_Developing a family tree is obviously of great interest to genealogists and family historians, but without knowing ancestors beyond their name, dates, and the people they are connected to, the list becomes just that, a list. On the other hand, what if you knew (even if you’re not a genealogist) that your ancestor lived in a house just around the corner from where Oscar Wilde was visiting a famous actress, Lillie Langtry, who was scheduled to make her American debut in a play in the Park Theatre across the street from where your ancestor conducted business on a daily basis? Or what if your ancestor occupied the apartment just above where a gathering took place denouncing loyalty to President Lincoln during the Civil War? When we look over the information we have gathered as a family historian or genealogist, we find that it is the specific and unique details that breathe life into the names that one has gathered.  Rather than take the view that all people living in the 1800s dressed alike, took part in identical current events, ate the same food, lived in a house that was built in that era, and interacted with no one but their own relatives, why not discover what their personal life was really like?

_ Building the Framework

Before beginning the process of discovery that will bring life to your ancestor the foundation must be laid. This starts with developing the framework of a plan including the choice of a family member who will be the focus individual and the location that is to be searched. While discovering the history of a dwelling, the information may touch on more than one life in the family, but your research should always return to the individual who is the focus of your search. Next, record all the background information beginning with the property street number and name. Locate the designated block and lot numbers which are generally found at the municipal or county clerk and often available online as well. Include the current town, county, and state keeping in mind that town and county lines may have changed over time. Part of your foundation investigation will include searching building records, studying and recording the physical aspects of the architecture and what you observe about its construction and possible alterations.

_Construction Materials

Once you have made a building choice and have your framework in place, a number of resource materials are available to begin constructing your ancestor’s life story including architectural books, municipal archives, online resources, local, county, and state libraries, building records, tax records, city directories, censuses, genealogy databases, architectural resources, and my favorite, newspapers. Organization is essential and knowing/discovering the area history as well as state, country, and world events will enhance your ancestor’s story and possibly dredge up additional questions that need to be explored.  

Finishing Touches

Though there may be several dwellings and/or businesses in your ancestor’s past, as a general rule, each should be researched separately after which consideration should be given as to whether or not the history of the buildings should be woven together. Producing a cohesive story from what can amount to hundreds of pieces of information is an art which is a subject for another blog entry. Throughout future blog entries on this topic, specific steps and tips for how to search some of the individual resources, and breathe life into your ancestor through house histories, will be explained in more detail.

Often we decide to begin the search for our family lineage because we have come across a box full of  old photos or documents. Often old documents and pictures will not have been carefully preserved. They will be in old photo albums that increase the rate of deterioration or in boxes where the documents will have unusual stains, or be stuck together from bits of adhesive that went awry . Though we may know that there are better ways to store these mementos, inevitably they find their way back into the same box or album. This is often because we just don’t have the time to give them a better place, or even more likely, we just don’t know what that better place is or how important it may be.

While attending a workshop on preserving photos and documents given by the National Archives at New York City during their open house this week I learned some helpful tips that I would like to pass on to you. I hope the information will show you how important…and how easy it is to make sure that your ancestors documents and photos last a for generations to come.

 The "No" Principle

Let me begin by giving you these four  principles to follow:

1.       No humidity above 60%

2.       No light – or as little as possible

3.       No heat – direct or otherwise (ex. – attic during the summer)

4.       No pollutants – smoke, dust, etc.

What can happen if we don’t heed these four principles? Basically, what the principles have in common is energy. This energy, when coming in contact with our photos and documents, produces a destructive chemical reaction. 

Sounds easy enough, but this means no attic, no basement, and during the heat of the summer when the humidity rises above 60%, some place that is relatively cool, but not the refrigerator (okay, I know you wouldn’t put them in the fridge). Light fades photos and the writing on documents. The exposure to sunlight and even fluorescent light is cumulative and irreversible.

Aside from the chemical reaction, there is an additional major problem that becomes very evident to us after it has become too late to save the items from their certain demise. Moisture.  This can come in several forms. Mold caused by moisture is one of those forms which will accelerate the breakdown of the paper. Secondly, bugs love moisture and find that the documents and photos make grand meals turning your treasures into a perforated looking sieve. Then there is acid migration. Acid what you ask? Ever notice some old photos or documents that look as though they have a rusty water stain? That is the moisture assisting the acid from whatever you have the items stored in to leach into your documents and photos.

Ok, now we know all the horrors that can damage and destroy. So what can be done? How do we keep this from happening or continuing?

Storage

 I cannot emphasize enough that all photo albums are not created equal and there are many which can do more damage than good. The best place to look for storage products are archival companies. As difficult as that might sound, with the internet and online shopping it is easier than walking out your door to find a store that carries the products you need.

