Just because you mention the physical storage challenges, I'd definitely consider the scanning option. I managed a pamphlet collection – so-called "vertical file" – in a public library and the challenges in storing so many smaller items, and keeping them in order, caused us to constantly question whether the value of such a collection was worth the effort. An inexpensive bulk-feed scanner that does double-sided color scans would make short work of even a large collection of paper invitations. You might even get future hosts to send you the original digital files, avoiding a step.
The scanning option avoids so many of the key hurdles in organizing and maintaining a physical collection – sort order, preservation, missing and mis-shelved items – and a rudimentary cataloging scheme would allow you to instantly retrieve items by date, type of ceremony, names of any participants, possibly in combination (e.g. weddings in Tevet 5776). Whether you integrate these records into your main catalog or not depends a lot on what your catalog system will support and whether you have an alternate second venue that would support a separate database. Our catalog has the ability to insert a clickable external URL in the description field that would allow us to point to another site for a second catalog. I can see where a "dummy" record in the main catalog – say "Wedding Invitations" – could provide basic info about the scope of the collection and would link out to the appropriate site. Lee Jaffe Temple Beth El, Aptos > --------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Daniel Stuhlman <[email protected]> > To: Hasafran <[email protected]> > Cc: > Bcc: > Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2019 11:28:00 -0500 > Subject: [ha-Safran] Collecting and cataloging invitations > > Is anyone collecting bar/bat mitzvah and wedding invitations? > > I have a cataloging question -- I am thinking of collecting Bar/Bat > mitzvah invitations. I'm trying to think of ways to bulk catalog them. That > is not catalog each item, but still have information so that I can check > for a name. Do you have any ideas for collection level cataloging? > > How do you store them? I have two ideas -- one to use photo boxes and the > other to digitize them. > > Thanks, > -- > Daniel D. Stuhlman > Chicago, IL > dstuhlman at gmail.com > > Blog: http://kol-safran.blogspot.com/ > LinkedIn profile. http://lnkd.in/ZBzHh5 > > >
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