Some of the collections here at HSP aren't just useful to genealogists -- they were created by genealogists. One of these is the Batcheler, Hartshorne, and Sahlin families papers (collection 3173), which span several generations and centuries. The collection was curated by Penelope (Penny) Hartshorne Batcheler (1928-2007), a Philadelphia restoration architect who was involved in the restoration of Independence Hall in the 1960s and many other local projects.

When archivists and records management types talk about documents, we often talk about their "life cycle." The life cycle of a document can be a complex system of users, creators, and formats, but at its most basic, the life cycle has two parts: 1) useful to original users for the original purpose and 2) not useful to original users for the original purpose. When a document enters the second phase of its life cycle -- its afterlife -- it becomes potential archival material.

Alternately, how you should spend your summer vacation, according to Pastorius.

In May: