What to do with old documents?

[QuiltyMom]

Me again with another "what do I do with this stuff" question. haha! Aren't you lucky???

I'm in the slow process of cleaning/purging/organizing my bedroom. It's my office, scrapping and all around junky space. Everything I don't know what to do with eventually ends up here. Sigh.

So this morning I opened up a box Mom gave me when we moved her out of her house over 4 years ago, things I needed to go through when I "had the time". I knew it was memorabilia, but I wasn't ready for what I found: the old VA loan papers for purchasing the house I grew up in, my parents' report cards, diplomas, certificates, graduation ceremony programs, obituaries/memorial service programs from relatives, more old photos, greeting/post cards from my grandparents... I think you get the idea. I know I need to scan most of this and I could make a photobook from it all, but what physical things do I really keep? I've been going through so many things since Mom passed away that I can't think anymore.

Any thoughts?

 

[Tree City]

It's my office, scrapping and all around junky space. Everything I don't know what to do with eventually ends up here. Sigh.

Sounds like my master bedroom, too! I've been slowly organizing mine since the kids started school...you know, 2 months ago.

Anyway, I'd recommend shredding anything you don't want that has personal info on it. As for what to keep, I'm not the person to ask because I would probably photograph the top 10 items (or if I've got time and I'm feeling nostalgic, then maybe the top 15 items lol). And then I'd throw away everything but the one item that really calls to me. Or maybe I'd be crazy and keep 2 or 3 things, like their diplomas and maybe the deed to my childhood home. (Not the loan papers, but the paper deed, if you have it.)

Note: I'd keep all photographs because to me, photos are a separate category from the papers, cards, etc. And then I'd ask family for help identifying people in the photos if they're not already marked. Once I've got that sorted, I'd throw out the photos that have no value to me, like photos of people who can't be identified.

Having said all that... Jan, you keep what you think matters. No one can tell you how to go through this process. I'm a scorched-earth type of purger. I really love the freedom I feel when I go through stuff and get rid of things... but not everyone likes that feeling.

 

[Kiana]

Unless it had personal handwriting I'd probably scan in and then shred the physical copies too. Unless something just called out to me to keep.

 

[bestcee]

Yep. I'm in the camp above. I'd scan it, and then shred or recycle it. But I come from a father with paper hoarding tendencies, who has boxes and boxes of stuff that is pointless.
Even handwriting, I'd scan, and destroy. Because I don't want to store it, nor make it my kids problem.

 

[BevG]

Maybe keep one report card if there is something special about it, like a odd class name or teacher note, or their senior year, or something. Of course, scan things that are important.

My husband kept his grandfather's membership certificate from the Future Farmers club in high school. Since his grandfather was a farmer his whole life it was kind of neat to he where he started.

 

[GlazeFamily3]

We got a shredder pretty reasonably to dispose of any documents we don’t need anymore... now to find the time to go through all the documents so we can put that shredder to use!

 

[janedee]

From a genealogy standpoint, I'd keep it all! I wish I had documents like that from my family. Scanning it is important just in case the actual documents were lost at some point, but honestly, there's no substitute for the real thing.

 

[dawnmarch]

I just scanned a whole box of memorabilia from high school and tossed the original. I kept a couple things (my HS diploma and a couple letters) but I was SOOO happy to say goodbye to that box.

 

[patsyt]

My problem was that everything was calling my name but moving from 1 very small and 1 medium small house to only 1 very small house meant most of it had to go! I did scan hundreds of items and threw away the originals (especially ones from my mil that were musty smelling). I love to use the scans on my pages by adding either the whole paper piece or choosing just the text and using that. I love finding documents that have my ancestors handwriting but I've found that whether it's the original, a photo, a scan, or a microfilm copy doesn't matter as much as being able to see their handwriting. Good luck with your stash!

 

[HavaDrPepper]

From a genealogy standpoint, I'd keep it all! I wish I had documents like that from my family. Scanning it is important just in case the actual documents were lost at some point, but honestly, there's no substitute for the real thing.

