Collecting and Managing Your Personal and Family Records

1. Gather and choose the materials you want to save. 

Determine what records, documents, and objects are most important to you and your family. Consider the following: 

• How much material do you have time and space to care for in the long-term?
• If you have multiple versions of the same items, which versions are the highest quality? 
• Would these documents or items be available elsewhere - like libraries or records' offices - if they were lost? 

2. Prepare material for preservation and storage. 

You may need to consider: 

• Where in your home - or in professional storage - will provide the best environment for storing materials? 
• What types of boxes, folders, envelopes, or other enclosures do you need to store your materials? 

Keep your storage area clean, and check your materials regularly for signs of water damage, pests, or deterioration.

3. Clearly identify, date, and label your material as best as possible. 

The ability of your historical records to be used and understood in the future may rely on how well your papers, photos, and other materials are organized and described.

• Try to label your materials with the dates, events, people, or locations they come from or depict. 
• Organize records in simple systems - by document type, date, event, etc. 

4. Have a plan for your records' future. 

Consider how your personal archives will be passed to future generations. Consult with a legal professional about how to insure your materials, to identify what copyright you may have for your materials, or to make legal plans for their dispensation in the future. If you're interested in donating your personal records to an archives, historical society, library, or museum, contact your local institution or alma mater to discuss their collecting policies and options. 

Click on a link below to find resources on caring for and preserving the diverse materials that comprise your personal and family archives.