How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn How to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia and Genealogy Records; by Denise May Levenick; 207 pp; Published: 2012; ISBN#: 9781440322235; Item #: FC01

Archiving valuables and keepsakes is a perpetual problem for the family historian. This may be even more true for the family member who is not a "genealogists" or "family historian" but finds themselves the keeper of the family's history and heirlooms. Important questions arise, such as the following:

• What should I actually archive?
• Should I archive actual document and photographs, turn paper into a digital collections, or both?
• What is the best process for each?
• What else can I do with all this stuff?
• How do I organize documents, keepsakes, computer files, and heirlooms?
• How do I care for heirlooms, such as jewelry, dolls, medals and ribbons, and more?

All of these difficult questions, and more, are addresses in Denise May Levenick's book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn how to preserve family photos, memorabilia, & genealogy records. This new books seems to just about cover it all, while remaining relatively short, concise, yet, informative.

The book is comprised of 16 chapters organized into three sections. The first section helps you organize, prepare, and properly archive all your family's treasures. Here you will learn to evaluate the value of what you have on hand and determine not only how to preserve these items, but to give consideration to long term storage or even donating items of historical significance.

The second section will help you evaluate and digitize your paper collections, and to manage your computer files. This does not mean you should plan on throwing away mountains of paper. You may be able to toss your own print out, but original documents and photos still have value. Digitizing simply provides a back up to these originals, as well as a means of sharing.

The final section is for the working genealogist or avid family historian. Here the author helps you learn to organize and improve your own files. Looking at area like improved citation, saving time and money, and organizing your software, you can learn to prepare you contributions to the family's history, so when you pass it on it is ready for the next generation to move forward and not rework it all.

Contents

• Introduction
• Part 1: I Inherited Grandma's Stuff, Now What?
• Chapter 1 Organize Your Objectives
• Checkpoint 1: Organize Your Objectives
• Chapter 2 Organize Your Plan
• Checkpoint 2: Set Your Goals and Timeline
• Checkpoint 3: Inventory Your Archive
• Checkpoint 4: Order Your Storage Supplies
• Chapter 3 Organize Your Assistance From Family Members
• Checkpoint 5: Enlist Assistance
• Chapter 4 Organize Your Archive
• Checkpoint 6: Sort and Organize Your Archive
• Checkpoint 7: Catalog Your Archive
• Checkpoint 8: Find a Home for Your Archive
• Chapter 5 Organize for the Future
• Checkpoint 9: Donate Your Family Archive

• Checkpoint 10: Plan Your Legacy
• Chapter 6 Organize Archival Papers
• Chapter 7 Organize Archival Photos
• Chapter 8 Organize Artifacts
• Part 2: Break the Paper Habit
• Chapter 9 Organize and Digitize Your Paper Documents
• It's not practical to eliminate all paper files, but going digital saves storage space and search time. This chapter shows you how to move toward a paperless genealogy office step by step, from scanning to storage.
• Chapter 10 Digitize Your Family Archive
• Digital copies preserve heirloom originals and give you a working copy for research and creative projects. This chapter presents sample workflows to help you safely create digital copies of archive materials.
• Chapter 11 Organize Your Paper Files
• Do you feel buried in a mountain of genealogy papers? This chapter offers practical ideas for a personalized filing system to suit your research style and experience.
• Chapter 12 Organize Your Computer
• Your computer can be a top-notch filing clerk and research assistant with strategies in this chapter for a consistent file-naming system, simple folder structure, and scheduled backup plan.
• Part 3: Root Your Research in Strategies for Success
• Chapter 13 Organize Your Research
• Productive research begins with organized research methods. This chapter outlines effective research strategies with step-by-step ideas, case study examples, and helpful resource checklists.
• Chapter 14 Organize Your Source Citations
• Without proof, there is no truth. This chapter offers an overview of effective citation styles and helpful checklists for citing your archival materials.
• Chapter 15 Organize Your Software Solutions
• Technology can advance your genealogy research by saving time and effort. This chapter will help you discover useful services to fit your needs, both web-based and on your computer.
• Chapter 16 Organize and Discover Research Connections Online
• Social media services, blogs, forums, and List-SERVs can help you find family and break down brick walls. Use the tips in this chapter to expand your genealogy reach.
• Conclusion
• Index