Preserving Our Ancestor's Military Medals and Ribbons

Military medals and ribbons that our ancestor's received during their service may be part of our genealogical records and artifacts. Do you know how to store and preserve them?

Example of Military Medals

The process of preserving military medals and ribbons is quite simple. The materials you will need are:

• Archival Tissue Paper http://amzn.to/2ztXTxE

• Archival Box: http://amzn.to/2hitR5Z

Wrap each medal or ribbon carefully in a piece of archival tissue paper. Then lay the tissue covered medal or ribbon in the archival storage box. Putting more than one medal or ribbon in the box is perfectly okay, just don't stack them on top of each other. To make sure they don't move around in the box, crumple up more archival tissue paper and put around the medals and ribbons. It's that simple!

It would also be a good idea to include a typed or handwritten description of who the medals belonged to, information about their service, what type of medals they are and why they were awarded. 

You may want to display the military medals and ribbons in frames or shadow boxes. Displaying them in this manner is perfectly fine. My only caution would be to keep the framed medals and ribbons out of direct sunlight, especially the ribbons as they could fade if exposed to sunlight.

Example of Military Medal Display in a Shadow Box

So, as we remember those who gave all this Memorial Day, let's also take time to preserve their medals and ribbons.


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Our Ancestors and Their Gardens

We are at the beginning of the Summer months and many are planning and planting their home gardens. Cucumbers, squash, watermelon, corn, green beans and other vegetables are being planted to be eaten by family and friends. Have you thought about your ancestors and the gardens they planted?

Many of our ancestors were farmers and had fields and fields of crops. Then there are those of us that have ancestors that lived in the city and were lucky to have a potted plant.

Whatever our ancestors planted, harvested or just enjoyed, are we documenting it?

Mrs. P.L. Cook with canned garden vegetables, ca. 1946

During this Summer, why not take the time to add to your genealogy the types of crops your ancestors raised, the different flowers that were in their home gardens and all the different kinds of vegetables and fruits they grew for the family table. Did they grow prize winning roses or beautiful tulips?

Maybe your ancestors planted "Victory Gardens" also called "War Gardens" during World War I or World War II. Victory Gardens were vegetable, fruit and herb gardens planted at homes and public parks in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. These gardens were used to relieve the strain on the public food supply. These gardens were also considered a morale booster for those on the home front, especially those that had family members off fighting the war.

Victory Garden Poster, ca. 1945

My Mother grew up in Ohio and she often told me about the cherry trees that her father, Forrest Cecil Bartram, grew in their yard. I have documented this fact in my genealogy research. This same Grandfather retired from Goodyear Tire after over 40 years of service and moved with his wife and my Grandmother, Ida Kathryn (Drummond) Bartram, to Cocoa Beach, Florida where they raised all kinds of fruit trees. This was the first time I had ever heard of and tasted a kumquat. For the record, I don't like kumquats! LOL!

Kumquat Tree

So, as you are harvesting your bumper crops, take time to document your ancestors gardens!


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Archival File Folders: A Genealogists Best Friend

Recently, I was asked "Do you really need to use archival file folders, can't you just use regular file folders?".

Actually, I get this question all the time and I love answering it!

I work in an archive everyday at the Houston County, TN. Archives & Museum. We use tons of archival file folders when we are processing record. They are a staple archival material for our archives and should be a staple for every genealogist.

File of Records, Houston County, TN. Archives

You have been entrusted with your family documents, photographs and ephemera. Think of all the people that came before you that had these records and have passed them down in the family and now they are your responsibility.

Placing our most precious family records in archival file folders is important for the preservation of those records and the information contained in those records.

Archival file folders are a great records preservation tool to house original records safely so they are not damaged. Regular file folders that are not archival contain acidic chemicals that will eventually damage your records.

Correspondence Records, Houston County, TN. Archives

Archival filed folders come in different sizes to accommodate the different sizes of documents in our collections. The most frequently used sizes are letter size and legal size.

These can be purchased at any online archival materials store or on Amazon.

Letter Size Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/44EaUS1
Legal Size Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4bCY20J

Example of 1" tab on archival file folder

It is also important to get archival file folders that have a large tab for writing information about the documents inside the folder. I generally recommend genealogists get the archival file folders that have the 1-inch tab which provides ample room for writing dates and descriptions of what is in the folder.

Options of how to file the folders is entirely up to you. Using archival boxes, such as a Hollinger box (shown below), adds an additional layer of protection for your records. Putting the folders in filing cabinets is not ideal but is quite acceptable.

Archival Hollinger Box Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/4dDnntk 

Example of Hollinger Box

So, why use archival file folders? Because we want to preserve our family records so they survive for future generations to enjoy!


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Preservation Week 2024!

The week April 28-May 4, 2024, is Preservation Week!

Many libraries and archives are having programs and events highlighting how we can preserve our documents, photographs and artifacts and our history. If we don't save and preserve our family records, they will not be there for our descendants. 

This years theme for Preservation Week is Preserving Identities. You can read all about it at the Preservation Week webpage: https://preservationweek.org/

What can you as a genealogist do during Preservation Week and all year long to extend the life of your most precious documents? Here are some tips:

• Store genealogical and historical records in areas where the temperature and humidity do not fluctuate to extreme. Keeping records at a regular temperature and low humidity will prolong the life of genealogical records.
• Minimize handling of genealogy records. Digitizing as many records as possible will allow you to safely store the records and not handle them.
• Store all records in archival safe document sleeves, file folders and boxes. 
• Do not store records or display them in direct sunlight. The sunlight will fade any documents or photographs to the point they can not longer be read or seen.

These are just a few tips to get you started with preserving your most precious genealogical and historical records. If we take the steps to preserve our records, our descendants will be very grateful.



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