Preserve Family Treasures

Archiving, Conservation, and Preservation

Some personal historians help families and organizations deal with stuff - particularly portraits, photos, diaries, and other artifacts of sentimental, historical, or material value. One common problem, for example, is that photos have been poorly scrapbooked and or stored in inappropriate containers, so that precious old photos are deteriorating.

Some personal historians help their clients archive materials. They organize them in such a way that researchers, historians, art lovers, and family members can access and appreciate them.

Organizations of Experts

American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC).
A national membership organization of conservation professionals. Blogs and other resources, including Conservation services and help with finding a conservator.

Association of Moving Image Archivists (AMIA)
A non-profit professional association established to advance the field of moving image archiving. The AMIA listserv is open to the public.

Association of Personal Photo Organizers (APPO)
Described in The Atlantic, 4-14-11 as Digital Organizers: The Next New Service Industry

Library of Congress (Allied Groups)
The Library's mission is to support the Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the American people.

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI)
Preserving My Heritage (in English or French)

Notes on Photographs - George Eastman House
Notes On Photographs aims to compile and illustrate relevant information that characterizes a photographer's work. It intends to be used as a reference database for illustrating key attributes documented by conservators, curators, collectors and scholars dedicated to the study and observation of photographs.

National Archives
Caring for your family archives

Northeast Document Conservation Center (NEDCC)
Excellent online leaflets on conservation and preservation. The mission of the NDCC is to improve the preservation programs of libraries, museums, archives, and other historical and cultural institutions.

Society of American Archivists (SAA)
Provides a directory, National Archival Organizations in the United States, with links to societies of medical archivists, religious archivists, regional history archivists, business archivists, and state organizations of archivists. See also Associated Professional Organizations and So You Want to Be an Archivists: An Overview of the Archives Profession.

Wilhelm Imaging Research
Conducts research on the stability and preservation of traditional and digital color photographs and motion pictures.