UpFront with NGS: Preservation

Showing posts with label Preservation. Show all posts

09 September 2017

Recovering Water Damaged Documents, Photographs & Heirlooms

Recovering Water Damaged Documents, Photographs & Heirlooms

As our thoughts are with those affected by Harvey and as Irma approaches and many still recover from previously devastating storms, let’s take a moment to share some resources to help you or loved ones or friends salvage water-damaged documents, photographs, heirlooms, and more.

The reminder to disseminate this information initially came from The Heirloom Registry reposting some information provided by Maureen Taylor (The Photo Detective) that pointed to a post from the Galveston Historical Foundation, Flooded & Wet: DIY Heirloom Recovery.

Though we cannot always predict a catastrophic storm or protect everything from damage, do take a moment to think about disaster preparedness both for yourself (personal safety) and for your irreplaceable objects. Are you prepared? Our 2014 post, Even now records are at risk to be lost ... Fires, flooding, theft, etc., are NOT just something that happened to our ancestors! provides some resources to help you prepare for a future unknown disaster.

If a disaster has struck and you have water damaged heirlooms et al, here are some resources that might help:

· Disaster Response & Recovery (American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works)

· Salvaging Water-Damaged Family Valuables and Heirlooms (Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FEMA))

· 8 Steps for Protecting Water-Damaged Photos (Ancestry.com blog)

· A Consumer Guide for Recovery of Water-Damaged Traditional and Digital Prints (Image Permanence Institute)

· Preserve Your Stuff After Water Damage (Library of Congress)

· Resources for Conserving Flood Damaged Photos, Antiques and Heirlooms (South Carolina State Museum)

We hope that you never have to experience a disaster and if you do, and you are safe (most important of all), all is hopefully not lost regarding your “stuff,” as there are ways you might successfully recover any water-damaged valuable documents, photographs, and heirlooms.

What other resources for recovering water-damaged photographs, heirlooms and more are you aware of?

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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11 April 2017

Staples – our friend and our foe!

Created by u07ch, https://www.flickr.com/photos/u07ch/3473612692/sizes/l . [CC-BY-ND-2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)], via flickr

Staples – our friend and our foe!

Who hasn’t used staples? Pun intended and they are a “staple” of life.

A way to manage our unruly paper collections (for those not completely digital, yet!). Unfortunately, with time, they deteriorate and to irreparable harm to the documents so lovingly attached together using this type of fastener.

I love researching older documents and you often find these documents were sewn together. Though it can make it awkward to read such a document! Probably better for not staining or injuring the documents so bound …

A blog post from the Smithsonian Libraries Unbound blog, Saved From Staples: Treating a Metal-Stapled Pamphlet talks about removing staples from a bound pamphlet, and it’s more than just “taking the staple out!”

Staples aren’t the only metal fastener found on archival documents – one sometimes finds paperclips and straight pins, etc. The Northeast Document Conservation Center helps us appropriately remove such via 7.8 Removal of Damaging Fasteners from Historic Documents.

It’s not too late, even in our personal archives, to handle documents as an archivist would and ensure their longevity.

What other ways of grouping materials have you found harmful to older documents?

What’s the most complex unfastening task you’ve taken on?

Know a good resource about historical methods for binding fastening multi-page paper documents together? Please share.

Editor’s Note: Learn more about Staples and Staplers here.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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17 March 2017

Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program -- Making Sure that Valuable Records are Preserved

Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program -- Making Sure that Valuable Records are Preserved

It is always wonderful to learn about long-standing programs that help preserve records. Did you know that since 1992, the Library of Virginia and Circuit Court Clerks, have had a partnership to preserve circuit court records.

Circuit Court Records Preservation Program

The Circuit Court Records Preservation Program (CCRP) is a part of the Library of Virginia's Local Records Services Branch. Funded through a $1.50 of the clerk’s recordation fee, the CCRP provides resources to help preserve and make accessible permanent circuit court records. The program awards grants to the commonwealth’s circuit court clerks to help them address the needs of the records housed in their localities.

The CCRP also provides resources needed to process and house the circuit court records that are transferred to the State Archives for safekeeping and increased access; as well as track, duplicate and maintain circuit court microfilm stored in the Library’s media vault.

