For those who have stacks of photographic prints, film slides and negatives, they may be deteriorating in your photo album, shoe box, or other containers in the closet. The Palama Settlement archivist will show best methods of preserving your materials and determine whether they should be saved or discarded. She will also help you organize and arrange your photos utilizing best practices by professional archivists. Additionally, we will discuss various methods of extending the lifespan of the materials and organizing their digital images.

Sidney Louie is the archivist at Palama Settlement, private, nonprofit, community-based social service agency serving the Kalihi and Pālama neighborhoods. She graduated at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. She previously worked at ʻUluʻulu Moving Image Archive as the project assistant to digitize film and video reels. She currently sits on the boards of the Hawaiian Quilt Research Project, the Association of Hawaiʻi Archivists, and the United States chapter of the Network for the Promotion of Asian and Pacific Cinema, and serves on the Committee on Public Awareness for the Society of American Archivists.

Image: Women’s athletic teams at Palama Settlement take a group photo at the pool. Circa 1920s. Palama Settlement. Digital ID: 17_03_06-0001.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a program, service, or activity should contact library staff as soon as possible. Advance requests 48 hours or more before the event are encouraged, but not required.