What We Do

Everyone has a story to tell. History and memories are different for all of us. We all come from different places and have taken different paths to get where we are today. It's what makes us unique. Everyone wants to preserve their stories, histories and memories. The process, steps and finished product will vary for everyone.

Many of us have an assortment of papers hanging around in closets, suitcases, attics or basements. Most of us think about preserving those documents. Sitting down and actually doing something with them, though, is a daunting task for most. That's where we come in. We can help you document and preserve those papers.

If you have letters, journals, or diaries from loved ones we can transcribe them for you. We can type them into a basic document for you or we can create a hardcover book. There are also various options in between. We will find the fit that's right for you and for your budget!

"We're so glad you're in the transcription business, Kirsten! Your transcriptions are accurate and reliable, and we value your enthusiasm, care, and professionalism."
  —Kitty Axelson-Berry, President, Modern Memoirs, Inc., Writing, Editing, and Private Publishing Services

The Process
We can approach your project in a couple of ways. Some people prefer to give us everything and decide what to use and how to use it. Others will go through it with us and the project will be a collaboration between us, and still others know exactly what they want before we even talk.

Sometimes we will simply do transcription of the documents, other times we will do some transcription and some scanning of your documents, pictures, maps, or whatever else you have. Many people enjoy seeing the actual handwriting of their loved ones. As a result having a few scanned documents adds a lot to the project.

The transcription process is often the longest. There are people who have very neat writing, whose papers have been well cared for, there are those people who have terrible handwriting (and I'm one of them!) and whose papers have not been taken care of, and of course there are many in between. These are variables that make the transcription of your documents either go quickly or take longer.

There are other ways to preserve the history of your life and the lives of your loved ones as well. Many people will also choose to do a series of interviews in order to tell their story. This is often done in multiple parts. First you are interviewed, that interview is then transcribed and reviewed and then a follow-up is done, sometimes repeating the process a number of times. Often times your loved ones and friends are also interviewed. It is from these interviews and stories that we are able to preserve your story.

In life there are things that we excel at, things that we are good at and frankly things we are not. Depending on your project, I may suggest we bring someone else in. It is also important to note that if we are doing an interview, there is a good chance I will not be the one doing it. I have three children at home and I choose not to travel as a result. A few years ago I found that there were times I needed to work with various editors, proofreaders and other professionals and feel fortunate to have some people in my close circle of friends who are able to work with me on an as-needed basis. As a member of the Association of Personal Historians I have worked on projects with many wonderful writers, videographers and designers; no matter what the situation we will find the right person for your project.

I love to work with letters, journals, diaries and notes. I really enjoy the process of turning them into something that families can look at and share together. There is little as satisfying to me as seeing the expressions of joy and excitement as families look for the first time at the book of their parents', grandparents' or even great-grandparents' letters. Hearing them laugh together and cry together makes me do the same.