Kathy’s Corner » Documenting Our Collections: Ask the Archivist » April 2026

Kathy’s Corner » Be a Better Ancestor: Lori Olson White & Today’s Stories » May 2026

Many thanks to our spectacular guest, Lori Olson White [https://substack.com/profile/61971012-lori-olson-white], our fantastic presenter, Kathy Stone [https://open.substack.com/users/177868959-kathy-stone?utm_source=mentions], and our audience, including Linda Teather [https://substack.com/profile/185449888-linda-teather], Kimberly C., Marian Beaman [https://substack.com/profile/49691247-marian-beaman] Kathy Nielsen, and Rhonda Wilhite and all of you following along from this recording. Your precious family artifacts today just might unravel a descendant’s genealogical brick wall. Share what you’ve learned today from Lori and Kathy and spread the word. Your generous ❤️s, restacks, and shares are a wonderful way to share this post with others. These free programs are made possible by the generous support of our Patrons [http://projectkin.org/patrons]. Learn more, Projectkin.org/about [http://projectkin.org/about] & join us! Time for Our Stories On Kathy’s Corner this year, we’ve focused on solutions to the challenges of managing the personal archive we’ve inherited from our ancestors. Today, we turned to consider the ancestor we’ll turn into in twenty, fifty, or a hundred years from today. Kathy’s guest, Lori Olson White [https://substack.com/profile/61971012-lori-olson-white] is an author, historian, genealogist, and story collector. She’s the author of dozens of books, including the Century Safe Method [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GW5N89D5/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_PGP62MEHZNPT5JM53RBS?linkCode=ml1&tag=houstonnewmom-20&linkId=e7a25fd6d2a905edf2d9313945e8825e], and publisher of the Lost and Found Storybox [http://loriolsonwhite.substack.com], Culinary History is Family History [http://culinaryhistoryisfamilyhistory] on Substack. Today, Lori is building on the method she discovered behind Annie Diehm’s Century Safe [https://loriolsonwhite.substack.com/p/annie-deihm-the-woman-who-thought] to create a time capsule for her family. She’s now sharing her journey in a 22-part series, “Building My Bridge to 2076 [https://loriolsonwhite.substack.com/p/building-my-bridge-to-2076-episode-34c?r=10w950].” (It’s a terrific example of practicing what you preach.) Last month, Lori joined us to talk about this project in a special for Projectkin, which you can view here: It’s the perfect follow-on to our conversations about goal setting [https://open.substack.com/pub/projectkin/p/kathys-corner-goals-quests-and-getting?r=2tc6pc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web], our multi-part celebration of ephemera like postcards [https://open.substack.com/pub/projectkin/p/kathys-corner-postcards-pictures?r=2tc6pc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web], ask-the-archivist with Kate Jacus [https://open.substack.com/pub/projectkin/p/kathys-corner-a-roadmap-for-creating-122?r=2tc6pc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web], and the wonderful conversation we had in March with Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman] about the Postcard Treasure Box [https://open.substack.com/pub/projectkin/p/kathys-corner-a-roadmap-for-creating?r=2tc6pc&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web] her husband had inherited. Getting practical You may have heard or read about Lori’s project, today’s conversation took all of that as a starting point to focus on why this all matters so much. Kathy shared with us some practical tips on how to tell our stories, what to tell and some methods of telling them. Lori has graciously crafted a “Day-in-the-Life Journal” to get you started and asked us to share it with you with this recording. These were some of the software to help you tell your own story that Kathy mentioned: * Remento - Voice Recording ofMemories  www.remento.co [http://www.remento.co] * Storyworth - Written prompt service welcome.storyworth.com [http://welcome.storyworth.com] * VoicedMemories – Photos are the prompts my.voicedmemories.ca [http://my.voicedmemories.ca] Timeline-building tools: * Timeline Project by Knightlab, a JavaScript tool built by non-profit associated with Northwestern University, developed for journalists: timeline.knightlab.com [http://timeline.knightlab.com] (see Projectkin.org/stories250-timeline [http://Projectkin.org/stories250-timeline]) * Canva Timelines  canva.com/templates/s/timeline [http://canva.com/templates/s/timeline] Short simple questions: * A day in the life * The day I was responsible for… Forms of storytelling * Scrapbooks: Stories from the day they were born * Gifts from an ancestor: tell the story of the object from within the family * Quilts that can stories in any form * Collections of special documents (union cards, W2 forms, all kinds of things), yearbooks it’s not the object, it’s why the object is important… Even antique goblets. Here’s a reference to those goblets [https://projectkin.substack.com/p/projectkin-speakers-corner-line-up?r=2tc6pc] she’s mentioned.) Have some more ideas? Drop them in the comments and you just might inspire someone else. About Kathy With her decades of experience as a professional photo organizer, Kathy always has another special insight to get us through it. Learn more about Kathy’s Coaching [http://kathys-coaching.substack.com/]. