Save Our African American Treasures: New York

The next Save Our African American Treasures program will be held at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in New York City on Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8.

Presentations

Preserving Clothing and Textiles

What is a "textile" in the museum world? Think fabric -- rag dolls, flags, banners, hats, lace, linens, needlework, quilts, blankets, uniforms, upholstery, curtains. Why do museums collect them? Learn how to better preserve your personal textile treasures.

Saving Your Family Photographs and Papers

Great Aunt Mary left you with the responsibility of preserving the family photographs and papers -- now what do you do? Learn how light, heat, and humidity affect your family collections. Discover some simple things you can do to be a good steward of your family paper and photography collections.

Building a National Collection

What makes a national museum collection? How does it happen? The National Museum of African American History and Culture is unlike other Smithsonian museums in that it did not begin with a collection. Developing and caring for a collection of materials that reflects the diversity of the African American experience provides the museum with an array of challenges and opportunities. Learn about the plans for the opening exhibitions of the new museum and some of the artifacts that will tell enduring stories.

Caring for Your Digital Photos

Increasingly, people create and share photographic memories in digital form. As new technologies appear for creating and saving digital photos, older ones become obsolete, making it difficult to access older content. Learn strategies to help you organize and save your digital memories. Find out about the nature of the problem and receive some basic, practical tips for organizing and saving digital photos.