What should we as genealogists and historians do with old
ephemera? Surely our children and grandchildren will not what these items when
we are gone. How do we know what we should save?
To some extent we need to look at what will be beneficial to
others in the future. What can the ephemera be used for? Perhaps they can be
used in genealogical or historical research or maybe by a business as part of research
on former equipment processes? There are many uncertainties to what can be
utilized and to what extent. Many organizations must look at what their mission
is and whether items are of relevance to that mission.
We can still take the time to find a home for items that we
feel are worth saving. Yet, how much effort do we put forth to that end? How do
we know if the ephemera was mass produced and whether it exists elsewhere? Why
should we even care? Consulting with others may be our best bet. Networks do
exist, it is just a matter of finding them. Iowa has the Iowa Museum
Association and that group does have a process for finding homes for artifacts
between museums. Many organizations can reach their membership through email or
a printed newsletter. Whichever the case, we can get some direction to answer
our questions and determine if our ephemera is worth saving. We might just find
a worthy home to preserve items where they can be displayed and incorporated
into exhibits for educational interpretation.
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