I’m Pamela Mayer, Your Guide to Family Archiving
Because if it’s complicated or overwhelming, it won’t get done.
You’re the Keeper of the Flame
Don’t let the legacy fade away.
The family collection of old photos, documents, and mementos found its way to you—one box or many boxes at a time. Holding old family photos, birth and death certificates, military discharge papers, deeds, wills, passports … the list goes on. Now it’s stored in various and sundry places around your house.
You don’t want the collection to fall into disrepair on your watch. If you have an unorganized collection that doesn’t look special, you’re giving the next generation a Pink Permission Slip to discard the family legacy.
What to do? Where to start?
That’s Where I Come In.
I provide family archive consulting services because I believe Family Archives are worth preserving.
I can help you come up with creative and cost-effective archiving solutions. It’s so important that future generations understand why the collection is important enough to save. I can guide you in ways to give the materials family context.
You will love your Family Archive. The collection will be so beautifully organized and neatly stored that the person that you point to as the next Keeper-of-the Flame will say, “Yes, please!”
My Archival Education & Experience
I went to graduate school at UNC, earning my MSLS. My case study about crowdsourcing on Footnote.com (now known as Fold3) won a national award and was published in the American Archivist, the national journal of the Society of American Archivists.
When I created the archives for a small non-profit pre-K through 12 private school from scratch, I did it on a shoestring budget. What this means for you is that I know how to balance risk vs. expenditure. I can design a plan for you based on your priorities, concerns, and budget. Whether it’s a single box or a whole lot more, I can absolutely guide you in the creation of your family archive.
I’m on a Mission.
I want to keep your Family Archive in your family and off the walls of Cracker Barrel.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Cracker Barrel, but it makes me a little sad to see those abandoned old photos used for restaurant décor.
(Not to worry. A plate of hot biscuits quickly dispels my sadness.)
Who doesn’t love a good
Venn diagram?
My sweet spot is the overlap of archives and genealogy → Family Archiving.
Easy as One—Two—Three
01
Sign up for one of my step-by-step family archiving courses or contact me for a complimentary one-hour consultation.
02
Learn professional archiving techniques, methods, tips, and tricks.
03
Create a family archive most people only dream about.
The most commonly preserved family items are photographs (85%), followed by birth certificates (60%) and letters (45%).
The Start of My Own Family Archive
When I was nine years old, I made my first foray into the wonderland of archiving & genealogy. I used my allowance to acquire my first item at a silent auction at the Woody Family Reunion in Decatur, Texas.
It’s my beloved photograph of my great-great-great-grandparents on the front porch of their log cabin. (It was a copy, not the original, but I was thrilled all the same!)
I Can’t Resist:
I can’t resist a genealogy institute, because I love to learn at the feet of the masters.
Weeklong courses are the best! I’ve attended the Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research (IGHR), the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy (SLIG), and the Genealogical Research Institute of Pittsburgh (GRIP).
In 2016, I completed the Advanced Methodology and Evidence Analysis course at IGHR.
My Pinch-Me-Is-It-Real Moment:
I attended the 2018 Genealogical Institute on Federal Records (Gen-Fed), a one-week program offering in-depth study of material held by the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and College Park, Maryland.
The National Archives is my Disneyworld! (And, yes, the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is my Disneyland!)
A Few of My Favorite Things
In addition to archives and genealogy, I enjoy reading, hiking, picking fruit (apples, peaches, strawberries), and eating pie at the Blue Bonnet Café in Marble Falls, Texas.
But enough about me…I’m here to help you!
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