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started! See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events [http://projectkin.org/events]. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe [https://projectkin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Kathy’s Corner » Documenting Our Collections: Ask the Archivist » April 2026

Many thanks to our special guest, Kate Jacus, our fantastic presenter, Kathy Stone [https://open.substack.com/users/177868959-kathy-stone?utm_source=mentions], and our audience, including Linda Teather [https://substack.com/profile/185449888-linda-teather], Bill Moore [https://substack.com/profile/51729824-bill-moore], Ann Rockley [https://substack.com/profile/13227539-ann-rockley], Kyla Bayang [https://substack.com/profile/316733498-kyla-bayang], and all of you following along from this recording. Your precious family artifacts today just might unravel a descendant’s genealogical brick wall. Share what you’ve learned today from Kate and spread the word. Your generous ❤️s, restacks, and shares are a wonderful way to share this post with others and, in the process, thank Kathy and Kate. These free programs are made possible by the generous support of our Patrons [http://projectkin.org/patrons]. Learn more, Projectkin.org/about [http://projectkin.org/about] & join us! Our special guest, Kate Jacus, is a staffer at the Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York [http://DHPSNY.org]. This remarkable program makes the skills of a professional preservation specialist available to libraries, archives, and historical organizations across the state, helping them care for and make their collections accessible. Kate also runs The Photo Curator [https://www.thephotocurator.com/], a business focused on organizing and preserving personal and family photo archives. Kate’s practical, real-world approach to caring for photographs, documents, and family “stuff” inspires us to curate our own collections. Kate was generous enough to share her slides for you to use as a reference while watching her presentation. In her example, Kate references using a log, spreadsheet, or other database to track physical items. This is Lisa Stokes’ blog post [https://lisastokesheritageresearch.com/documenting-heirlooms/] Kate referenced, though she suggested adding physical condition. Coming in May Inspired by Annie Diehm’s Century Safe [https://loriolsonwhite.substack.com/p/annie-deihm-the-woman-who-thought], Lori Olson White [https://substack.com/profile/61971012-lori-olson-white] is now building a time capsule of her own. What a perfect place to apply our newfound preservation skills. You may have heard about the “Bridge to 2076” in her talk for Projectkin in April: In May, she’ll tailor the discussion for Kathy’s Corner to specifically discuss the challenges of curating objects for the time capsule. It’s the perfect follow-on to our conversation with Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman] about her Treasure Box and today’s program about preservation. About Kathy With her decades of experience as a professional photo organizer, Kathy always has another special insight to get us through it. Learn more about Kathy’s Coaching [http://kathys-coaching.substack.com/]. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free because sharing your stories is that important. Let’s get this started! See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events [http://projectkin.org/events]. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe [https://projectkin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Kathy’s Corner » A Roadmap for Creating a Treasure Box » Mar 2026

Many thanks to our special guest, Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman], our fantastic presenter, Kathy Stone [https://open.substack.com/users/177868959-kathy-stone?utm_source=mentions], and our audience, including Marcia Keats Rudolph [https://substack.com/profile/185449859-marcia-keats-rudolph], Jennifer Jones [https://substack.com/profile/260013785-jennifer-jones], Linda Teather [https://substack.com/profile/185449888-linda-teather], and all of you following along from this recording. Do you have a collected group of heirlooms passed down in your family? Share the details in the comments below. Your generous ❤️s, restacks, and shares are a wonderful way to share this post with others and, in the process, thank Kathy and Jane. These free programs are made possible by the generous support of our Patrons [http://projectkin.org/patrons]. Learn more, Projectkin.org/about [http://projectkin.org/about] & join