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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
12/12/2009 12:45:42 PM | After a lot of thought I decided to ask others how they maintain their WWII records, photos, medals and other items and share what I have done so far. If anyone has suggestions, I hope you will share them here.
In a previous post I mentioned how many photos and papers have been lost for our family, but having said that I was blessed to find one file almost 1 1/2 inches thick that my Dad saved and no one had yet thrown away. Dad was in personal for quite a few years and he made copies of quite a few papers. I asked for them and decided to save them in a binder. Because of the age of the papers I realized that handling them very often would be a problem so I went to Staples Office supply and bought clear archival safe plastic pages and placed the pages in them. I then placed the plastic pages in a heavy duty binder with a clear front sleeve on the front. I then went to my Print Shop program and made up a simple front page with my dad's name and photo and I also made a title for the binder end.
My feeling was this way I would know what was in the binder and looking at the papers in the future they would not be damaged.
I have not done anything with my Dad's medals yet. I have been thinking of requesting someone help me one of these Christmas as my Christmas present and send them to someplace like Medals of America and have them mounted along with his photo from that time as this would be a nice way to pass them on in the family...any thoughts form others on what you have done?? I know it is expensive to do, but my thought was it should be done correctly.
The flag from my Dad's funeral I placed in a flag case and it sits on a shelf underneath pictures of him on a wall. I guess this is my small area to honor my father. I have worried that just placing the flag in a case to protect it from dust may not be enough to protect it long term..any suggestions here?
One thing I um.. borrowed when we sorted Dad's home was his POW journal. It is written in pencil and is fading so fast from age. A few years ago I copied all the info I could read and started ~~memoirs~~ for him including his story of the day they were shot down, medals won, list of his flight log (which does not match the list on the 401st) as well as the list of what I could read of all the men who signed his journal from many countries. I have not finished it yet as I am still looking for pictures to add to it and more.
Has anyone else done similar things and have any other suggestions of things to do or how to preserve these treasures?
Jackie
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win-win
12/13/2009 7:35:17 PM | Hi Jackie:
Big topic, Jackie. But precisely 'what everyone wonders', but few asks-about. Me, too - 'Been researching for decades, and I have some of those same questions (to solve). Here's some of what Nancy and I've found to-date, even though 'a work in-progress':
1. What to do: Local Libraries and Museums would a good place to start about how to preserve what you have, and how to copy it (scan, photocopy, other). Call around. Best-case would be to have (Librarians, historical societies or museum archivists) look at what you have (and thus see its condition), to be able to offer meaningful observations, suggestions and (local) resources - maybe from resources they use (or which could at-least lead to other resources). Worst case, they may be able to advise what not to do.
2. Photos, papers and other 'flat' items: We have a bunch of 'archive boxes' and they come in many forms and sizes, but all share being made of 'non-acidic' materials. www.printfile.com is one supplier. I like the 3-ring binder-in-archive box style because the 'box encloses and protects the plastic page-cells from light, dust, and casual moisture, plus stacking these boxes doesn't add weight onto the pages inside. Other archive or phpoto boxes we have store linens, framed/matted photos and other (non-3-ring 'cell') items. (I do have other bunches of photos, sorted and in (achive) 3-ring sleeves - in 3-ring binders - but I consider these 'at-risk'. I need to get them into archive boxes, pronto).
a. Letters: I've thranscribed most letters we have (from my Uncle), but I would like to scan them - His 'handwriting' is what makes the words 'his', and scanning makes distribution to Family members easier, too. Your 'faded' letters may be able to be scanned and the scans then 'processed' to improve contrast, for instance, to make them more readable (without affecting the original), but that's something a museum archiist or librarian may help with.
b. photos: I'm definitely going to scan our photos, but for now, I need to form the story we want to tell (about my Uncle) and scan those related photos first. The others I have (and will continue to) scan to have both as a record and to copy to Family. The one thing that has pleased me most about photos is that scanning has brought great opportunities to use (even simple) photo programs to restore many - particular 'faded' ones (and eliminates photocopying - a strong light process that I think 'ages' each document each time it's photocopied).
c. Flag: We have my Uncle's funeral flag, too. My Sister had it dry-cleaned when it passed to my Mom (from my Aunt, Tom Dorris's widow), and the cleaner put it in a 'cake-box' like box, wrapped in acid-free tissue. My Mom and I 'flew the flag' for a few minutes - it was gorgeous (and we photographed it). And now that my Mom has passed, I have the flag, in the 'archive' (acid-free) tissue. I would like to display it in a triangular flag frame, but haven't answered (for myself): Where can I get a smaller display than those advertised (so 3-stars show); Does Ultraviolet-light fade the flag through the display glass; Do display frames have an acid-free liner between the wood frame and the flag cloth, and (is a 'cover' for the glass available). (I'm probably overly-concerned, but those are my flag-display shopping question check-list items).
d. Medals & Awards: Nancy has a framed display (under glass) of her Dad's medals, ribbons, Captain's Bars and Wings. The bars & wings now quite oxidized. The display is in our 'office' (front bedroom), so exposed to daylight. We don't know who made the display, but we're probably going to have to re-do it someday. So we'll probably have a display shpping-list of questions for that, too.
3. Research info: And then there are the 2-banker's boxes of (paper) research info. I think eventually a lot of that can be discarded (as my computer info builds to include that info) - a lot was pre-Internet (remember letters?) back-and-forth. Anyway, I do worry about preserving all this - through fire, flood, earthquake - and the clock's ticking, of course. For both Nancy's and my side of the Family, keeping Family 'originals' together is important (some have slipped-away anyway), but it's just as important how to share the Heritage throughoutthe Family.
Definitely 'a work in-progress'. And always looking for better ways.
