The Preserving Your History Brochure Series

The Preserving Your History Brochure Series was produced with the intent of assisting the general public - the people whose everyday lives make history. The brochures establish guidelines for preserving photographs and papers as well as provide a methodology for historical research about individuals and communities. The series currently includes four titles.

La serie de folletos "Preservando Su Historia" fue producido con la intención de ayudar al público en general -- quienes en la vida cotidiana son los que hacen la historia. Los folletos proveen una guía para preservar las fotografías y documentos personales, además ofrecen una metodología para la investigación de historia de individuos y de las comunidades. La serie ofrece los siguientes cuatro titulos:
You need Acrobat Reader to access pdf files

Doing Oral History (PDF)

Written by Dale Treleven of the UCLA Oral History Program, Doing Oral History will help with the development and production of an oral history by suggesting types of questions to ask during the interview, equipment necessary for a successful interview, and steps to take to preserve your interview tapes.
Versión en español/Spanish version: Haciendo La Historia Oral (PDF)     Chinese version (PDF)

Doing Your Neighborhood History (PDF)

In Doing Your Neighborhood History, Waverly Lowell of UC Berkeley provides a concise research guide to discovering your community's past. Lowell reviews necessary sources of information and types of documentation - published sources, visual materials, maps, public records and special collections - available for researching local history.
Versión en español/Spanish version: Haciendo la Historia de su Vecindario (PDF)     Chinese version (PDF)

Family Papers: Preservation and Organization (PDF)

Written by Alison Moore, formerly of the Pacific Telesis Archives & Museum, Family Papers: Preservation and Organization helps identify family archives, what kinds of papers are important to save, how to store papers to avoid damage caused by heat, moisture and light, and methods for organizing precious documents.
Versión en español/Spanish version: Papeles de Familia Conservación y Organización (PDF)     Chinese version (PDF)

Preserving Family Photographs (PDF)

In Preserving Family Photographs, Kathy Orlenko, a private conservator, provides a basic overview of photograph composition, best methods of storing, mounting and housing photos, identification of cellulose nitrate negatives, and simple preservation practices for home application.
Versión en español/Spanish version: Preservando las Fotografías de Familia (PDF)     Chinese version (PDF)

50 cents each for orders of 100 copies or less.
40 cents each for orders over 100 copies

Shipping: $1.50 for 1-20 brochures; $4.00 for 21-100 brochures; $9.00 for 101 or more brochures.
California residents must add 8% sales tax.

Order form (PDF)


Brochures can be ordered by sending a check payable to SCA to:

Society of California Archivists
1020 O Street
Sacramento, CA 95814

Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing of your order.


March 4, 2003 cgarner@ci.arcadia.ca.us