Read more about this program and what is has accomplished here.

Do watch the video (lower right on the previously mentioned page -- it runs about 13 minutes) to learn more about this collaboration.

What records preservation programs are you familiar with?

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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06 March 2017

Tobacco Barns are quickly disappearing -- what's being done to preserve these historic structures?

Created by symphony of love, https://www.flickr.com/photos/pictoquotes/14278702103/sizes/l. [CC-BY-ND-2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/)], via flickr

Tobacco Barns are quickly disappearing -- what's being done to preserve these historic structures?

There is so much of our landscape that we drive by regularly that is historic and unfortunately, often, in a state of decay and decline.

One such category that I often see when I hit the road driving across rural NC and VA are tobacco barns. These oft-neglected buildings are disintegrating and/or encased in kudzu or taken over by other vines. These barns used to be signs of a thriving economy. They are more often now the signs of a changed economy.

As with much of our architectural heritage, the time to save them is now, before it is too late.

I was reminded of the efforts to do just that, preserve these icons of our heritage, when I read Tobacco barn restoration project enters fourth year.

A project on its way to preserving nearly 50 historic tobacco barns in the Dan River Region is getting more help from JTI Leaf Services in Danville. The money will enable the project to offer barn repairs for a fourth year.

Preservation Virginia’s Tobacco Barns Mini-Grants Project will receive an additional $100,000 from JTI to repair and restore more old tobacco barns in Pittsylvania and Halifax counties, and Caswell County in North Carolina, said Preservation Virginia Field Representative Sonja Ingram.

Of course, this got me wondering what other tobacco barn preservation efforts exist. I came across these references …

If a tobacco barn in your area has been restored, please tell us about it!

What tobacco barn restoration projects are you aware of?

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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18 July 2016

Repurposed Military Installations -- Sometimes not just the only and a GREAT option for preserving historical structures!

Repurposed Military Installations -- Sometimes not just the only and a GREAT option for preserving historical structures!

One way to preserve a building or site not able or desired to continue in the purpose for which it was constructed it to repurpose it. We do often see historic buildings become museums, apartments or offices, while, unfortunately, we also see other historic buildings fall into disrepair, while still others are torn down to make way for new construction.

Well, in NC, one fort built in the early 19^th century became a Baptist retreat -- Before the Baptists, Fort Caswell played role in 3 wars.

Of course, this got me curious to know what other creative ways military installations have been repurposed. War and Peace: 15 Repurposed Military Structures illustrates just a few of the really interesting way that some facilities have been repupurposed.

The reality is that if we want to preserve some elements of historical architecture for future generations to enjoy, repurposing is not just an option and necessary.

What repurposed military facility or building are you aware of?

Editor’s Note: Check out past Upfront with NGS articles on Preservation here.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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01 May 2016

Today is May Day -- Emergency Preparedness & Saving Our Archives IS IMPORTANT!

Today is May Day (1 May)

Per the Society of American Archivists ...

Protecting our collections is one of our fundamental responsibilities as archivists. The Heritage Health Index, released in 2005 soon after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast, reported that few institutions have disaster plans and for those that do, often the plan is out of date. It’s easy to put off emergency response planning as we devote our attentions to tasks with more immediate “payback.”

But on May 1 – this year and every year – you can do something that will make a difference when and if an emergency occurs. That’s the purpose of MayDay – a grassroots effort whose goal is to save our archives.

MayDay is a time when archivists and other cultural heritage professionals take personal and professional responsibility for doing something simple – something that can be accomplished in a day but that can have a significant impact on an individual’s or a repository’s ability to respond.

What are you or the archives and libraries near you doing to celebrate May Day and ensure that if disaster strikes, there is an emergency response plan in place to preserve and protect at risk collections?

Editor’s Note: Related posts include It's May Day -- Help Save our Archives! (2013), Tomorrow, 1st May 2011 is MayDay - Help "Save Our Archives" (2011)

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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14 September 2015

Archive Corps -- Saving what is in danger of disappearing

Many of you know that the Internet Archive is one of my favorite resources, Internet Archive -- a FREE gem that just keeps getting better!

