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Do you want to learn how to preserve your family photos, papers and other heirlooms? The book, How to Archive Family Keepsakes by Denise May Levenick and published by Family Tree Books in September 2012 will help you do that, step by step.
In Part One, Denise covers a multitude of topics relevant to anyone who has inherited a family archive of any size: establishing your goals and plans, proper care and storage, sorting, organizing, cataloging, and planning for the future of your archive. She discusses step by step procedures related to family papers, photos and artifacts. This book is something I could have used several years ago when I inherited my family’s pictures, papers, and other materials. It would have saved hours of research. Now I’m happy to have a comprehensive resource for the ongoing process of organizing the family archive.
Digitizing your archive and organizing the resulting digital files is covered in Part Two. Denise thoroughly discusses file types, naming techniques, organizational structures for computer files, metadata, and much more. She does it in an easy to understand way. Whether you are technically challenged or not, you will find this section useful.
Part Three was a surprise. Denise moves beyond family papers and pictures to cover genealogical research topics. From systems to organize your research, organizing source citations to software and the online world, she tackles many issues researchers face. Beginners and experts alike with learn something.
Throughout the book, forms and checklists are presented. At the end of each chapter, Denise presents a list of additional resources pertinent to the topic discussed.
About the only thing not covered in How to Archive Family Keepsakes is the topic of organizing DNA results.
This book is a comprehensive resource for the family historian who wants to organize and preserve their family photos, documents, and heirlooms. The family history researcher will discover that current topics for organization are thoroughly discussed. For a 199 page book, an immense amount of material is well covered in an easy to follow format.
Disclaimer: I was not asked to write this article nor was I compensated in any way. I purchased a copy of How to Archive Family Keepsakes the day it came out because of my own personal interest and experiences with the subject.
Disclosure: The In-Depth Genealogist uses Amazon Affiliate links. If you purchase through the link above IDG will receive a (small) percentage as an affiliate. Support your In-Depth Genealogist and purchase through us!
© Michelle Goodrum 2012
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I am looking forward to reading part 2 and seeing how she organizes all of her digital files. I have developed a successful system for new photos I take, but all of the images I scan are a bit more difficult.
Hi Seth,
Even though I have a digital organizing system I’m pretty happy with, I keep referring back to Part 2 and have several pages bookmarked. Good luck organizing your digital files.