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Preserving
Your Memories
When you are ready to record your memories, you can use whatever
supplies you have on hand and go from there - whatever it takes
to get you started will work. At the same time, you might want
to know that what kind of supplies you use and how you store
them will determine how well they will hold up through the years.
Below
are links to sites that give you ideas on storing your items
so that they will last a long time. It's a long list, though,
so if you're looking for a few quick answers, you can find great
information in these links:
- To
purchase the archival-quality materials to help you get started,
visit a local scrapbooking store and talk to a manager there
to help you determine what would be best. Look for "acid-free"
and "lignin-free" or "archival safe" materials.
Or you can go to Light
Impressions or Gaylord
to get archival supplies directly on the Internet.
- Canadian
Conservation Institute - Their "How to Care
For" series goes over preserving many different things
found around the house, from paper to musical instruments
to candlesticks, and more.
- National
Archives and Records Administration - "Caring
for your Family Archives" includes questions on storing,
digitizing, and displaying photographs, repairing documents,
preserving home movies, and more.
- When
the Dust Settles: Tips for Safely Cleaning Family Treasures
- This article from FEMA lists many different items that could
be considered family treasures and details how to clean them.
It also includes a list of the best supplies to use when cleaning.
Whatever
you do, don't let this information, or the idea that you have
to do this "perfectly," keep you from recording what
is in your heart. If you can use archival-safe materials, do
so - if you can't, then don't worry about it.
General
Information
These
links contain information on preserving many different types
of collections: personal papers, photographs, books, film, newspapers,
etc.
Photographs
Books
and Papers
Video/Audio
Recordings
Digital
Media (Photos, CDs, DVDs, etc.)
Other
Items
- Protect
Your Keepsakes: Textiles
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Protect
Your Keepsakes: Other Treasures - caring for porcelain,
vases, urns, art, bronze and metal figurines, silver, bottles,
etc.
- Caring
for Your Treasures - caring for architecture, ceramics
and glass objects, furniture, metal objects, and artwork
- How
to Care for... - caring for furniture, carpets,
artwork, silver, glass, ceramics, leather, quilts, musical
instruments, toys, dolls, jewelry, and more
- When
the Dust Settles: Tips for Safely Cleaning Family Treasures
- cleaning books, upholstery, baskets, photographs and papers,
furniture, ceramics, silver, clocks, dolls, and more
If you have any questions or concerns, or are even just looking
for a little guidance or help in what to do, please e-mail
me.
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Remembering a Loved One
Collecting Stories from Others
Preserving Your Own Memories
Gathering Memorabilia and Treasures
Creating an Online Memorial
Paying Tribute during Special Occasions
Books about Remembering
Preservation/Care
Things to Keep in Mind
record the memories of a
female friend or relative
"If I am to wear this mourning cloak,
let it be made of the fabric of love, woven by the fine thread
of memory."
~ Molly Fumia, in Safe Passage
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