Even from a genealogy standpoint, IMO I wouldn't keep all of it. Scan it -- yes. But no to physically keeping it unless it is something you want to scrap traditionally.

I went through a lot of drawers in furniture in my house last winter. Note: My parents built this house over 50 years ago and turned it over to me 20 years ago so 100% of the house has their stuff.

My mother kept EVERYTHING. I found the receipts for their wedding in 1954. I found paperwork on house improvements over the years (now know when certain things were done). Found souvenirs from trips they took without me... maps, name tags etc and even the receipts for payments for these trips in the 80's. I actually kept very little of it. However, for the house improvements, I started a spreadsheet and entered the information (even searched for items I've done in the last 20 years) so I have a more complete accounting of what was done to the house. Instead of trying to guess how many years I have had the water heater or heat pump, I now know.

For the few items I did keep, I have them in a storage box and will either scrap them traditionally or scan them at some point. I've been too busy with the remodeling and housing items to actually do it just yet. And, yes, being retired doesn't mean having all the time in the world to do this stuff.... I'm busier than I was when I worked!

I am in the time of my life that I want to get rid of things so that someone else doesn't have to do it (like you are!) when I'm gone. Because, believe me, I have a basement full of stuff that my mother felt she needed to keep... my baby bed is still down there and I am 62 years old! I've been working on this for a year and am no where being close to being done!

 

[cookingmylife]

From a genealogy standpoint, I'd keep it all! I wish I had documents like that from my family. Scanning it is important just in case the actual documents were lost at some point, but honestly, there's no substitute for the real thing.

As my 50 yr old son is the one who us doing most of the genealogy, I have to agree with Jane. Scans are wonderful but there is nothing like holding the paper that a great great grandparent wrote or touched or whatever. I do believe in energy being attached to items and I also believe you have to get to a certain age to want to save these items. Just a fyi this son is my absolute neatnik so seeing him keep original items tells me how much HE values those connections.

On another note, my mid 50s friend's mother died a couple years ago and the mother and the late father were very involved in politics so there was a lot of memorabilia. (The father was a reporter and once president of the National Press club.) A lot of this stuff was donated to local archives of the political party who were thrilled to have stuff from the 50s and 60s.

 

[cookingmylife]

Oh on another note I have a box of journals I started back in the mid 80s. They are going to go with me to a friend who has a fire pit. I'm not reading them either.

 

[patsyt]

AMEN to the "And, yes, being retired doesn't mean having all the time in the world to do this stuff ... I'm busier than I was when I worked!" We've been trying to get that thought across to others for as long as we've been retired!

Even from a genealogy standpoint, IMO I wouldn't keep all of it. Scan it -- yes. But no to physically keeping it unless it is something you want to scrap traditionally.

I went through a lot of drawers in furniture in my house last winter. Note: My parents built this house over 50 years ago and turned it over to me 20 years ago so 100% of the house has their stuff.

My mother kept EVERYTHING. I found the receipts for their wedding in 1954. I found paperwork on house improvements over the years (now know when certain things were done). Found souvenirs from trips they took without me... maps, name tags etc and even the receipts for payments for these trips in the 80's. I actually kept very little of it. However, for the house improvements, I started a spreadsheet and entered the information (even searched for items I've done in the last 20 years) so I have a more complete accounting of what was done to the house. Instead of trying to guess how many years I have had the water heater or heat pump, I now know.

For the few items I did keep, I have them in a storage box and will either scrap them traditionally or scan them at some point. I've been too busy with the remodeling and housing items to actually do it just yet. And, yes, being retired doesn't mean having all the time in the world to do this stuff.... I'm busier than I was when I worked!

I am in the time of my life that I want to get rid of things so that someone else doesn't have to do it (like you are!) when I'm gone. Because, believe me, I have a basement full of stuff that my mother felt she needed to keep... my baby bed is still down there and I am 62 years old! I've been working on this for a year and am no where being close to being done!