Can We Reconstruct Mememories After Loss in a Disaster?

Having some semblance of one’s history to rebuild on can help emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to have a piece of our lost history back in view.

I am not in California but I have spent a lot of time in that beloved state and have loved one effected by the fires. Like so many people, I have been thinking of something I may be able to offer that might be remotely helpful. My public history mindset is merging with my experience as a chaplain during 911 recovery efforts, and some of the things I learned when I lost my mom 6 years ago. I am thinking of different ways to preserve personal, professional, and family memories.

When my mom died, I embarked on a HUGE family archive project. It took me a year to sort, organize, tag, and scan all her photos, my dads, my grandmother’s, and all the family records, letters, career achievements, newspaper clippings. I documented everything. And when I was done, I started on my own personal and professional photos, contents, and archives.

My family history project led me to return to school get my Master’s in Public History. I wanted to learn the tools, techniques, and procedures used by historians, museums, libraries, museums, et al, on how to preserve history.

Even if they historical objects are not perfect, they have meaning, and are worth preserving.

It has broken my heart to see reel after reel of people sharing the devastating and traumatic losses in the CA Fires. There are many emotional, physical, logistical, financial, health, mental health, housing, daily living issues to address now, first, before anything.

But I just keep trying to think of ways I can help in the aftermath of recovery. I keep wondering if there is a way to recapture some of the meaningful memories, and restoring some things through any digital files, social media memories, emails, public record, etc. I wonder if there is a way to help string back a life, by recovering lost history, that can help people move forward.

Sometimes a historical archive no longer has access to the lost object, but there are photos that help us preserve history.

So much of our lives are online these days. I believe some things can be restored, at least in digital form. Having some semblance of one’s history to rebuild on can help emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to have a piece of our lost history back in view. It also gives us back some semblance of control of an out of control situation.