Uploaded June 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
In this demonstration an Archivist from the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) walks viewers through organizing, documenting, and preserving your own family archives and records. Rehousing your paper-based records (Ex: documents and photographs) involves moving records from their original storage to new archival-quality containers to ensure that they are protected and preserved for future generations. Viewers are reminded of the delicate nature of records and are encouraged to handle these items with care. Some suggestions are provided for proper labeling of file folders and boxes as well as advice related to documenting and file listing your records in a notebook or a digital spreadsheet noting the contents of the collection for ease in future access. Detailed information on how to organize the content of file lists is described in the demonstration. Several resources produced by the Provincial Archives of Alberta are referenced in the video including the PAA publication Family Histories available in PDF format online. This publication details logical record categories and recommendations for what records to keep.
English: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-08/family-histories-april-2018.pdf.
French: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-12/family-history-guide-fr.pdf
An additional resource produced by the PAA also available online is the Personal Archives Preservation Guide: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/who-we-are/we-preserve/personal-archives-preservation-guide
Viewers are reminded that archival records should be kept in cool, dark, and dry place and stored off the ground. For suggestions related to Preventing Water Damage and Caring for Water Damaged Paper-based Records please check out this video also available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/0DfJRk-sysE If you have additional conservation questions or if you are interested in learning more about contract conservation services available through the Archives Store, please contact: archivestore@gov.ab.ca
The Archives Store is located at the Provincial Archives of Alberta and has archival-quality supplies such as boxes, file folders, photo sleeves, envelopes, plastiklips, tissue paper, and pencils available for purchase. To view and order products please visit: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/shop or visit the PAA in-person.
To learn more about archival preservation supplies and how to use them, please see Preserving Family Records - Part 2: youtu.be/BpYEf8hE4VY
The Provincial Archives of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. provincialarchives.alberta.ca
Musical Credit: “Peg & Wayne” by Emily Nancy Guthrie & The Wildflowers
In this demonstration an Archivist from the Provincial Archives of Alberta (PAA) walks viewers through organizing, documenting, and preserving your own family archives and records. Rehousing your paper-based records (Ex: documents and photographs) involves moving records from their original storage to new archival-quality containers to ensure that they are protected and preserved for future generations. Viewers are reminded of the delicate nature of records and are encouraged to handle these items with care. Some suggestions are provided for proper labeling of file folders and boxes as well as advice related to documenting and file listing your records in a notebook or a digital spreadsheet noting the contents of the collection for ease in future access. Detailed information on how to organize the content of file lists is described in the demonstration. Several resources produced by the Provincial Archives of Alberta are referenced in the video including the PAA publication Family Histories available in PDF format online. This publication details logical record categories and recommendations for what records to keep.
English: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-08/family-histories-april-2018.pdf.
French: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/sites/default/files/2018-12/family-history-guide-fr.pdf
An additional resource produced by the PAA also available online is the Personal Archives Preservation Guide: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/who-we-are/we-preserve/personal-archives-preservation-guide
Viewers are reminded that archival records should be kept in cool, dark, and dry place and stored off the ground. For suggestions related to Preventing Water Damage and Caring for Water Damaged Paper-based Records please check out this video also available on our YouTube channel: youtu.be/0DfJRk-sysE If you have additional conservation questions or if you are interested in learning more about contract conservation services available through the Archives Store, please contact: archivestore@gov.ab.ca
The Archives Store is located at the Provincial Archives of Alberta and has archival-quality supplies such as boxes, file folders, photo sleeves, envelopes, plastiklips, tissue paper, and pencils available for purchase. To view and order products please visit: provincialarchives.alberta.ca/shop or visit the PAA in-person.
To learn more about archival preservation supplies and how to use them, please see Preserving Family Records - Part 2: youtu.be/BpYEf8hE4VY
The Provincial Archives of Alberta is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. provincialarchives.alberta.ca
Musical Credit: “Peg & Wayne” by Emily Nancy Guthrie & The Wildflowers
