Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
[Family History Month] The preservation mistakes I see everywhere
|
Hi Reader, Mid-way through Family History Month Week 2, and I need to address the preservation mistakes I'm seeing in my inbox. Good news first: People are moving photos out of hot attics and damp basements. That's huge. The concerning part: Several people are making preservation choices that could actually damage their family materials long-term. The biggest mistakes I'm seeing: Mistake #1: Using regular tape or glue on photos - I get it, you want to mount them safely, but regular adhesives become acidic over time and permanently damage photos. Mistake #2: Storing everything in plastic bags - Seems logical, but plastic traps moisture and can cause mold. Photos need to breathe. Mistake #3: Waiting for the "perfect" preservation setup - Meanwhile, photos continue deteriorating in shoe boxes and envelopes. 🛠️ WHAT TO DO INSTEADFor immediate storage needs: Check my Amazon recommendations page for acid-free storage options that actually protect your materials. For photos too fragile to handle: Memory Cherish professionally scans delicate materials without risking damage. They handle photos, documents, even fragile newspaper clippings. Learn about Memory Cherish services. For family story preservation: Stop waiting for formal interview equipment. Use Photomyne's voice memo feature during regular conversations - it captures both photos and audio stories in one app. This week's preservation reality:Perfect is the enemy of good. Moving photos from a hot car to a bedroom drawer is progress. Scanning five photos on your phone is better than leaving 500 in a deteriorating box. Your focus for the rest of Week 2: Pick ONE preservation action and complete it. Don't tackle everything - just prevent one type of loss. What's next: Wednesday starts Week 3, where we tackle strategic research to fill specific gaps. But those gaps won't matter if we lose what we already have. The most heartbreaking emails I receive start with "I found this amazing family document, but it's already too damaged to read." Don't let that be your story. Keep preserving, |
Are You My Cousin? Newsletter
Hi there! I'm Lisa Lisson, and I'm passionate about helping people like you discover their ancestors and expand their family tree without feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about the next steps.
Hi Reader, Over the past three weeks, you've been taking a fresh look at your family history - finding things you'd forgotten you had, protecting what matters most, and maybe even solving a mystery or two. This final week is about sharing those discoveries with the people who care about them. This week's focus: Share and Connect Your family history discoveries aren't meant to live in isolation. The photos you've identified, the stories you've captured, the mysteries you've solved - they...
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, We're heading into the final 10 weeks of 2025, and I've been thinking about research do-overs. You know that ancestor you've been stuck on for years? The one where you've searched every obvious record, tried every...
Hi Reader, Mid-way through Week 3 of Family History Month, and I need to share some research truth with you. The reality: Some of you are probably making breakthrough discoveries. Others might be hitting the same walls you've hit before. Both experiences are completely normal in genealogy research. Here's what most genealogy advice won't tell you: Sometimes the "failure" to find records immediately reveals important information about your ancestor's life. No marriage record might mean they...