Keep them safe [Archive] - British Genealogy Forums

Waitabit

31-01-2009, 8:00 AM

Please, all people with records of Family,..be it photos of your children,G'folks, certificates of who-ever & Family Histories, pass them on to every-one in the Family circle whether they ask or not. These records can dissolve in a moment given fire, flood or other disaster. people are left with NOTHING of their past.
Bung them on the Internet if you muxt, but-PRESERVE. please !!!

Barbara Wilkinson

31-01-2009, 8:27 AM

Good advice Wendy - I hope it hasn't been prompted by loss of your own records ....??

Pandad

31-01-2009, 9:19 AM

Funny you should say that as I am currently in the process of scanning all my Family History documents, photographs, research notes etc.

Most documentation is self explanatory and requires no additional 'information'. With photographs, and the odd document, I 'embed’ other information within the 'file data' which can be read by various programmes. That way you can store the 'additional detail' without adding any visible detail to the actual photograph or document. For information I use IrfanView for this process because it is free.

Rod

Pam Downes

31-01-2009, 9:23 AM

And can I also add-
whenever you want to take information out into the public arena (e.g. a family history fair) please do not take original documents with you. Always take photocopies. Believe it or not, I have heard of more than one instance of someone losing/leaving behind their family history file at FH fairs. :eek:
And if you have documents in those see-through wallets with an open end, then a piece of paper can easily fall out of them without you noticing.
Pam

michaelpipe

31-01-2009, 9:44 AM

And don't forget that one day CD's and computer files as we know them will be things of the past - like 3 ½" floppies, vinyl, beta tapes, cassette tapes, super 8 etc etc. So PRINT everything as well.

Waitabit

01-02-2009, 2:04 AM

Just to watch the news & see what a FIRE can do,bushfire, house fire, any fire is heart wrenching.

No I've not lost mine & I'll send a copy to a few more Family people just to be sure.

Greg Yancer

01-02-2009, 2:46 AM

My wife has an original picture of her g-grandparents that is appr. 400 mm x 650 mm along with their marriage license that is appr. 550 mm x 700 mm. How would you protect that and still enjoy it?

Greg

Waitabit

01-02-2009, 4:09 AM

Have it copied & keep the originals in a fireproof safe.(in a flood free area):D

What a treasure you have there. :)