Organizing & Archiving​

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Treat your family photos and papers well, so they last as long as possible. 

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Archiving means different things to different people. For anyone serious about preserving their family materials, then professional-grade (like in a museum or library) archival materials should be used. That means acid-free folders and boxes, mylar sleeves for photos, and other specialized storage materials. Scanning materials is a part of archiving. 

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The process of archiving automatically means organizing the materials. Even if you don't want to use professional-grade storage materials, it's still worth it to organize and label photos and other materials. It's amazing what you'll find along the way. It's also an opportunity to cull some materials that don't need to be kept.

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Not sure where to start? Download our free Ultimate Guide to Archiving.

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Organizing your family history documents can be a motivating activity to launch other family history projects. For people working on their memoirs, it's a great way to remember their own story. When focused on others, it's a way to honor their memory. 

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Tip: there is no point in keeping family history objects if they're slowly deteriorating in boxes. Newspaper clippings are especially treacherous as they can damage the materials they touch!

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If you need help assessing whether you want to archive or organize your family materials, please give us a call at (215) 645-7766.