FAMILY ARCHIVES

Family history can be as mysterious as the 'Twilight Man'

In shadow, hidden or fading and perhaps waning into obscurity

'Twilight Man' - Oil on paper Art by Gerlinde

Since a young gal, I have wanted my own museum.  With that in mind, I have been collecting personal things that represent my life throughout the decades. 

We all know that our personal history of our family and our lives are not only of interest to others, but our personal history will help descendants form a picture of where they came from and what life was like ‘back in the day’.

There are many of us who research and document our family history using online databases, historic records, newspapers, books, journals, personal diaries and videos on mobile devices, Youtube, Facebook and other similar tools.  Naturally, these are all saved in both paper and digital format.

As much as we investigate our families and document how we live, there are generally a number of other relatives in the same family who research and collect similar information and artefacts.  Although much of the research is duplicated, there is always other information and evidence found that was not previously known.  However, all the records and artefacts are often held at separate locations.

The crucial fact to realise is that with different members of the same family collecting similar things, it is extremely important that all the data and artefacts are both maintained as securely as possible whilst being conserved for posterity.

Naturally, the holding place for conservation has to be protected from insects and climatic elements of which the most dangerous is dust, heat, water and damp.

Now, as much as we love being the holder of artefacts such as medals, photos, diaries, books and perhaps clothing and jewellery, it seems a shame for us all to separately save what we as individuals have been passed down to us or collected. 

It may be more beneficial to house the whole family collection in the one place.  However I stress, the collection must be held in a secure location.

That secure place does not have to be a bank vault that is not easily accessible, although a home safe is good.

Instead I am advocating the use of a particular shelf in a cabinet or cupboard.  But if you are really lucky and have enough that can be displayed in a small spare room that is no longer being used, that would be excellent!

Realistically though, the easiest idea is to allocate space in a book or display case or somewhere similiar but make sure it is secure but still accessable.

The displaying or maintaining of a special place for ‘The Family Archives’ provides a place where we, the children, grandchildren, aunts, uncles or other family members can gain understanding and perhaps explain why we as individuals and family members ‘are’ as we ‘are’.

By setting up a room or area as a holding area for our family history, where we came from and what life has been like for our previous familial generations, it provides an opportunity to:

1.     Educate the grandchildren

2.     Show others how far the family have come

3.   Show how much the family have achieved

4.   Reveal that under extreme circumstances anything can be achieved

5.     Think you have it tough?  have a look at great-grandpa's life

It also demonstrates and encourages:

Pride in the family

Continuance of the family history

      The importance of family in society

Family is the essence of society and continuation of social mores and ways of being.

Every now and then it is great fun for everyone to gather around the Family Archives, tell stories add things to it.  It helps build and cement sometimes family-strained relationships and have a laugh.

Cheers,

Verde.