Post by @Vanth@reddthat.com

2026-11-05 01:25 UTC

Advice on old physical records My grandma passed years ago, I now possess some of the odds and ends no one in the family has strong enough attachment to hold on to. There are a few things I suspect might be of historical value to some folks. Like high school yearbooks; I’ve reached out to her high school to see if they need a physical copy. Other than that, any advice for where to search for interested parties? Geneology hobbyists? Universities doing anthropology research? I’m willing to put in a few attempts. After a couple attempts and “noes”, I’m fine trashing the stuff. Yearbooks, government records, teachers license, to the more personal, diaries, photographs that I have less expectation of finding someone interested in them. Any advice on where to search, fellow lemmies? I am US-based.

Replies (9)

@frisbird@lemmy.ml 2026-11-05 01:40

First place I would start is your local historical society. That would be your local nexus of all the people that might find that stuff interesting. Every author, researcher, and college student writing a paper that looked at your home town has gone through the historical society at least once, so they have the best chance of referring you to someone who might interested. Then history department of the closest colleges and universities you have to you. That’s the best I can think of though

Open ##5483841
@DudleyMason@lemmy.ml 2026-11-05 01:41

Depending on where you are, you might find a local county or city historical society or a local history museum, they might want a lot of that stuff, including like the personal papers and diaries and things.

Open ##5483845
@adarza@lemmy.ca 2026-11-05 01:49

if no one in the family wants any of it… check with the local (where she lived or was from) public library (ours has a history room and a genealogy research room) and with a local museum or historical society (we have one of those too).

Open ##5483877
@WhatsHerBucket@lemmy.world 2026-11-05 09:38

I’m in the same boat. I ended up with quite a bit of my grandparent’s belongings when they passed. My grandfather was a decorated Navy pilot among other things. I have his actual flight suit, patents he had, documents regarding his career in and out of the Navy, and a bunch of other stuff. I contacted my local aviation museum, library, etc. and got zero interest. I fell down a rabbit hole on ancestry.com and while I did find some distant relatives (including a half sister I didn’t know about) I couldn’t find anyone interested in taking anything I have sitting in my garage. If you want any tips with genealogy, I might be able to answer some questions. As for the “stuff”, I’m also open to suggestions.

Open ##5485311
@multifariace@lemmy.world 2026-11-05 12:50

There are organizations like Daughters/Sons of American Revolution/Confederacy and other history organizations.

Open ##5485982
@clanker_victim_555@lemmy.world 2026-11-05 19:24

The city’s archives might take it.

Open ##5487480
@rekabis@lemmy.ca 2026-11-05 20:44

If she happens to have an entry on Ancestry, the person maintaining that record might want to scan that info in and attach it to that entry.

Open ##5487815
@ComradeMiao@lemmy.world 2026-11-05 21:23

Why would you not keep and value you for yourself and your future family? You can start a genealogy collection.

Open ##5487972
@Maeve@kbin.earth 2026-11-06 02:16

Antique dealer? Online market aa a giveaway?

Open ##5489128