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MEMORY PRESERVATION

© Christine Sievers

I was confronted with the necessity of giving advice to a beginner. That is when I began to think about the need to preserve the family heirlooms - from newspaper clippings to wedding dresses. I realized many genealogists, including myself, put off the proper preservation of these items.

I began searching the Internet for advice and places I could buy the archival material I needed. Here is some of the results of what I found.

Some good advice and tips sites:

AIC Caring for Your Treasures - The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic works provides advice from protecting paintings to textiles. Their first article, kCaring for Special Objects is a good place to start.

Preservation Fact Sheets - This is an extensive site from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. I remember visiting it several times as a child, and delighted in the history that was preserved there. They are definitely experts in the preservation of artifacts. Their articles provide advice on just about anything you would need to preserve.

Clarke Historical Library Preservation - Here you will find some concise advice, and helpful checklists.

Conservation Online - This is the site for professional conservationists. How to preserve artifacts, how to restore, where to contact help, suppliers, and more. If you want to find in depth information, or specific help on a very particular and unusual preservation problem, this is the place to go.

Archival supplies you can order online:

Archival Products - free catalog available

University Products, Inc. - free catalog available

Interlink-Archival Goods - small, but helpful list

The Memorabilia Corner - specializing in genealogical supplies of all sorts. The order information is on this page. Scroll down to conservation and archival materials, near bottom of page. You may also enjoy perusing the other items they have for your wish list.

Now that you have the resources available to preserve you family memories, it is time to search the house for items wasting away in the corners. Happy hunting.

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