us! Today, we were treated to a presentation of the wonderful treasure box Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman?utm_source=mention] has discussed in posts for her publication, BJNL's Genealogy [https://open.substack.com/pub/bjnlsgenealogy]. This was the first post in the series. We were captivated from the start. Since several of these references also pull in details about the family story, you may also be interested in following along from Jane’s WeAre Archive. [https://app.weare.xyz/public/bjnls-family-history-archive/home] Her full BJNL’s Genealogy site is here. Given the detail in her slides, Jane graciously shared them with us as a PDF. Other references On the topic of family heirlooms, these are other related posts Kathy mentioned, first, from Paul Chiddicks [https://substack.com/profile/152592061-paul-chiddicks]’ WordPress site: Hidden Treasures Preserving the Stories Behind Family Heirlooms [https://chiddicksfamilytree.com/2024/12/19/hidden-treasures-preserving-the-stories-behind-family-heirlooms/], and this related post on Substack. In the context of curated heirlooms, we talked briefly about creating commemorative or time-constrained collections such as a Annie Deihm with the Century Safe captured in the fantastic five-part series of posts from Lori Olson White [https://substack.com/profile/61971012-lori-olson-white]. Coming in April Inspired by Annie Diehm’s Century Safe, Lori is now building a time capsule of her own. This collection will serve her family as a bridge to 2075, the 300th anniversary of our American Declaration of Independence. Join us on April 16 as she shares what she has in mind and how you can follow along to create your own time capsule: Resources In our conversation, Kathy mentioned several useful blog posts from her favorite supplier of preservation materials, Archival Methods. (These are not affiliate links; she’s a committed customer.): * Basic Tips for Storing Family Heirlooms www.archivalmethods.com/blog/storing-family-heirlooms/ [https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/storing-family-heirlooms/] * Storing Small Objects www.archivalmethods.com/blog/storing-small-objects/ [https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/storing-small-objects/] * Tips on Storing Quilts www.archivalmethods.com/blog/tips-on-storing-quilts/ [https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/tips-on-storing-quilts/] * How to Store a Flag www.archivalmethods.com/blog/how-to-archivally-store-a-u-s-flag/ [https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/how-to-archivally-store-a-u-s-flag/] * Using Textile Storage Kits www.archivalmethods.com/blog/textile-storage-kits/ [https://www.archivalmethods.com/blog/textile-storage-kits/] About Kathy With her decades of experience as a professional photo organizer, Kathy always has another special insight to get us through it. Learn more about Kathy’s Coaching [http://kathys-coaching.substack.com/]. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free. See all coming events in our calendar at Projectkin.org/events [http://Projectkin.org/events]. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe [https://projectkin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Kathy’s Corner » Postcards Part 2: How to Organize and Manage the Collection » Feb 2026

Many thanks to our fantastic speaker, Kathy Stone [https://substack.com/profile/177868959-kathy-stone] and our audience, including Ann Rockley [https://substack.com/profile/13227539-ann-rockley], Bill Moore [https://substack.com/profile/51729824-bill-moore], Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman], Jennifer Jones [https://substack.com/profile/260013785-jennifer-jones], Kyla Bayang [https://substack.com/profile/316733498-kyla-bayang], and Linda Teather [https://substack.com/profile/185449888-linda-teather]. Our wonderful audience today was treated to an incredibly useful summary of archival tools, insights, and perspectives from an expert who has dealt not only with museum-quality materials but also the practical trade-offs of preserving family artifacts. Did a friend share this post? Fantastic! Learn more about Projectkin and join our community of family historians hooked on stories. Projectkin.org/about [http://projectkin.org/about]. Today’s episode focuses on a topic not yet covered in the RootsTech conference program, at the foundation of almost every family’s collection: the physical materials among the inherited stuff. The topic came up in the context of her epic program in December when Projectkin members Jill Swenson [https://open.substack.com/users/17281869-jill-swenson?utm_source=mentions], Linda Teather [https://open.substack.com/users/185449888-linda-teather?utm_source=mentions], Dr. Mary M. Marshall [https://open.substack.com/users/21244770-dr-mary-m-marshall?utm_source=mentions], Ellen Thompson-Jennings, Jayme Blenkarn [http://substack.com/@jayb64], and Paula Collins [https://open.substack.com/pub/paulafromky] stepped