Looking for some summer fun for you and/or possibly family members to do together? Look no further than creating your own family Time Capsule! Keep these things in mind when creating your time capsule: Documents should be on acid-free, archival-safe paper. If they are handwritten, use pencil because ink fades over time and can also emit fumes that may damage other items in the time capsule. Photos should be black & white - color photos won't last as long and they also use chemicals that may affect other articles in the capsule. Newsprint should be avoided because the paper is highly acidic and will disintegrate over time. Once again, the fumes emitted can damage other items. Other items to avoid altogether are tapes, videos and CD-ROMs. They do not age well and it's "unlikely playback devices will be available for those objects anyway" once the capsule is opened. Items that you put in the time capsule should be in archival quality containers or envelopes. Consider including a lock of hair or fingernail clippings or kept baby teeth. From an article I read, "By the time the capsule is opened, there may be much more sophisticated testing facilities available. Hair samples may help identify and correct a genetically-based medical problem for a descendant." The following are a list of sites where you can learn more about time capsules and even purchase time capsule kits OR MAKE YOUR OWN! http://www.oglethorpe.edu/itcs http://www.barrtek.com http://www.futurearchaeology from A Genealogy Experience: Surnames [AGenealogyExperienceSurnames@groups.msn.com]