this tip sheet. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"]()
<\/p>\n
Get<\/span><\/b>\u00a0a handle on\u00a0<\/span><\/b>your\u00a0<\/span><\/b>family history<\/span><\/b>\u00a0documents<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span><\/b>photos, and\u00a0<\/span><\/b>artifact<\/span><\/b>s<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Locate &\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Sort<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- List all the places you may have<\/span>\u00a0stored<\/span>\u00a0family history materials<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Search each location<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>identify\u00a0<\/span>the relevant items<\/span>. Once you have assembled your collection,\u00a0<\/span>sort your items<\/span>\u00a0by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>material\u00a0<\/span>type<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>such as<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>papers, photos<\/span>, etc<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0If this<\/span>\u00a0is<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>im<\/span>possible, create an inventory of\u00a0<\/span>types\u00a0<\/span>an<\/span>d locations<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Ta<\/span>ke<\/span>\u00a0one\u00a0<\/span>type\u00a0<\/span>at a time,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>decide which items have the<\/span>\u00a0greatest value to you;<\/span>\u00a0discard items that don\u2019t fit your criteria.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>ort the remaining items into categories<\/span>, i.e. by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>family name or geographic location.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Digitize<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Use\u00a0a\u00a0<\/span>digital camera, phone<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>scanner to create digital copies of your materials.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>ive each file a descriptive name<\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>organize the files into folders based on\u00a0<\/span>the categories you created while sorting<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Remember, d<\/span>igital files are\u00a0<\/span>not<\/span><\/i><\/b>\u00a0impervious to being lost or damaged<\/span>!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>To<\/span>\u00a0preserve them<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>s<\/span>ave<\/span>\u00a0all<\/span>\u00a0your\u00a0<\/span>files in\u00a0<\/span>three<\/span>\u00a0places<\/span>, for example,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>o<\/span>n\u00a0<\/span>your<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>computer,\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>an\u00a0<\/span>external hard drive\u00a0<\/span>and<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>the cloud<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>For\u00a0<\/span>more detailed<\/span>\u00a0instruction\u00a0<\/span>on\u00a0<\/span>digitiz<\/span>ing<\/span>\u00a0items at home, visit\u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/digitalpreservation.gov\/personalarchiving<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n- Preserve & Organize<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\n
\n- Plan how and where you will store each<\/span>\u00a0material type<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Never forget<\/span>\u00a0that<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>choosing the appropriate\u00a0<\/span>st<\/span>orage space is\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>most critical\u00a0<\/span><\/i>step in this process! Ideally, your collection should be stored in a climate-controlled dark space, away from heat and water. Therefore, basements, attics,\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span>storage units<\/span>\u00a0should<\/span>\u00a0be avoided<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>If possible, p<\/span>urchase professional archival-quality storage supplies<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Gaylord<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Hollinger Metal Edge<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are well-known archival suppl<\/span>iers<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0If\u00a0<\/span>these<\/span>\u00a0products are<\/span>\u00a0outside<\/span>\u00a0your budget,<\/span>\u00a0store\u00a0<\/span>your items\u00a0<\/span>f<\/span>lat<\/span>\u00a0and<\/span>\u00a0not packed<\/span>\u00a0too<\/span>\u00a0tightly<\/span>\u00a0in manila folders<\/span>\u00a0within cardboard boxes<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Buffer<\/span>\u00a0photos and fragile items, like newspapers, with printer paper.<\/span>\u00a0Allowing airflow is key!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Do not\u00a0<\/span>seal your boxes or\u00a0<\/span>use plastic sleeves, albums, binders, or\u00a0<\/span>containers<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0 Further, do not use g<\/span>lue, tape and rubber bands<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>secure your materials<\/span>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/DSC_0273-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/StreamGate_Page_1-300x224.png\")
Fix\u00a0<\/span><\/b>your family tree<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blog.cjh.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/BTS-4-29-gsolomons-7.jpg\")
<\/p>\n