Before the Photos Fade: How to Preserve Your Family's Military History

On Remembrance Day, many of us think about a grandparent or great-uncle who served. Often the only trace is a single photo in a shoebox: a young face in uniform, no name on the back, edges curling. Here is how to make sure that photo survives another hundred years.

1. Gather what your family already has

Ask relatives before you search anywhere else. Photos, letters, medals and discharge papers are often split between cousins. One afternoon of phone calls can turn up more than a month of research.

2. Scan, don't just photograph

Use a flatbed scanner at 600 dpi or higher, and save a TIFF or high-quality PNG as your master copy. Wipe the glass first, handle prints by the edges, and never use tape on originals. Keep the master untouched and make edits on a copy.

3. Write down who, where and when

The most valuable thing you can add is a caption. Record the person's full name, unit, the approximate date and where the photo came from. Store this in the file name and in a simple text file next to the scans.

4. Fill in the story with public records

Library and Archives Canada holds Canadian military service records, and many First World War personnel files can be searched online. Veterans Affairs Canada's Canadian Virtual War Memorial lists Canadians who died in service, often with photos submitted by families. Your local Royal Canadian Legion branch can also point you toward regimental histories.

5. Share copies and choose a way to display one

Send digital copies to everyone in the family so no single shoebox holds the only print. For display, a framed reprint works well. Some families choose a keepsake that won't fade in sunlight, such as a photo engraved inside crystal. Our memorial crystals are engraved to order in Vancouver, and you can send us the best scan you have.

However you preserve them, the photos matter most when someone knows the name behind the face. Take a moment to write that name down.

Lest we forget.