3 ms·

Under similar circumstances, I ended up with the one-page 1740 Treasurer's Account for the Town of Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[1] A neighbor died, and

Under similar circumstances, I ended up with the one-page 1740 Treasurer's Account for the Town of Cambridge, Massachusetts Bay Colony.[1] A neighbor died, and a relative came by and rapidly dumpstered their apartment. Including a stack of family photo albums. Now, I'd a childhood experience of family sorting things into two boxes: "toys to donate to the school sale", and "childhood photos and keepsakes". Think "all your eggs in one basket". The wrong box was then dropped off at the school. A few hours later, it had been categorized as trash, thrown out, and was unrecoverably lost. So I salvaged some of the albums in the dumpster. And eventually got in touch with the family to ask, "are your sure?". They were. But before I got around to throwing them out again, I found the document inside a folded photo card thing. And wondered if there had been more in the dumpster, among that which I didn't salvage. And if I died today, it would likely end up back in a dumpster. Need to find it a better home. [1] http://www.vendian.org/1740/ http://www.vendian.org/1740/

driverdan 8y ago
Have you contacted the Cambridge Historical Society to see if they want it or know of an org that would?
- mncharity 8y ago
  Many years ago. At the time, it didn't seem like they were set up for it. Time to ask again. Other options include Harvard (but I've encountered town-and-gown "oh, not Harvard!" sentiment), Boston Athenæum, and Boston Public Library?
WalterBright 8y ago
> Including a stack of family photo albums. How sad. At least one can photograph the pages with a phone, as keeping those would be costless.
- mncharity 8y ago
  > How sad. I recall them as saying it was mostly "other" families. A complexity that put it way over effort budget for me. > At least one can photograph the pages with a phone, :) Year 2000. Thus the pieced-together flatbed scans.
craftyguy 8y ago
> And if I died today, it would likely end up back in a dumpster. Need to find it a better home. How about a local (or regional) museum, or university library? There are probably lots of places that would accept this and look after it.

driverdan 8y ago

Have you contacted the Cambridge Historical Society to see if they want it or know of an org that would?

mncharity 8y ago
Many years ago. At the time, it didn't seem like they were set up for it. Time to ask again. Other options include Harvard (but I've encountered town-and-gown "oh, not Harvard!" sentiment), Boston Athenæum, and Boston Public Library?

WalterBright 8y ago

> Including a stack of family photo albums. How sad. At least one can photograph the pages with a phone, as keeping those would be costless.

mncharity 8y ago
> How sad. I recall them as saying it was mostly "other" families. A complexity that put it way over effort budget for me. > At least one can photograph the pages with a phone, :) Year 2000. Thus the pieced-together flatbed scans.

craftyguy 8y ago

> And if I died today, it would likely end up back in a dumpster. Need to find it a better home. How about a local (or regional) museum, or university library? There are probably lots of places that would accept this and look after it.