Secrets from the Stacks

"Just the book I've been waiting for! As a retired librarian/archivist I've been dealing with the guilt of seeing family papers and photographs sitting in multiple storage boxes just waiting to see the light of day and a firm organizing hand. As the only family member who seems interested in genealogy and family artifacts, I have become the ""keeper of the flame."" And the years are ticking by rapidly. This book will give me the impetus to get my act together and plunge into those boxes. Yes, it is daunting. Start labeling those photographs (""Who are these people""?). Should I digitize a portion of them and distribute copies to all the relatives? Should I digitize them myself or pay someone to do it? What to do with the originals? All questions that I have been mulling over for years unsure about what to do. Now I know! -Clare Sheridan, Librarian/Archivist American Textile History Museum A Must-Have Book for Preserving Family History! Who isn't curious about the stories of family members who came before them? While it may be overwhelming to even think about how to capture these stories, both from the past and present, this book is your guide on how to do it. An easily understandable step-by-step guide, the book helps to take what can be a huge undertaking and break it into doable tasks. The author brings her extensive knowledge and years of experience as an archivist and history lover to help the average person organize and preserve their family histories, photographs, artifacts, and other treasures so that future generations may enjoy their ancestors' stories. But even more than that, these stories provide researchers with a window into the past, giving clues as to what everyday life was like and connecting the dots into many unanswered questions. Chadwick intersperses her personal observations to underscore the importance of passing along family history to keep these stories alive and makes the book not only instructional, but also a most enjoyable read! This invaluable book makes a perfect gift for historians and novices alike and for anyone who is interested in carrying on their family's history. -Kathy Hartley, President Hearthside House Museum, Lincoln, RI Do you worry about who is going to treasure your grandmother's wedding picture? Are your family photos and papers saved for future generations or are they at risk of being destroyed forever by a natural or manmade disaster? Don't be afraid. Rhonda Chadwick's book will give you all the tools you need to make sure your grandchildren will be able to show their grandchildren the family history. I've known Rhonda for many years and we worked together in our archival consulting business. I was always so impressed that she had all of this knowledge at the tip of her tongue when clients had questions about how best to preserve their material culture. She's the perfect person to write this book and provide people with clear steps to take to avoid a catastrophe of ancestral proportions. -Elaine Robinson, Librarian/Archivist The Right Message for Our Times Weather extremes have become part of life, and family photos, memorabilia, etc., are most at risk. Fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, extreme freezes, flooding are all happening every day. The message that gets missed in all the reporting is what to do before these events. That is why this book is the perfect resource for anyone motivated to preserve their family legacy. -Cathi Nelson, CEO/Founder The Photo Managers"