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6 messages

Ethical Archiving - AGAIN

17 Feb 09 - 10:10 PM (#2569672)
Subject: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: Deckman

Several weeks ago, I started a thread about the ethics of archiving. This thread received many thoughtful and useful postings.I'm now solidly into my archiving project and I'm discovering something I never expected to find.

When I retired from my working career a couple of years ago, a friend said: "You now have a chance to "re-invent yourself." And he was quite right. But now that I am listening to the hundreds of hours of tape recordings I have made over the last 55 years, I am not "re-inventing myself" ... I am "re-discovering myself."

I have tapes of many, many friends giving me their songs, guitar licks, verses, on and on. Most of the kind folks have passed on. I find myself saying: "Oh ... that's where I got that verse." Or ... "I didn't remember that minor chord there."

It's a lot like living my musical life all over again.

If any of you are thinking about plowing through those old boxes of tapes, reel to reel, cassettes, vinal records, you'd better get going.
CHEERS, Bob(deckman)nelson ... here in the Seattle area where the dogs run slower than the cats ... mostly!

17 Feb 09 - 10:54 PM (#2569686)
Subject: RE: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Mr. BOB thanks for the admonition.

I find myself ... in NOT the identical.... but a similar place.

It is now possible to catalogue photo, text, audio onto the same single disk...and we are talking thousands or files.

The Library of Congress has some excellent guidelines from images to oral history.

I have stepped out "with faith" that a younger generation will - re-archive the (12 copies to different families) material - again - and - again.

The "primary source" still intact ... but 20 years from now ... letters and photos from 150 years ago might settle into dust...and neglect. By scattering the files across geography ... perhaps ... a very interesting ... INTACT ... pieve of "The American Experience" might survive.

For years I was paralysed with analysis...now...if one other family-soul ...decades from now ... might experience the overwhelming awe that united DNA and letters and images and stories...it is time well done.

Sincerely,

Gargoyle

I thought I was the one to "tell the tale" but I will be satisfied to just pass the legacy on.

17 Feb 09 - 11:03 PM (#2569694)
Subject: RE: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: Art Thieme

It's a cliche to say, "I know what you mean" when talking to a friend or anyone. But in this case, Mr. Bob, I actually DO KNOW what you mean.

You, sir, are correct!

And this Mudcat place has also allowed me, for more than a decade now, to re-live and fine-tune my own life/lives -- and also details of my legacy.

Before these computers, there was often no way to set the record straight when the vinyl of it got warped--if ya will allow me the analogy!? Now, with too much time on my hands after my folk/music life, it has been a way to tell it the way I saw, or thought I saw, it unfold. (Just be sure to keep in mind that I've won first place in more than just a few tall tale contests. ;-)

ART THIEME

17 Feb 09 - 11:12 PM (#2569702)
Subject: RE: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: GUEST,.gargoyle

Archive the Sh!T

Let the future generations "WORRY" about ethics...

DUDE - Look at your posting tapes of many, many friends

giving

>me their songs, guitar licks, verses, on and on.

WHY Ask...are you looking for KUDO's?

Do you NEED encouragment?

Do you want the rest of us "mortals" without connections to the "gods of folk" to cowtow, genuflect, beg, plead....that you should NOT "let this piece of history pass from our mortal shore?"

IF - you did NOT archive then I would hope the entire universe of folk hell fall upon your philosophical head...for letting this pass into oblivion!!!!!

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Who sits in judgment of Child's or Randolph today? What would have to Jesus Christ if his followers were worried about "issues?"

18 Feb 09 - 08:58 PM (#2570530)
Subject: RE: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: Art Thieme

Well, Bob, I thought I knew what you meant...

Live an' learn.

Art

18 Feb 09 - 09:24 PM (#2570549)
Subject: RE: Ethical Archiving - AGAIN
From: Deckman

Gargoyle ... you know ... a large part of me says that you ARE right. bob