Why you need to preserve letters & how to tell the stories
Should I keep letters from the 1970s-1990s?
Yes. What feels recent to you will be historically significant to future generations. A letter from 1977 will be as valuable in 50 years as one from 1877 is today. Preserve letters from allll the decades 🙌
How do I find the story behind an old letter?
Talk to the writer, recipient, or their family members. Ask what was happening in their lives at that time. One letter often unlocks multiple stories about that moment in history.
What's the simplest way to preserve letters?
Store them in acid-free folders away from sunlight and moisture, then scan digital copies for backup. Save files in multiple locations with simple notes about dates and people involved.
Table of Contents
Tucked away in attic boxes, stuffed into desk drawers, or carefully filed in folders, old letters hold more than words on paper. They preserve voices, relationships, and moments that might otherwise be lost to time, we need to preserve letters. Yet when it comes time to sort through a loved one's belongings or pare down our own collections, deciding which letters to keep can feel overwhelming. A letter from 1977 might seem recent to someone who lived through that era, but to future generations, it will be as historically significant as correspondence from 1877 is to us today.
The question isn't just about storage space. It's about recognizing that today's mundane correspondence becomes tomorrow's primary source material. Handwritten letters capture not only the content of what was said, but the personality of the writer—the loops and flourishes of their penmanship, the choice of stationery, even the coffee stains from late-night writing sessions. These tangible artifacts offer something digital communication can't: a physical connection to the past.
When Should You Keep a Letter?
The instinct might be to keep only letters that contain momentous news or dramatic revelations, but some of the most valuable correspondence documents ordinary life. A letter describing a typical Tuesday in 1985, a note about weekend plans, or a brief check-in between friends can provide invaluable context for future family historians. These everyday details paint a complete picture of how people lived, what they cared about, and how they communicated.
For families dealing with memory loss or dementia, old letters serve an additional purpose. Reading familiar handwriting can trigger memories and spark conversations that might not happen otherwise. The act of holding a letter written by or to a loved one creates a tactile, multi-sensory experience that photographs alone cannot provide.
Episode 5: Letters to loved ones & preserving the past
This was originally a Facebook Live
Listen on Spotify
Show Notes
Topic: Why we Need to Preserve Letters
- What to consider when looking at letters
- What constitutes as old?
- How we think about letters
- What stories can the letters tell?
Questions for You About Written Letters
- When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter?
- When was the last time you received one?
* in the video I say episode 4… it's really 5 smh…
FAQ: Preserve Letters and Questions About Preserving Letters
What defines a letter as “old” enough to preserve?
Instead of focusing on a specific date threshold, consider whether the letter provides insight into a moment in time. A letter from the 1970s, 80s, or 90s might not feel historic yet, but in 50 or 100 years, these will be cherished primary sources. When in doubt, err on the side of preservation, especially for handwritten correspondence, which is becoming increasingly rare.
How do you find the story behind a letter when you don't know the context?
Start with detective work. If possible, talk to the person who wrote the letter or the person who received it. Ask family members about the people mentioned in the letter and what was happening in their lives during that time period. Often, discussing one letter from 1977 can unlock entire conversations about what different family members were doing that year, creating multiple stories from a single artifact.
What's the best way to physically preserve old letters?
Store letters in acid-free folders or archival boxes, away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture. Keep them flat when possible to prevent creasing. For fragile documents, consider placing them in individual protective sleeves. Avoid using tape or regular adhesives, which deteriorate paper over time.
Should letters be digitized?
Yes. Creating digital copies protects against loss from disasters or natural deterioration. Scan letters at high resolution and save them in multiple locations—both cloud storage and external hard drives. As you digitize, create a simple inventory noting dates, correspondents, and brief content descriptions to make the collection searchable for future researchers.
When was the last time you wrote a handwritten letter?
This question matters because we can't preserve what we don't create. In an era of texts and emails, taking time to write a physical letter is both a gift to the recipient and a future artifact for family historians. The art of letter writing isn't dead—it's simply waiting for us to pick up a pen again.
Preserving letters isn't just about holding onto the past. It's about honoring relationships, documenting ordinary life, and creating bridges between generations. Those boxes of old correspondence in your attic? They're not clutter. They're treasure waiting to be discovered.
What now?
Looking for that thing to help you keep your storytellers engaged and talking? For the writers in your care, this journal will keep them talking for a good long while. Encourage them (if they can) to reach out via phone or video to family members and share the memories they write about.
This journal was designed for storytellers in their sunset years who are ready to write about and share their memories. Simple to use and elegant enough to keep around to remind you of them long after they are gone.
About the Author
Gael Gilliland is the founder of The Legacy Recorder, where she helps families and communities preserve meaningful stories across generations. She has personally trained over 80 students and staff in her Legacy storytelling method, then managed large-scale projects pairing these trained storytellers with over 100 residents in care facilities to capture and publish their life stories.
Through her innovative approach to intergenerational storytelling, Gael creates deeper connections between people of different life stages while restoring human dignity through the power of shared stories. Her methods are now used globally by countless families seeking to preserve their legacies. Learn more about Gael's work.
