TMG-L Archives

Archiver > TMG > 2000-02 > 0949444658


From: David Murray <>
Subject: Re: TMG-L: Data Storage for the Future
Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2000 22:37:38 +0000


>QUESTIONS TO THE LIST MEMBERS:
>
>* How are YOU ensuring your data is preserved for the future? After
>all, none of use want to see all our work lost in a cleanout of the
>study after our death!!

I've seen this question asked so many times recently, in different ways in
different fora, that I've come to wonder whether there's a need for a
specialist List on the subject. I personally don't have time to organise
it, with a business to run and a lot of international travel, but would
certainly be a participant. Meanwhile, let's debate it on TMG-L.

At the very least I believe we should, when we have a reasonable amount to
preserve, provide copies to the nearest public archives office (in the UK
those are the County Record Offices; in some places they may be the better
libraries), if desired with a "sealed until" date and making clear that
although deposited there they remain private property, so that you can will
them to someone if you so wish. At least then the precious papers will be
properly cared for along with other historical documents.

As to printed media, I still am trying to find some time to experiment with
using lawyers' permanent black ink in an ink-jet printer on acid-free
paper. Will it work? I've heard so, and it would be marvellous .... but
somehow I expect technical problems.

As to electronic media, I suspect that archivists will make sure that they
can read old formats just as many today can read Latin. However, I suggest
simplifying their lives by storing everything as ASCII text files, not in
word-processor formats. There is a possibility that Acrobat PDF files
might become globally used for so many purposes for so long that they
become an essential component of future archivist skills, but it might be
risky to assume it.

Those are my first thoughts.

- David Murray -

============================================
David Murray, PO Box 73, Blackburn, England, BB2 7BS.
Web: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~fishwick/
============================================
Areas of focus (chiefly 17th to 19th centuries):
LOCAL HISTORY - North and East Lancashire; Westmorland
SURNAMES - Fishwick; Murray; Boyers; Ambler; Godmond
============================================
Other surname interests:
CRUST - PHYSICK - ATKINSON - WALKER - LAMB
TAYLOR - BARNES - BLENKHARN - SPICER - FOX
SUTTON - MOULTON - HUGGONSON - HINCHCLIFFE
BOOTH - BAIRSTOW - RUNCHMAN - LAMB
============================================
An enthusiastic user of "The Master Genealogist" software
============================================

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