Putting photo albums in chronological order can be a daunting task, but it is an extremely rewarding way to preserve your memories. With some planning and organization, you can sort through boxes of photos and create stunning photo albums that tell the story of your life or the life of a loved one. Here are some tips to help you get started.
Gather Supplies
Before you begin sorting through your photos, gather the supplies you will need:
- Photo albums or scrapbooks
- Photo sleeves, pockets, or mounting corners
- Acid-free paper
- Pens, markers, adhesive, scissors, paper trimmer
- Gloves to handle old or delicate photos
Look for high-quality albums and archival-safe supplies to help preserve your photos. Leatherette, fabric, or faux leather albums are attractive and durable options. Acid-free paper and plastic sleeves will help protect photos from wear and tear.
Sort Photos By Year
Go through your collection and separate photos into piles or bins by year. If photos are not already dated, examine clothing styles, vehicles, locations, and people’s ages to make your best guess at the year. You may need to sort into broader categories like “1940s” or “1950s” if you cannot pinpoint the exact year.
As you sort, also watch for torn, bent, or damaged photos that will need repair before being placed in albums. Set these photos aside for restoration later.
Sort Within Each Year
Once you have piles grouped by year, you can start sorting by month or event within each year. Look for clues like holiday decorations, seasons, school years, or family events and vacations to determine smaller time frames.
Some tips for sorting within each year:
- Place photos in chronological order if dated
- Group by months, seasons, or specific events/holidays
- Note locations and who is in each photo
- Watch for series of photos from big events like weddings and reunions
At this stage, also set aside any photos you cannot identify people or places in. You can do more research and ask family members to help identify later.
Label Photos
Once sorted into years and smaller time frames within each year, labeling your photos makes them easier to identify later. You can:
- Use a soft lead pencil to lightly write names, dates, locations on the back of prints
- Place loose photos in acid-free sleeves, envelopes, or baggies and label the enclosure
- Add captions directly in your album below each photo
Be sure to use pencil or acid-free pens and markers so the ink does not bleed onto photos over time. Place the same labels on both the print and negative if you still have negatives.
Select Albums
Now you are ready to place your sorted and labeled photos into albums. Leatherette, fabric, or faux leather albums provide a classic way to showcase photos. Look for albums that:
- Have archival-safe sleeves to protect photos
- Are large enough to fit your photos without crowding
- Have space to include captions or journaling
- Allow you to rearrange pages easily
- Are sized appropriately for photos (common sizes include 5×7, 4×6, 3×5)
Consider getting separate albums for separate years or events to keep things organized. Albums sorted by decade or generation also work well for broader time frames.
Arrange Photos
Once you have albums selected, carefully arrange photos chronologically within each album, maintaining the order you sorted them in. Here are some arrangement tips:
- Place photos from smallest time frame to largest. For example, group January photos together before February.
- Keep series of photos from events in order. Do not split up a wedding or graduation ceremony throughout the album.
- Start each year or event on a new page or album section.
- Place photos on age-appropriate pages. Baby photos on pages with baby motifs, school photos on pages with school designs.
- Use photo corners or sleeves to neatly display standard print sizes like 4×6 and 5×7.
- Alternate portrait and landscape orientations for visual interest.
Set aside duplicates, blurry shots, or photos that do not fit the chronological order to possibly include in a secondary album later.
Add Captions and Journaling
One of the keys to creating treasured photo albums is taking time to add meaningful captions and journaling. Handwritten notes make albums much more interesting and meaningful for you and future generations. Be sure to use acid-free pens or pencils. Ideas for journaling include:
- Names, dates, locations on photos
- Stories and memories from the event
- Who is in each photo and their relation to you
- Inside jokes and fun memories associated with images
- Historical context and current events from that year
You do not need to journal extensively on each photo. Even just adding names, dates, and a sentence or two can greatly enhance an album. Leave space to add more notes over time.
Preserve Albums
Once your albums are complete, be sure to store them properly to preserve your hard work.
- Keep albums out of direct sunlight, which can fade photos
- Store in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture
- Place horizontally on shelves rather than vertically which can warp pages
- If storing in basements or attics, keep albums off floors in case of flooding
- Consider digitizing albums to have a backup copy
- Handle albums gently to avoid damaging bindings or sleeves
With proper storage and handling, your albums can be enjoyed for generations to come! Be sure to share albums with family and pass them down to children and grandchildren.
Conclusion
Putting photo albums in chronological order takes time and care, but is extremely worthwhile for preserving memories. By sorting photos by year and events, selecting appropriate albums, carefully arranging, adding captions, and proper storage, you can create album treasures. The process often reconnects you with forgotten moments and memories, especially as you involve other family in identifying people and places. Take it step-by-step, enlist help from family, and do not be afraid to modify arrangements over time. The end result will be a priceless archive of your story that you can share with family now and for generations to come.