MAY Organization Checklist! How readily we recall the WWII fighter pilot's last plea for help, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY!" Is THIS how you feel about the accumulated paraphrenalia associated with your family tree climbing? Photocopies, pedigree charts, old photo albums, folders, certificates, old letters, faded lace fans, pocket watches, dust, computer disks, homestead papers, family bibles, maps and the like!?! Well, that's exactly WHY we have this monthly ORGANIZATION CHECKLIST. Just tackle the problem bit by bit, and it isn't so overwhelming after all. Here's the plan for this month: WEEK ONE: 1. Finish organizing all those documents for surnames Q-Z. Remember the past few months you've been putting these in top leading sheet protectors, and placing them in the folders or three-ring binders with the correct family group sheets! If you have been following along, you will ACTUALLY be caught up in your filing, provided you *never* do any more genealogy research! (Ever again!) :) WEEK TWO The rest of the month is devoted to a not-so-talked about part of family history, and that is the accumulation of fabric relics, such as old bonnets, handkerchiefs, wedding dresses, leather booties, mittens and quilts. Perhaps your precious collection includes infant's christening dress. 2. Go to the public library and check out books on care of antique quilts and the like. This will serve to educate you to the special care and handling of these family heirlooms. WEEK THREE 3. Each item needs to be carefully hand laundered, whenever possible using Woolite or Ivory Flakes. There are also special preparations at fabric stores in the quilting department, designed to soften the fibers brittled by age. REMEMBER that wollen baby jackets or mittens cannot be cleaned with water, and doubtless would not hold up to the stress of commercial drycleaning. Proudly place them in a shadow box, archival storage box, or on a padded hanger thinking of those spots as badges of honor! WEEK FOUR 4. You'll need to order the blue ACID FREE tissue paper, and acid-free storage boxes from a company such as LIGHT IMPRESSIONS, which we talked about at length in January. Remember that placing items in plastic only hurts them, because it traps moisture inside, which can cause mildew. It is also important to periodically open each item and fold in a different place, so there will be no damage along the fold lines. Although you'd like to display such valuable items in your home, remember that light and heat can adversly affect the fibers. If you do wish to show that great-grandmother's quilt, do so for special occasions, and return it to its rightful storage place. It deserves a rest! This way future generations will also enjoy the glimpse into the past through this glorius medium!