PLASTIC SLEEVES - While there are plastic sleeves available that are acceptable such as polyester, polyethylene, and polypropylene, buyer beware. Manufacturers often add other chemicals and that means the plastic is not pure. This will not preserve your photos well.

DIGITAL IMAGING – This type of medium has come a long way. The best thing we can do is to digitize the photos and documents, have them restored digitally and store them on a server or hard drive.

ELECTRONIC MEDIA - If you are considering using electronic media such as a CD or DVD, do not use it as your main storage since minor scratches may be all that is needed to lose the entire contents. Keep the CD/DVD in a controlled environment (following the four principals), periodically copy it to keep your media up to date, and use a protective acid free sleeve.

Displaying

If you have some photos that you would like to display, have quality copies made and store the original in archival quality storage sleeves and boxes. Or, if you decide to display the originals, keep the document or photo from coming in contact with the glass by using a window mat. Also, make sure that the backing board is acid-free to prevent acid migration from “burning” through. Lastly, avoid using adhesives by using photo corners to mount the photo or document.

To sum it up and simplify, remember the four "No" principles and use archival quality storage products. By following those simple rules you are on your way to giving your photos and documents a better chance of being enjoyed for generations to come.

Source of Supplies

• Conservation Resources International (conservation supplies, photographic supplies) http://www.conservationresources.com
• Archival Methods, L.L.C. (archival storage and presentation products) www.archivalmethods.com
• Light Impressions (albums, photo and document storage) http://www.lightimpressionsdirect.com
• University Products (supplies for conservation and preservation quality storage) http://www.universityproducts.com
• American Institute for Conservation (information about conservation practices and help in locating and selecting professional conservation services) http://www.conservation-us.org

(Please note that Legacy Roots, L.L.C. does not endorse or make any claims regarding the materials sold by the companies listed.)

Changes in the New York City skyline occur on a regular basis often without us knowing how it happened. But for every change we see is another which was not allowed to take place. Occasionally ideas die early in the planning stages, but sometimes the death or alteration of an idea takes place after architects and owners have collaborated and money has been spent. How are some plans accepted while others are not? For those who are unfamiliar with the process, you may be surprised that the yea or nay comes through the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Though ninety percent of the 8,000 annually submitted applications are handled by staff, there are some which require a public hearing.

Most likely you will never attend a NYCLPC hearing unless you have a building that is up for alteration, you object to the alteration that your neighbor is making on their building, or you represent a preservation organization.  My attendance was self motivated by my desire to learn more about all aspects of historic properties. I wanted to know who it was that watched over the sea of historic buildings and districts and who it was that could change the face of the city with a thumbs up or decisively keep a building from alterations with a thumbs down.

As I walked into the hearing room on my first visit I felt at least one person must be wondering what committee I was on, what architectural firm I was with, or what position I held with the Commission. It brought a slight discomfort that I was expected to be Someone, but I allowed them to keep guessing as I quietly took my seat and pulled the agenda print-out from my bag. The list of buildings being considered for alterations on a given hearing date is conveniently posted on the NYCLPC website about 3 weeks prior; this gives anyone interested time to look over any proposals that are of interest, visit the properties and view supporting papers the Friday before. 

Presentations & Development

Presentations usually included the tenant/owner and the architect of the building in question. Numerous Coroplast boards covered with photographs of before and after renditions and architectural drawings were displayed and discussed occasionally accompanied by PowerPoint. Commission questions to the presenter followed relating to materials being used, changes in the skyline and street view, architecture and preservation of existing material. A discussion among the Commissioners and an announcement of their determination closed each presentation.

Construction & History of Buildings

Quite a few buildings up for discussion that day were built in the 1800s and the Commission took the time to thoroughly consider things like whether or not the brick that a store owner suddenly discovered behind a façade should remain exposed. Along with learning about the basics of historic building construction, several presenters went through the entire history and evolution of their building. I was able to get a feel for the area in which the building was situated and learned about the people who make up this great city. Some presenters were just doing what was necessary to move on with construction while others were very concerned about the preservation of their building and wanted to gain the Commission’s assistance in alteration designs.

Ongoing

Believe it or not, the Commission runs through this routine 24-26 times three or four times a month. As part of New York House Histories communications, I plan on sharing some of the details of select buildings that come before the Commission. If you are interested in a particular area of the city let me know. In the meantime take a visit to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission website at http://www.nyc.gov/html/lpc/html/home/home.shtml  It is an amazing educational experience about those who regulate the city skyline.