The chemicals in the flammable tip may suffer natural degradation through natural aging, but it is probably unlikely that a match of this mid-twentieth century vintage may spontaneously combust. The archivists’ and librarians’ concerns are certainly valid. There are various references available on professional list-serves about this particular topic, with intervention suggestions ranging from the more mild "put them in a steel box," to the A-for-effort but less scientifically solid "dip the heads in wax to make them inert/discourage striking" (wax is flammable, and probably already a component of some matches) to the commandingly drastic and familiar to fans of Lewis Carroll's Queen of Hearts: "Off with their heads!" (i.e. Also, I get to learn new words, such as phillumeny (the hobby of collecting matchbox labels, printed matchbox outers, matchboxes, matchbook covers, matchbooks, and other forms of match packaging). ![]() When a colleague approaches me with a question such as: "Nora, we have artists' matchbooks! Should we remove them? Will they spontaneously ignite? Will someone try to light them and set fire to the archives accidentally, or worse, on purpose?!," I delight in putting my creative problem-solving mind to work. Related FamilyTree.I have a special spot in my heart for oddball items in the archives. Photos: Vintage Radios, Elephant button display and teapot collection. If no value, see if it can be re-purposed into a display in remembrance of that relative. If you have seen or were given a relative’s collection, learn about it, check any paper work and value. Some of a relative’s collections could be very valuable – monetary wise, others not so much.įor the most part a person’s collections are for sentimental reasons, something a bit nostalgic for them to hold onto. People collect items for the fun of it and to see how many of a specific items they can find. At least these two types can also show the places the relative has traveled. Then there are people who collect air / sea sickness bags on airplanes or ships. Some people like to collect the paper strap that goes over the toilet seat in hotels / motels showing it has been cleaned. ![]() Of course some people’s collections can be on the bizarre side. Be sure to check if the ancestor had some inventory to insurance purposes – that could hold some clues. ![]() Now other collections such as brass pieces or cup and saucers will be harder to identify the connect to the relative. If you can date approximately the postcards or the matchbook covers, you can then narrow down the time period they were in the location. Another person who has a postcard collection or matchbook covers may have traveled to all those locations or been in those businesses. Someone with a collection of ticket stubs may have had as their first job being a ticket taker in a theatre, train station or toll booth. These items are not just what your relative like to collect, but can also speak volumes about their interests, experiences, hobbies and memories. There are all types of collections those souvenirs, items such as matchbook covers, menus, tickets, toys, records, brass pieces, musical instruments, early radios, stamps, buttons, and cups/saucers that a family members may have collected during their life.
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