02/03/2021
Since many of us still have a lot of time on our hands, I thought this would be a timely article to share in case you’d like to clear the photo clutter in your space. Enjoy!
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Get “Phototastically” Organized this Year!
By Julie Pirtle, 2019 (all rights reserved)
A new decade is so much more than just a new year. It represents the opportunity to close the lid on a period of time and throw open a door to new adventures and goals. However, if you are like most people, you are also closing the lid on yet ANOTHER decade of photos and memorabilia that you plan to organize “some time”. Perhaps sometime is now! Let’s show those memories some respect and make them easier to access. Oh, no. I hear you grumbling already! To get you on board with the idea, I will first set you up for success for the present.
First, you will need an accordion file. Label it 2020, and then label each divider inside with a different month. As the year progresses, you will use this file to store all of the ticket stubs, heart touching greeting cards, vacation brochures…(you get the picture!). At the end of each month, take a moment to copy your calendar and place it in the file as well. This will be invaluable information down the line as you will have exact event dates at your finger tips. If you keep an electronic calendar, screen shot it on your phone and print it out.
Another key function of this accordion file is to store the pictures that you have taken that month. Yep. That means having them PRINTED on a regular basis. We all have thousands of pictures on our phone (yes…this includes me!). But in the end, this is where they usually stay. Take the time to edit your shots weekly and create a file of the ones that you want to actually print. At the end of the month, you can easily upload those pictures to an online site and have them sent directly to you. Once received, label them with the event/date and file under the appropriate month.
As far as electronic photo organization is concerned, I like to take it to a different level. When I upload my pictures to the computer, I create files for each event. I date it and tag it as follows: year –month-event (example: 2020 Jan New Years Eve). Once I have printed them, I add “PT” to the end. Because I scrapbook, I change the PT to “SB” at the end once I have completed those pages (example: 2020 Jan New Years Eve SB). This is easy to do and gives quick reference when looking at your picture files.
While I am on the topic of scrapbooking, many scrappers chide themselves for “being behind” with their books. Listen up. There is no “behind” when it comes to art – which is exactly what you are creating when you archive your family memories. Let that guilt go! Instead, start with the current year. With the tips above, it will be easy to do so. When you are current, then you can tackle some of the backlog that you may have while still feeling accomplished!
OK. So you are still reading this which means that you might not be grumbling as much. Let’s discuss the boxes of photos and stacks of souvenirs that are hiding in your closets and drawers. For this process, you will need some banker’s boxes, hanging files with tabs, large manila envelopes, a notepad and a photo pencil. (A photo pencil is usually a blue crayon like lead that allows you to write on the back of pictures without ruining them.)
With this process, you will have multiple boxes representing multiple decades. Place 11 folders in each box and label one for each year, as well as one in the front that says “unknown”. If you know that you will have a ton to sort, split the files between two boxes for that decade.
As you sort, place the items in the appropriate year. If you run across an item that you know was in that decade but can’t determine the year, place it in the “extra” file. As you organize, be sure to put pictures in envelopes and label them with the event/date if you know it. In addition, keep a list by decade/year of important events that happened. You will want this later.
Once you have emptied the house of floating photos and paperwork, pat yourself on the back. You have corralled your memories and it is now time to do the major organizing – by year. This time, prepare a box with 13 files. Label them by month and again, one that says “unknown”. Start with one of the decade boxes and pull out a year. Sort the year into the box of monthly files. When you come across those Disney tickets but realize you don’t have pictures printed, write it on your notepad.
Once you have completed that year, pull out the collection from each month and place it in a manila envelope. Label the envelope with the year, month and any special events that happened that month (i.e. the trip to Disneyland). Take a peek at the unknown file and try to combine into the monthly files (which should now be easier as you may similar items already filed).
When you are done with that decade, do the same with the unknown file in that box and assimilate the items into the proper year/month. Use the notes you took of special events for reference. The puzzle pieces will start to fit together even if the memory is failing you! When you are sorted and your years are all packaged up by month, it will be SO easy to access your memories. You will also be able to reference your list of pictures that need printed and start that process.
Whether you scrapbook or not, future generations will appreciate your efforts. As the archivist of my family history, there is nothing sadder to me than to see antique, unlabeled photos of lovely people who have lost their families. Do yourself and the generations after you a favor by taking the time to identify your pictures so they don’t end up in an antique store.
Venture forth to the office supply store and get those boxes. C’mon…you’ve got this!