Win Bryson
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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
12/13/2009 9:27:23 PM | Win,
I wonder if you have decided on how you will preserve or display medals? The flag is a concern to me as well..I keep wondering how to keep the moisture from getting to it. Here in FL I did put one of those little silica jell packets inside the case..but not sure if that was the right or wrong thing to do...
Jackie
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win-win
12/14/2009 12:55:53 PM | As I wrote, our 'archiving' is a work in progress.
The Medals/Uniform Devices Display: Someone in the Family had the display made - It looks professionally done. Cleaning the tarnished Uniform Devices (Capt. Bars; "U.S." and wings) seems the trickiest part. (There may even be some how-to Websites out there, but this research and project is on our (yet to) 'do-list').
Flag Display: Your desiccant idea to keep moisture from the flag seems a good one. The flag is probably cotton, so maybe a local museum (that preserves or displays clothing) could help with other tips. (Your City, County and/or State museums probably have 'contact us' info - inquiries may lead to references and resources (if not direct answers)).
((Example: I'm in San Francisco. We have a Family U.S. Civil War era 'Presentation Certificate' (I later learned it was called). It's a paper 'scroll' sort-of, about 16"x24" when flattened out, and is falling apart. It has shields and symbols on it plus lists my relative's Units' Engagements. I E-mailed a photo of it to the Pa. State Archives, who recommended I contact the U.S. Military History Institute (USMHI, Carlisle, Pennsylvania) where I learned what it was (and what it wasn't - not an 'official' document), and what all its military symbols were. Then later, from the (former) U.S. Army Presidio Archives (here in San Francisco), I learned that these were printed on 'cheap paper' so deteriorates easily and that preservationists can mount the whole thing on a linen backing (to stay together). I also learned that that there are some people who do this kind of thing nearby (Marin County), as well as people who perhaps can remove the old 'Scotch tape' that now holds it together. So my 'path' led all around the country for 'what it is' , and back-here for 'how to preserve it'. And yes, it's on that ever-growing 'do-list')).
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donaldbyers
12/15/2009 12:16:02 AM | There is a lot out their if you just look for it. Such as US Flag preservation and other searches alike. I would have every thing scaned and on disk that is a must have. Preserve the originals of course. There are companies that do the shadow boxes with all the medals and can include the flag. My dad I only have a few pictures and his discharge papers and that is it. I know he never left the states for WWII or Korea, he was in supply, stationed in Pecos Texas both times.
Don
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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Jackie Sharp Sheflin
12/15/2009 9:38:55 AM | Don,
I have not had my Dad's medals mounted yet as the estimated cost with the display box was $300-400 (from Medals of America) and it is to steep for me right now unless I win the lottery or someone helps me get it done and I doubt that will happen. Then the question becomes...do I place just medals and a photo there or do I add any badges or insignia...including rank patches from that time period. This is why I opened this discussion to find out what others are doing and or get more ideas to help me do the right thing. You guys know more about this than I do...of that I am sure.
I have hesitated to photo copy his service records as I have heard that the light can damage them...I just wish I knew more about it and then I am not sure how to photo copy and have them put on a disk all at one time to prevent handling them too much. Some of these papers are that very thin almost like ...I want to say like onion skin, but not really....just not sure what to call it.
I am not sure long term how to store the soft balls or hard baseball that Dad brought home from Stalig Luft III. I do have them in a display case, but in all honesty...I am not sure if that is enough.
I could have cried when I found out that someone threw away his flight jacket or it just disappeared...one or the other.
So many things to think about and find answers for.
Jackie
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win-win
12/15/2009 2:09:52 PM | Jackie, you're definitely right: "So many things to think about..." - big subject.
For your several categories of things to preserve (like: paper & photos; medals & uniform items; flag; balls), have you tried 'prioritizing' them, and then do just one at a time? I'm thinking: 1st priority, the most urgent (ie most risk of 'losing'); then the others in descending order of risk/urgency. Then do just the most urgent, first.
For paper (& photos), like Don indicates, scanning (also a light process, like photocopying) makes an electronic file of your original that you can then: Store (on CDs, hard drives, etc); Edit (to improve or enhance), Send (via E-mail) and/or Print (like a photocopier does) - all without touching the original, except once, for the scan. Check with your local museum or library to help about the 'onion-skin' (re-Xerox way to make copies while typing with multiple layers of carbon-paper and 'onion-skin' paper under the original in the typewriter. Some carbon-copies on 'onion skin' were barely readable - when new, right out of the typewriter!).
For medals and devices displays, have you tried contacting local VFW and Am. Leg.? They may have members with contacts or that have done what you want to, and you can 'compare notes'. (Have you tried 'trial' lay-outs of the things you want to display (in a shirt box for-instance)? And if you take pictures of them, you can take them with you when talking with contacts about the display you'd like (or attach you photos if inquiring by E-mail)).
Your ball displays sounds OK, but I've no experience with them, either. If doubts, contact a local sports memorabilia store (or again, your local museum), or even E-mail the Baseball Hall of Fame about how they preserve theirs.
The more you ask the better choices you'll hace for your decisions. I frankly don't believe there's only one 'best' way for any of this - but I always do want to know the 'pitfalls' (to avoid them).
So don't be shy about asking. (As and example: by 'asking', we found an Am. Leg. Post that had a photo of one of our 'Nelson' Crewmen (that even his Kin didn't have, and it's our one-and-only photo of him found to-date). You just never know, and we've found most people wonderfully anxious to help.
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donaldbyers
12/15/2009 7:55:36 PM | I do understand those who have indicated that scanning will eventually cause problems with the document lasting but there are just as many on the other side also. The way I look at it is one day it will fade to being unreadable but it it was scanned it is preserved! So I scann....
Don
I also relize the cost of the Shadown Box and your right not cheap....
Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
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