up to share postcards in their family collections. Looking at these incredible items and the memories they held reminded us of the importance of preserving them properly. Postcards slip into that sometimes uncomfortable space between museum-quality artifact and cheap souvenir. As we quickly learned, one can damage the other. At the conclusion of her talk, there was an offline discussion of programming at RootsTech as it related to archiving. There are few sessions tailored to this, just one class surfaced: * An Archivist’s Guide to Preserving and Managing Your Family Treasures [https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/an-archivists-guide-to-preserving-and-managing-your-family-treasures] with Katharine Korte Andrew [https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/speakers/katharine-korte-andrew/en] (includes a syllabus for the talk). Kathy additionally recommended a vendor talk from * How to Save and Share Your Genealogy Research and Memories for Generations [https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/session/how-to-save-and-share-your-genealogy-research-and-memories-for-generation] with Glen Meakem [https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/speakers/glen-meakem/en] of Forever.com [http://Forever.com]. No syllabus was provided. The following are resources and references Kathy mentioned in her talk. Though many of the listed blogs and videos can be provided by vendors, they’re offered without affiliate or sponsored links. Archival Resources & References Archival Methods * ArchivalMethods.com [http://ArchivalMethods.com] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/how-to-begin-to-preserve-your-family-archive [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/how-to-begin-to-preserve-your-family-archive] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/agents-of-deterioration [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/agents-of-deterioration] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/preventing-light-damage [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/preventing-light-damage] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/postcards-archival-care-for-preservation [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/postcards-archival-care-for-preservation] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/how-to-store-old-letters-and-documents [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/postcards-archival-care-for-preservation] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/archival-definitions-acid-free-buffered-unbuffered [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/archival-definitions-acid-free-buffered-unbuffered] * ArchivalMethods.com/blog/beyond-photo-safe-mean [http://ArchivalMethods.com/blog/beyond-photo-safe-mean] * ArchivalMethods.com/product/textile-storage-kit [http://ArchivalMethods.com/product/textile-storage-kit] * From Archival Methods’ YouTube channel @ArchivalMethods [https://www.youtube.com/@ArchivalMethods]: Gaylord * Gaylord.com [http://Gaylord.com] * info.Gaylord.com/resources/what-does-that-mean-acid-lignin-free [http://info.Gaylord.com/resources/what-does-that-mean-acid-lignin-free] * info.Gaylord.com/resources/acid-free-vs-archival [http://info.Gaylord.com/resources/acid-free-vs-archival] Certifications for Permanence (“Acid-free”, lignin-free, etc.) * Image Permanence Institute rit.edu/ipi [http://rit.edu/ipi/] * Photographic Activity Test rit.edu/ipi/photographic-activity-test [http://rit.edu/ipi/photographic-activity-test] * ISO 18916 iso.org/standard/84731.html [http://iso.org/standard/84731.html] * Photographic Activity Tests of Various Adhesives resources.culturalheritage.org/pmgtopics/2013-volume-fifteen/61-T15_Down_et_al.pdf [http://resources.culturalheritage.org/pmgtopics/2013-volume-fifteen/61-T15_Down_et_al.pdf] Canadian Sources * carrmclean.ca/archival-supplies.html [http://carrmclean.ca/archival-supplies.html] * provincialarchives.alberta.ca/shop [http://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/shop] * canada.ca/en/conservation-institute.html [http://canada.ca/en/conservation-institute.html] Resources for Postcards * worldpostcardday.com/history [http://worldpostcardday.com/history] * phototree.com/book_photo_postcard.htm [http://phototree.com/book_photo_postcard.htm] * playle.com/realphoto [http://playle.com/realphoto] * siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/postcard/postcard-history [http://siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/postcard/postcard-history] * library.ualberta.ca/peel/postcards/the-postcard-a-brief-history [http://library.ualberta.ca/peel/postcards/the-postcard-a-brief-history] * postalmuseum.org/collections/highlights/postcards [http://postalmuseum.org/collections/highlights/postcards] * southpeacearchives.org/blog/the-art-of-postcards-history-in-the-mail [http://southpeacearchives.org/blog/the-art-of-postcards-history-in-the-mail] * vintagepostcards.ca/Postcard_Eras.html [http://vintagepostcards.ca/Postcard_Eras.html] * lib.umd.edu/institute-american-deltiology [http://lib.umd.edu/institute-american-deltiology] * joycetice.com/johnson/catalog/rppc.html [http://joycetice.com/johnson/catalog/rppc.html] (Exaggerated Postcards) * britannicauctions.com/blog/rppc-postcards [http://britannicauctions.com/blog/rppc-postcards] * postcardhistory.net/2020/08/a-look-at-leather-postcards [http://postcardhistory.net/2020/08/a-look-at-leather-postcards] About Kathy With her decades of experience as a professional photo organizer, Kathy always has another special insight to get us through it. Learn more about Kathy’s Coaching [http://kathys-coaching.substack.com/]. