Artifcts

Not every family heirloom began at home.

Bobby carried this watch in his pocket while working on the railroad in 1959–1960. He was a fireman on the train, studying to earn his engineer’s license. Today, that watch preserves more than a moment in time, it helps preserve a piece of Bobby’s story.

A well-worn tool. A uniform. A name badge. A retirement pin. A watch carried to work every day.

These objects preserve more than a career. They carry the stories of what someone built, contributed, learned, overcame, and passed on.

This Labor Day, take a moment to preserve the story behind an object that represents a job, career, or calling.

What object tells the story of your family’s work? 🔨🧰⌚

Dusty albums. Bulky albums. Albums you inherited and aren’t quite sure what to do with.

Old photo albums can hold decades of family history, but they also deteriorate, take up space, and become harder to understand when no one remembers the stories behind the photographs.

So what do you do with them?

In honor of Save Your Photos Month, we’re taking a closer look at how to thoughtfully tackle old photo albums: when to digitize them, what details to preserve, why the layout of an album can matter, and how to decide whether you really need to keep the physical album once the memories are safely documented.

One important reminder: don’t just scan the photos. Save the names, dates, handwritten notes, photo backs, and stories, too.

Read the latest ARTIcle for ideas to help you preserve what matters, and maybe lighten the load while you’re at it.

Link in the comments.

We're honored to partner with the Waterville Valley Historical Society for their Cocktails & Closets event on September 6th. Local to the area? There is still time to purchase tickets and support a great cause.

Link in comments to check out the Historical Society's growing Artifcts collection, some of which will be on display at the event.

Some stories are passed down one page at a time. 💛

This copy of Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors has been shared with one family’s children and grandchildren over the years.

Through the story of a coat made from scraps of fabric, and stitched together with love, it has helped teach each generation that our worth is not measured by what we own.

Love, kindness, gratitude, and the qualities that make us different are worth so much more.

For this family, it is more than a children’s book. It is a reminder of where they come from, what they value, and what they hope their grandchildren will one day pass along to children of their own.

Today, we’re remembering Dolly through an Artifct that beautifully illustrates how one story can touch generations.

What Dolly song, book, or memory is part of your family’s story?