It was again in the news recently when there was an effort to preserve part of a machinery manuals collection, Introducing the Archive Corps.

Jason Scott has something of a reputation. He’s a historian who works for the Internet Archive, and he’s known in some circles as the guy who can save bits of history right before they disappear.

So when he found out that a small store in Maryland that sold manuals for machinery was going out of business, and was going to get rid of its collection of nearly 200,000 obscure booklets in just a few days, Scott got to work.

He got to Maryland on a Friday to check out the stockpile at Manuals Plus. By Wednesday of the next week he had rallied over 70 volunteers to put together 1,600 boxes of manuals (nobody counted exactly how many booklets fill those boxes, but the guess is between 50,000 and 75,000) that now sit in three storage containers. The whole endeavor cost about $9,000, most of which was donated to the project...

Read the full article for full details.

As far as the aforementioned Archive Corps, right now there is a basic page where you can join a mailing list which I assume will be used to inform about future emergency preservation efforts. I’ve signed up and will keep you posted.

I don’t know about you and I cannot even imagine what tech has become obsolete or history has been lost just in the time that it’s taken me to write this blog post. It is truly too scary to consider ...

Do you know of other individuals or organizations who can in a pinch jump in to help at-risk archival materials? Upfront with NGS is always happy to publicize such efforts.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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17 June 2015

Are you properly preserving your family heirlooms?

As family historians we often become the keepers of invaluable family artifacts – documents, photographs, textiles and more.

Are we doing the best we can to make sure they are preserved for future generations?

Thanks to Craig R Scott and his Heritage Books FB page we learned about a great piece about preserving artifacts on The National WWII Museum New Orleans page.

Use the following guidelines to keep your historic memorabilia in the best shape possible. Here we cover general hazards to artifacts and specific techniques for preserving textiles, paper, photographs, metal, leather and wood.

The post starts out by summarizing the seven hazards to historic artifacts and not surprisingly the number one item listed is light, followed by temperature, humidity, pests, human beings (yes we are a hazard!), chemical reaction & air pollutants and inherent vice. I found the concept of inherent vice interesting since it wasn’t a term I had heard before. Do read about “how” these are hazards.

The post then goes on to summarize how you might best preserve the objects in your care.

As usual I also sought some more guidance, possibly inspired by a recent trip to the Beaufort NC Maritime Museum and the Blackbeard exhibit, I cam across a post Artifact Preservation on a Shipwreck Diving website. One assumes that most of our artifacts haven’t sat in a salt water bath for hundreds of years and have been a bit more loving stored and my objective was to find out if there are any special needs for ceramic and glass artifacts.

Fortunately, a couple of years ago, I took part in an event where you could meet up with a conservator/appraiser to ask about your family heirlooms. At the time I learned that what I brought were not terribly valuable monetary-wise though they still all hold a lot of sentimental value for me.

As part of that program, I did also learn how to best store my one textile item (an 1875 silk shawl) and implemented what I was told. Of course, after reading over the mentioned post, I now learn that there is more I should be doing if this shawl is to continue to exist for future generations ...

I guess I’d best turn my attention to the metal objects I have which are definitely NOT the shiny objects they once were ...

Editor’s Note: If you do a web search on preservation of artifacts, you can find many helpful websites. I have a tendency to look into resources created by museums and historical commissions. After all, this is a key element of their mandate and they have lots of expertise. Here are links to the Texas Historical Commission, Basic Guidelines for the Preservation of Historic Artifacts, and the Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute Taking Care page.

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NGS does not imply endorsement of any outside advertiser or other vendors appearing in this blog. Any opinions expressed by guest authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the view of NGS.

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Think your friends, colleagues, or fellow genealogy researchers would find this blog post interesting? If so, please let them know that anyone can read past UpFront with NGS posts or subscribe!

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Suggestions for topics for future UpFront with NGS posts are always welcome. Please send any suggested topics to UpfrontNGS@mosaicrpm.com

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Unless indicated otherwise or clearly an NGS Public Relations piece, Upfront with NGS posts are written by Diane L Richard, editor, Upfront with NGS.

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Want to learn more about interacting with the blog, please read Hyperlinks, Subscribing and Comments -- How to Interact with Upfront with NGS Blog posts!

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