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free. You can also bring your friend along to join us at our next Kathy’s Corner event. See our calendar for upcoming events [http://Projectkin.org/events]. We’ve partnered with Geneabloggers [http://geneabloggers.com] in the RootsTech Ride Along this year. Please visit our joint site at RideAlongPartners.org [http://RideAlongPartners.org] to learn more. Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe [https://projectkin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Kathy’s Corner » Goals, Quests and Getting Stuff Done: What's Your Plan? » January 2026

Thank you for joining us today, Jane Chapman [https://open.substack.com/users/99426408-jane-chapman?utm_source=mentions], Jennifer Jones [https://open.substack.com/users/260013785-jennifer-jones?utm_source=mentions], Marian Beaman [https://substack.com/profile/49691247-marian-beaman] Becky Hetchler [https://substack.com/profile/186505689-becky-hetchler], Linda Teather [https://substack.com/profile/185449888-linda-teather], Marci Keats Rudolph 🙏 [https://open.substack.com/users/185449859-marci-keats-rudolph?utm_source=mentions], Bill Moore [https://substack.com/profile/51729824-bill-moore], Kimberley, and so many more. What a fantastic start to the new year. I was touched by the range of discussion. It has put us in a wonderful, positive mindset for planning and making forward progress in our journeys this year. I was especially touched by the notion of supporting, nudging, and encouraging each other along on the journey. Did a friend share this post? Fantastic! Learn more about Projectkin and join our community of family historians hooked on stories. Projectkin.org/about [http://projectkin.org/about]. As Projectkin, we’re hooked on family history stories. So often, these stories start with the stuff left for us by our ancestors. Deciding what to do with them is often a fast path to a Gulf of Overwhelm. In Kathy’s Corner, we’re here to get through it together. Today’s episode, Kathy Stone [https://substack.com/profile/177868959-kathy-stone] takes us by the hand to talk seriously about setting goals, or just taking a fresh look at goal setting. Below are a few useful resources mentioned during our conversation: Resources We’ll start with Kathy’s own post that started this conversation: As background, Kathy shared the post that inspired her to look at what she was trying to accomplish as a quest. This post from Ashley Janssen, “Why Traditional Goal Setting Doesn’t Always Work and What To Do Instead [https://ashleyjanssen.com/why-traditional-goal-setting-doesnt-always-work-and-what-to-do-instead/],” had her thinking about “growth loops.” That set us off on a discussion of goals in the context of a journey, a quest. As we went around the Zoom, Jennifer Jones added insight, reflecting on a new year post she’d released for her alternative publication, The Retirement Phase [http://jonesjenniferalison.substack.com]: We also discussed strategies for managing the overwhelm in terms of your genealogical research. One approach Jane Chapman [https://substack.com/profile/99426408-jane-chapman] mentioned combines her research on three substacks (BJNL’s Genealogy [https://bjnlsgenealogy.substack.com/] and Kyeburn Diggings One-Place Study [https://kyeburndiggingsops.substack.com/]) with a repository using the WeAre.xyz [http://weare.xyz] platform. About Kathy With her decades of experience as a professional photo organizer, Kathy always has another special insight to get us through it. Learn more about Kathy’s Coaching [http://kathys-coaching.substack.com/]. As Projectkin, we’re here to help families tell their stories in any form. I feel strongly that our collections of photos and other artifacts are key to our memories and, in turn, our stories. If you think this post might interest a friend or colleague, why not just pass it along? These are public posts, and our events are free, made possible by the support of our Patrons [http://projectkin.org/patrons]. You can also bring your friend along to join us at our next Kathy’s Corner event. See our upcoming events here [https://tockify.com/eventscalendar/pinboard?search=kathy%27s&startms=1759302000000] . Get full access to Projectkin at projectkin.substack.com/subscribe [https://projectkin.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]