Family history research is so fascinating that it deserves to be shared. Here are one writer's musings and insights about making that process palatable and inviting to others.
12 June 2010
Sorting Saturday
Birthdays, family reunions, children and grandchildren visiting all have taken their toll on my family history time. But I did take a moment to send off an order for some archival boxes, photo sleeves and folders from Gaylord. I found an excellent place to do some scanning at our local university library. Their new machine can scan at 300 dpi as fast as I could turn the pages of the scrapbook my aunt put together for my grandmother.
The scrapbook is a hodge-podge of photos, handwritten histories, documents (including their marriage certificate) and letters. It is a treasure trove, but how can I sort it without destroying the book (and possibly some of the items pasted therein)? Scanning was my answer. Now the pages are all scanned (in TIFF docs), I can cut the electronic version apart and sort the pieces into my e-folders. I am keeping the original in its own archival box and also have the original electronic copy archived. Copies on 5 DVDs went out to each branch of my grandparents' family.
I'm still cutting and sorting my scans, but I can rest more easily now, knowing I have safeguarded the original by scanning and distributing. And I need that rest too, with all the grandmothering and reuning of June.
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What a good idea! I have a scrapbook, too, that I have been wondering what to do with. Scanning the pages is a good idea. Thanks.
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