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How to Build a Family Archive

A family archive is the memory of several generations. It's easier to build if you move through it step by step.

Gather the materials

Find the photo albums, old letters, documents, films, and cassettes. Put it all in one place before you start sorting.

Digitize it

Scan the photographs and documents, convert the video and audio to digital. Digital copies don't fade and don't get lost.

Add context

Label who is in the photo, where, and when. Without labels, within a generation the archive turns into a set of unfamiliar faces.

Make the archive accessible to the family

An archive sitting on one drive belonging to one person is easily lost and never truly lives. Gather it in a shared place the family can reach, and make a backup. A digital memory page or a family tree turns the archive from a box in a photo album into a living legacy.

  • Gather all the materials in one place.
  • Digitize photos, video, and audio.
  • Label them: who, where, when.
  • Keep them shared, with a backup.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I start if the archive is huge?
With the most precious and fragile items, the old films and photos; digitize the rest gradually, without trying to take it all on at once.
How do I keep from losing the digitized archive?
Keep copies in several places (cloud plus a drive) and tie the key items to a memory page the whole family can reach.

Save the story while it is with you

Create a memorial page in a few minutes — gently, beautifully and with respect for your loved ones. Free forever for the text version.

Create a memorial
Pomni editors

We help families gently preserve the memory of their loved ones. The materials are written with respect for the subject of loss and are regularly updated. About · Support resources

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