Family History on tap

Special to the News-Times

AUSTIN — The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty has announced that it will host its second Family History Day of 2024 on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. 

Steven Kantner, digital assets archivist at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, will share tips and tricks for preserving family photos and media. 

Photos from yesterday or centuries past all present challenges to those hoping to make the images last for future generations. Morning and afternoon sessions will offer instructions on how to properly care for family photographs and ensure the information is not lost to time. 

Participants will learn about photograph identification, proper storage and handling, safely creating digital images, digital archiving and other activities related to preserving personal collections.

Family History Day Schedule:                

10 a.m.-noon, identification and preservation session

Noon-1:30 p.m., Lunch break (on your own)

1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m., Digitization and digital archiving session

A free preservation kit will be provided to pre-registered participants. Contact SHC via email at [email protected] or call (936) 336-8821 to register. Seating is limited.

The Sam Houston Center is a component of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and serves as the official regional historical resource depository for the 10 Southeast Texas counties of Chambers, Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Newton, Orange, Polk, San Jacinto and Tyler. The Center's primary mission is to collect, preserve and provide access to historically significant state and local government records and publications of the designated region and secondarily to serve as a library of Texana and genealogical resources. 

The Texas State Library and Archives Commission provides Texans access to the information needed to be informed, productive citizens by preserving the archival record of Texas; enhancing the service capacity of public, academic and school libraries; assisting public agencies in the maintenance of their records; and meeting the reading needs of Texans with disabilities. 

For more information, visit www.tsl.texas.gov.