Some items that are collected or kept for decades in families may have historical or cultural value. But much more important are the elements to which emotions, stories and memories are attached. Therefore, what should be saved for future generations among your collectibles or family heirlooms can only be determined by YOU. Remember, too, and give serious thought to whether or not the item you are wondering whether or not to keep will be of value to future generations as an item that will be meaningful in connecting them to their generation or older.
Not only is it important to choose items that will be passed on to future generations, but the question of how to care for your “memory triggers” is urgent, so as not to cause harm and to care for them as well as possible.
Protecting and saving family heirlooms from insects, moisture, and damage may seem like an unwanted addition to your already busy schedule. And the question of how to do it correctly can stop you.
But you have help, expert and authorized help to make the process fast, interesting, fun and cheap.
How to Get Professional Help for Your Precious Items
In fact, there is international interest in helping people like you get answers to your questions and how to help.
The well-known UK-based international conservation organisation, ICON, publishes primarily for professional conservators, non-profit volunteers, heritage professionals and many others who show a commitment to improving understanding of and access to cultural heritage.
Consulting with an accredited conservation professional is the best way to ensure that your objects are in good hands and will be preserved to the appropriate standards.
How ICON can help preserve your treasured items
You can easily access the ICON Conservation Register, where an up-to-date list of all ICON Accredited Members (ACRs) is provided.
ICON’s Accredited Members are a great source of help and inspiration to all as they work in a variety of settings; some work for museums, galleries or archives, and others work in the private sector. You can obtain collection care brochures, free of charge, that provide written conservation information for your members. Get your Collection Care Brochure here.
In the US, the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works provides similar information on its website.
The most widely distributed and authoritative easy-to-use help
However, the most widely distributed authoritative help is a series of books that are written more appropriately for public use in easy-to-understand language and instructions. The author of the Save Your Stuff series, Scott M. Haskins, is a renowned art conservator with decades of experience who also provides fun and interesting information on YouTube videos and blogs.
The Save Your Stuff series has had more than 8,000 copies distributed since the Northridge earthquake in Los Angeles in 1995.
The verbiage, approach, and presentations are written for public consumption and the 210-page Save Your Stuff – Collection Care Tips multimedia book is currently FREE to download.
The latest book, just added to the Save Your Stuff series, recently received a prestigious international award for Saving Your Pet from Disaster: The Essential Emergency Preparedness Guide for Feathered Friends and Fur Babies.
If your house was on fire and you had to grab it and go, would you take your house pet or family heirloom?
But while at first glance it may seem like a book on pet care, both family heirlooms and pets are sincere treasures you’d regret losing…for years.
Remember though, family heirlooms and household pets don’t mix!
Mr. Haskins commented, “At any time we can have items in the art conservation lab damaged by pets that cost $1,000 to restore…it’s quite common to see artwork scratched or urinated on by cats or torn up by dogs. Even crazed parrots have damaged works of art”.
This book is packed with tips for protecting your pet and the care and maintenance of collectibles. Available in print and Kindle on Amazon, but visit the website to order so you can more easily take advantage of the authorized continuing education included in the price of the book.
George Clooney, playing the role of George Stout as Monuments Men, introduced the American “war machine” to the value of protecting and saving the heritage of the European peoples. It worked!
To illustrate the importance of this idea of ​​preserving and saving family history items that document the legacy and heritage of a family (which after a few generations can represent many people), the film Monuments Men teaches an important lesson.
These World War II heroes, called “Monument Men,” received the Congressional Gold Medal. This heroic deed, as mentioned in the film, was the salvation of our heritage and history.
“While we must and will win this war, we must remember the heavy price that will be paid if the very foundations of modern society (or your family) are destroyed.” George Clooney. But it’s not about praising people and giving credit. It is about teaching an important and essential lesson. It wasn’t just about saving art.
It was about saving our heritage and history that was so important to the people in those European cities that turned the tide of the war. Do what is best for your family. Anything you can do, no matter how little, can mean a lot in the eyes and hearts of future generations of your family.
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