, is entirely physically disabled and cannot do anything with the items and has no physical ability to document her knowledge on her own. That's why the stories, names, and items are trickling their way down to me.
My goal is to make as much of this stuff as possible available to the 5/6 generations of family currently connected to these people. I'm trying to scan things and transcribe letters and attach things to memories, and I've had some great success stories, but it's still very overwhelming.
Where do I start looking for textbooks on Collections Management?
0
