Archiving made easier
Being able to scan documents from my phone makes my archiving process much easier. You can skip standing over a scanner machine with your stacks of documents with simple applications for your phone. You could also ask a family member for help if you don’t have an iPhone or scanning device.
I’ve talked to a few other people who archive using LivesArchived and we have similar struggles. Everyone WANTS to make an archive– it’s just a matter of getting organized. Some of people’s biggest set backs are small inconveniences, like access to a scanner.
The Tips
I wanted to share how 3 simple scanning and archiving tricks that have helped me get started. I still have binder of photos, but I have finished at least one album using these tricks.
1. Scanning Shortcut Apps:
For me, using my phone to scan is a much easier way to upload images than the traditional scanning machines. I started by just taking pictures with the camera on my phone. After some research, now I use the scanning app GenuisScan (free at the iTunes app store) to get higher quality images. Some others include Turbo Scan (1.99 app store), Scanner Pro(6.99 app store), and Prizmo (9.99 app store). You can upload your scanned images to your archive from your phone. You can also just send a quick email the scanned images to yourself. Once you email the images you can open the files on your computer screen so you can see them as part of the whole archive.
2. Bit by Bit:
When you have a huge pile of photos or boxes of letters the process of archiving can seem like it would take way too much time. Instead of trying to tackle it all in one sitting, I’ve found that a few documents at time can help you get started. This way you can feel accomplished for having something uploaded to your collection while also not having to spend hours at a time to try to finish a binder of photos in a day. Personally I have been doing about five pictures at a time. After only a few days I already uploaded photos of my family from the 1920s all the way to this year in 2017.
3. Cleaning Up Your Collection:
Another thing to keep in mind is that even though you have giant piles of pictures it’s okay to part with some of them. Going through my own family albums I have found plenty of blurred photos or pictures ripped in half. Everything we save doesn’t have to go into an archive, but that doesn’t mean these pictures have to get thrown out. You save time by not scanning every single image. Only picking the “highlights” of a photo album or piles of letters lightens the work of the archivist.
I hope these tips help you start your archive. It’s good to remember everyone’s archive is unique so our processes will all be a little different. Whether you’re archiving for your own work, a family member, or your whole family history having some tools and tips helps you focus on the story you’re building. If you still prefer traditional scanning, LivesArchived provides scanning services support.
To see the archive I’m building go here.
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