Personal challenge, public questions

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Personal challenge, public questions

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Started 10 months ago by Julia
Latest reply from rutheverhart
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Julia
Member

I've been away a while - some medical issues but I'm better than new now so...OMG I bought a house. Townhouse, that is, with garage, lots of closets...

The personal challenge? To drastically reduce my cr*p before moving, and to keep my clutterish ways at bay in the new house. (I will be almost doubling my space, and my sister told me I already have enough stuff to furnish the new house completely!)

I will undoubtedly have a number of dilemmas during the process (I close at the end of the month) and welcome advice and opinion. Here's the first one: Antique paper.

Somehow as we cleared out my father's house last year a box of old newspaper ended up in my car (truly - I don't remember asking for it, it just ended up there.) Generally I'm not attached to newspaper, but these are issues of the state capital newspaper from Nov. 22 1963 and following weeks. Americans will remember that as the day John Kennedy was assasinated.

What on earth do I do with these? The history lover in me is very reluctant to throw away; they're too gruesome/upsetting to display in any way. The newspaper itself surely has its own copies.

I know, I know, toss them. But the ghosts of my Irish-Catholic great-aunties screech at me whenever I think about it...

(I also have three original mint-condition wartime Saturday Night Post magazines that I am keeping, even if I'm not sure why.)

I filled two bags yesterday with old personal papers, most of them shredded - and I've started two small boxes - cords and chargers for small electronics I'm keeping, _only_ after they've been identified and tagged, and another small box for electronics to be recycled. My goal is to organize and declutter - but there is no need to be ruthless. I'm looking to decrease noticeably, but not regrettably.

Posted 10 months ago #
herisff
Member

If you are not interested in the monetary value of the papers (and it sounds as if you're not), then talk to your local school, university, or library. They might be interested in having such items. Unless you are interested in this era in particular, send it on for others to enjoy or learn from.

If you are interested in monetary value, take a look to see what such items might bring on eBay. I know when we moved my Mom to assisted living, I looked to see the value of the Life and other such magazines from JFK's assassination. EVERYBODY has saved these, so there is NO or very little monetary value. Unfortunately my oldest sister couldn't bear to toss them, so she kept them (she's the one with packrat tendencies) at her place. Now her daughter will have to deal with it all some time down the line.

Posted 10 months ago #
Rosa
Member

Don't assume the local newspaper has copies - during the '90s lots of papers went through corporate takeovers and consolidations, and ditched their paper morgues (Nicholson Baker wrote an amazing polemic about this). If you give them a call and ask, they should have at least a suggestion for you.

Posted 10 months ago #
JuliaJayne
Member

A lot of libraries are digitally archiving old newspapers in a searchable format Our state's archive is missing some papers, maybe your state library system, which local libraries are probably linked to, may have similar issues.

Posted 10 months ago #
Lori Paximadis
Member

Julia, I was going to write exactly what @herisff wrote before I even read that reply: EVERYBODY saved those. The chances that they are worth anything are just about nil. Double-check with against eBay for value and with the newspaper itself or the local library to see if they have holes in the morgue/sheles to fill, if you like, but that's likely a waste of time.

Do they give you joy to read them? If not, toss away. And if you need someone to give you permission to do so, I hearby grant it.

Posted 10 months ago #
Julia
Member

Of course they have no monetary value; if they did, I'd have sold them.

But the fact that the newspaper and/or library might actually want them - I had assumed otherwise. I'll email them today, and if I haven't heard anything by moving day, out they go.

Gosh, Lori, wouldn't it be great if other people could release us from our internal ties!

Posted 10 months ago #
Lori Paximadis
Member

Sometimes I think it can help to have someone objective say that it's okay to let go -- not a nagging parent/partner/child/best friend, but someone completely unattached to your situation. I want someone like that hanging around every time I clean out a box. :-)

Posted 10 months ago #
Demerna
Member

As a Historian I urge you, please, do not throw them away. Contact your local historical society they would probably more than happy to take the copies or know of a organization that would be thrilled to have them. You can probably even get a donation slip for your taxes. Other options would be schools, libraries, and universities.

Posted 10 months ago #
Gypsie
Member

As you are packing, ask yourself the following question: Do I love or need/want this item in my new home? If yes, picture where you'll store, display or use the item. After you have followed those two steps, feel free to pack the item to move with you.

I LOVE moving! It gives me the opportunity to start with a blank slate. We always declutter before we move and again as we unpack. We are military so we move a lot.

Posted 10 months ago #
SuziQ
Member

I know several history teachers that would be happy to have something of that era. I would treat the newspapers with archival spray to reduce further decay and brittleness.

Posted 10 months ago #
Sky
Member

My brother took old newspapers our grandmother had saved when she passed away. They were in cardboard boxes and after having them for about 20 years (in addition to the many years she had them), they were dusty, yucky and worthless so he trashed them. Anything paper has to be stored properly or it disintegrates.

I think it's a good idea to offer them to a library, school etc. but if no one wants them....let them go :-)

Posted 10 months ago #
Jackthetiger
Member

Many libraries (and even newspapers) are moving to digital resources as it makes more sense. They are better for users to access, they do not deteriorate and they do not require specialist (and extensive) storage. You may find someone who would like a hard copy to use with students, or someone who would like it because it was printed on their date of birth. It depends on how much time you are willing to put into the search. If you have time, seek it out. If not, recycle them and be done. It is not as though they unique items. I'm with Lori; I give you permission to chuck them out!

Posted 10 months ago #
Julia
Member

Gypsie, I too love moving - unpacking far more than packing, of course, but it gives me a chance to cast a new eye over things. This will be my 12th move, and unlike many of the others, I have both the time and energy to look things over.

I have, thankfully, got rid of a dozen or so boxes of books in the last year (I gave away 27 boxes at my last move!), and tossed, recycled, or given away a lot of junk thanks to this site - blog and forum both. It helps. One thing I'm doing (as quickly as possible) is flipping through every abandoned journal or partial notebook, retrieving the pages of personal notes/thoughts (I'm an inveterate scribbler when thinking something over), and putting them all in a file. I'm glad I kept all that stuff, although I wish I'd done the "weeding" long ago -- some of these things go back 20 or 30 years. I'm trying hard not to stop and read now, knowing there will be time at the new house.

The file cabinet will be much emptier once I'm done.

Posted 10 months ago #
Julia
Member

PS Demerna, bless you! I have friends at the local community college - I'll start there.

Posted 10 months ago #
Julia
Member

Demerna, you rock! Found a history instructor at the college who is thrilled to get the papers.

On to the next challenge. Thank you all for your help. (Sometimes it's not wanting to let go; in this case it was not wanting to let go to waste.)

Posted 10 months ago #
Demerna
Member

Julia, I am very glad to hear you found a wonderful home for the papers. I am sure they will be cherished.

Posted 10 months ago #
rutheverhart
Member

I'm glad I never have to worry about being ruthless.

Posted 10 months ago #

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