Here is a list of things to keep in your personal archive

Keep this list handy!!

Hey folks, writing this on the other side of the rapture. The wifi signal is surprisingly really good over here. The angel Gabriel was so kind to let me send one last newsletter before assuming my full responsibilities in heaven.

I am joking, but if you missed out on the fact that the internet became raptured (🥁) by the idea that Jesus was coming back yesterday, September 23, then here is a primer.

As hilarious as some of the rapture memes on the internet have been, I think it’s actually a very serious reminder of why we should all be thinking about our legacies and what we want to leave behind for others to discover.

So, I want to ask you this: How do you want to be remembered?

Now, do you have the records to prove and show that?

I spend a lot of time in archives because I’m currently writing my history PhD dissertation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read a diary entry or an old newspaper, trying to decipher what a person thought about a major historical event of their time, and have come up short. Everyone longs to know what people before us thought and believed.

In the digital age, our thoughts are scattered all over the internet, in DMs, text messages, and group chats. Our analog and digital footprints are a bit unwieldy.

But do not worry!

I've created a list below of different categories of information to save based on the story you want to tell.

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What should I save?

Think of your archive as a time capsule and a library. These are the kinds of materials worth saving — whether for yourself, or to preserve the story of a loved one.

Written Communication

• Emails (insert *but her emails meme*😭)

• Text messages (SMS/iMessage)

• WhatsApp / Signal / Telegram chats

• Facebook Messenger, Instagram DMs, and other direct messages

• Social media posts & comments (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok captions)

Personal Writing

• Journals and diaries

• Notes apps (Apple Notes, Evernote, Notion, Google Keep)

• Essays, blog posts, newsletters (anything you’ve published or drafted)

Images & Video

• Photos (keep originals with dates and GPS if possible)

• Videos (home movies, clips, recordings)

• Screenshots (texts, memes, social posts you want to remember)

Audio

• Voice notes (phone recordings, WhatsApp audio messages)

• Voicemails

• Interviews, talks, or lectures

Official & Life Documents

• School records (report cards, diplomas, transcripts)

• Work documents (resumes, cover letters, contracts, big projects)

• Financial documents (major receipts, pay stubs, tax filings, wills, deeds)

• Medical records (reports, vaccination cards, hospital records)

Memorabilia (Digitize where possible)

• Tickets & programs (concerts, plays, graduations)

• Cards & letters (holiday cards, postcards, love letters)

• Clippings & flyers (newspaper articles, printed ephemera)

Books & Printed Matter

• Marked-up books (with your highlights, notes, marginalia)

• Family recipe books or cookbooks

• Pamphlets, zines, or newsletters you made or collected

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Rule of thumb: If it tells a story about your life, your relationships, or your ideas — save it. Even small things (like a screenshot of a funny text) can matter years later.

*NB: All of my paid subscribers will receive a free, detailed guide on how to save and export all of this information – keep an eye out in your inboxes!

Okay, so this list may seem like a lot, but it’s necessary. The internet is a sea of rented territory. At any moment, a company can decide to shut down, and you lose all of your precious thoughts and content that you’ve shared with the world. Therefore, it’s essential to consider ways to protect and preserve your data and information.

📚 Currently Reading

I’m currently reading 107 Days by Kamala Harris

If you’ve been subscribed since my 100 Historic Black Women Podcast, you know how much of a full-circle moment this all is. I used to work in politics, so I have so many thoughts on this memoir, but I’ll wait until I am done to share them.

New Podcast 👀

I’ve been thinking of starting a mini podcast where I share life lessons from memoirs and biographies! I’ve read hundreds at this point, and there is so much wisdom to glean from these books, and I think you could really benefit from learning about how people lived their lives, past and present.

As always, respond to this email and/or comment below on what you’re currently reading.

With care,

Shae

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