I do most of my research online, so this hasn’t come up a lot. But this week I’m going through documents that had lived in my parents’ home and my aunt’s home and some of them are original vital records. I did my first group of ten a couple of days ago and scanned and processed them. And then I had to decide what to do with the originals.
This morning I went through the little stack one by one and followed my gut about those I wanted to file into the paper files I have left over from before I processed everything digitally and those I would feel comfortable discarding.
In truth, I could discard any of them, since I’ve captured the images. But my gut tells me to hang on to those documents that have original writing or signatures. An example is my parents’ marriage certificate, shown above. They were married by father’s uncle and I think he filled out the form. I don’t have a good, logical reason for this decision. It just feels right because these documents feel special. I have the space in my file cart and the files are already created, so it will be a simple matter to file them. If I have to create a new file folder label and put it on a folder to file something, I might feel like more trouble than it’s worth.
This is a matter of personal preference and I understand that my preferences might change. (And you may have a completely different preference.) If I end up with a lot more and it feels too laborious, I may revisit this criterion!
I’d say keep them. They are a tangible physical reminder of your ancestors’ lives. Your ancestors kept them for a reason and they have their imprint all over them. They tell a story and every document has evidence above and beyond the words on the page. Every mark and crease tells a story. And, who knows, in the future technology might be able to yield evidence of your ancestors that isn’t available now. Think of the lingering traces of the past from DNA evidence. Those paper documents might hold evidence we haven’t even dreamed of yet.
David, thank you for sharing your perspective. The papers I’m dealing with today are much more modern (just one generation before me), but I think I might want to add a criterion. If the paper was touched by my ancestors (as opposed to being printed later by a vital records office), I hang on to it. I really appreciate your comment!
Yes, I agree. I just have an almost suspicious belief that I ought not to dispose of anything that an ancestor handled. Maybe that’s why I have so much paper. But I am transitioning all my research to digital, and it’s such a relief. I can’t believe how much it’s speed up my research.
What do you do with things like the physical guest books signed at the funeral home by those attending a visitation?
That’s a great question, Lindi. I would keep them in some sort of archival box. I don’t have any from grandparents or other ancestors, but I will keep my mother’s (after my father passes; he has it now) and my father’s. To me, they’re precious. If I did encounter one from an ancestor I would keep it. But it’s a personal choice.
I gave mine to the Oklahoma Historical Society Archives – that way other family members have access after am gone –
That’s fantastic, Robert! Thanks for sharing.