Photographs

 

Start today identifying names of people, places and dates on historically significant photographs.

 

Write the information on the backs of all photos with special photo marking pen or soft dark-lead pencil. Name all persons starting from the left side and make an effort to get all spellings correct.

 

Heirlooms and Keepsakes

Every family or business heirloom has a story that goes with it. A pocket watch is just a nice old watch unless someone records its story. “This was great- grandfather’s railroad watch. He carried it every day when he worked for the Illinois Central in Chicago.”

 

Living People

The oldest family members or the people who have been with your company the longest are crucial sources of information. They hold what’s called “the tribal memory.” Interview these people as soon as possible. Write down or record everything they have to say. Also, identify the best historian or record keeper in your family or business and enlist their help.

 

• Who is best at keeping records?

• Where are those records?

• Who best retains the tribal knowledge?

 

Documents

Locate and identify documents that need preservation and would be candidates for digital scanning:

 

• Birth certificates and other family records.

• Religious records.

• Immigration papers.

• Old letters and other communications.

• Newspaper clippings, company newsletters, scrapbooks.

 

Movies, Books, Videos, Tapes

Locate home movies, historically significant audio or video tapes. Get them ready for preservation or transfer to newer technologies – to DVD or other digital formats.

 

Outline/Timeline

 

Begin to outline the story of your family or business. A timeline is a good place to start. Note the key dates, key people and most important events in a logical sequence.

 

Bottom Line

 

What story do you want to tell? Determine the limits of your project. Is it about your childhood, your ancestors, your marriage, your business, your war experiences, or all of these and more?