When my mother was born in 1939, her family were stateless White Russians living in Shanghai, China. In 1947, they fled the advancing forces of Mao Tse-Tung and ended up in Panama. That early upheaval shaped her life in many ways—including, I believe, her tendency to hoard.

It wasn’t too much of a problem when I was younger, but by the end of her life, we were debating whether she really needed fifteen colanders in various shapes and sizes. When she died late last year, her apartment was still filled with unpacked boxes from a move five years earlier.

So, we set to work. Out went the excess colanders, pots, pans, and mugs. But as we sorted through the stacks of boxes, we found priceless family treasures: photographs of ancestors, letters from all three of her children from our boarding school years, and my father’s honors and medals. Tucked inside a folder, we even discovered a love letter my mother had written to my father on their first wedding anniversary.

In the years before her passing, my mother had started giving away small sentimental items. I inherited my grandfather’s silver cigarette case, engraved in Russian. My cousin, the family genealogist, received documents. My nephew took my father’s ceremonial sword, and my sister kept some of my mother’s jewelry.

But there was still so much left. Boxes overflowed with old photographs. My wife, the family’s tireless organizer, tackled the stacks. Out went photos of unknown landscapes. What remained were snapshots of childhood, family gatherings, and meaningful moments. My wife scanned the best ones, saving them to the Cloud, ensuring they’d be preserved for generations.

How to Preserve Family Heirlooms and Memories

If you’re facing a similar task, here’s how to keep what truly matters:

1. Sort and Prioritize
Gather photographs, letters, documents, and memorabilia—like children’s artwork or baby clothes. Ask yourself: Does this spark a strong memory or serve a historical purpose? If not, consider letting it go or passing it to someone who will appreciate it.

2. Digitize What You Can
To preserve delicate items and save space:

• Scan old photographs and important documents.
• Create digital photo albums or use cloud storage.
• Record oral histories with older relatives. Many love to reminisce, and their stories add context to heirlooms. (For question prompts, sites like Genealogy Bank offer great resources.)

3. Use Proper Storage Methods
If you decide to keep originals, store them properly:

• Photographs: Acid-free, archival-quality boxes or albums.
• Letters & Documents: Labeled folders or acid-free sleeves.
• Heirlooms: Labeled bins with protective padding.
• Textiles (quilts, clothing, etc.): Breathable fabric bags to prevent deterioration.

4. Create a Display or Memory Book
Instead of tucking everything away, showcase special pieces. I have shelves in my kitchen nook displaying ancestor photos and small mementos. You can also compile a scrapbook or a family history book. 

As luck would have it, one of our very own Move Makers helps clients safeguard their cherished photos, videos, and albums. Linda Campbell of Chaos Undone is an Ambassador for FOREVER® Storage. Unlike subscription-based services, FOREVER® provides permanent, secure storage—you own your space guaranteed for your lifetime plus 100 years. They also offer professional digitizing services for your physical photos and custom photo printing services like photo books and gifts.  As a FOREVER® Ambassador, Linda provides free guidance to help clients navigate the software and services with ease.  

If you want to find out more about the service, starting with a free 2GB account to explore all the features with no obligation, contact Linda at the following link: https://www.forever.com/ambassador/linda-campbell.

Linda also recommended that I check out the blog at https://artifcts.com/  She first found out about them through her affiliation with NASMM, and they provide a unique service as well as producing an excellent blog. (Let’s share the blog love here!)

Preserving family memories takes time, but it’s worth it. Every morning, I sip my coffee while looking at my mother’s smiling face in a photograph we kept. It’s a daily reminder of what truly matters.

Further Reading: From the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) blog: In Retirement, There’s Finally Time to Cherish the Past by Stephen Kreider Yoder and Karen Kreider Yoder, originally published in The Wall Street Journal on September 3, 2024.