A Home for Our Family's History

I've had a deep interest in researching my family's history going back decades, perhaps coming from my love for history as well as my need to better understand myself and my parents. But, as I enter into my mid 50s, I feel it is important to find a home for what I've accumulated.

I once discovered a cache of photo albums and letters some one had thrown into the trash. Perhaps it was a relationship that had gone awry. But, whatever the case, the disposal of pictures of celebrations and babies and vacations amid the garbage and destined for oblivion made me sad. I have the same emotion when I see similar pictures or artifects randomly displayed at certain restaurants. Their goal is to strike a certain je ne sais quoi of generational nostalgia. But what I sense as I break bread are the eyes of random unknown dead people. It's an unfortunate truth that not too many people have the desire to preserve or even know their own history, and I know that's the case with my own children. And so that why I've found museum archives for what I've accumulated.

Documents relating to my parents work abroad resides at the Billy Graham Center in Illinois. My father's stand as a conscientious objector during World War II are at Goshen College in Indiana. And the remainder of my father's family's history will reside at the South Dakota Historical Society. I was in discussions with the Smithsonian Institute, but upon reflection I think the archives in South Dakota are the appropriate permanent home.

My interest in researching our family's hsitory is done out of gratitude for my heritage, my relatives, and most particularly my parents. "There were no statues erected for members of my family," write George Lang in his autobiography. "These words, carved out of admiration, affection, and sorrow should serve as such."

Here is my e-mail thread for finding a place for my historical papers.

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Hello,

I had written to you earlier a few years ago about the possibility of donating family geneological information, including period diaries,letters, and photographs, to The Smithsonian, most likely The AmericanHistory Museum's research archives.Initial interest was expressed by members of your staff, but we lost contact, which I would like to now renew.

Here is a partial overview of my family's history.

http://mymallandnews.bizland.com/MS16.pdf
http://mymallandnews.bizland.com/WIKPHOTOA.pdf
http://mymallandnews.bizland.com/WIKPHOTOB.pdf

Here is a link to all geneological information on my site.

http://mymallandnews.bizland.com/WIK.HTM

As you can see, it is an important and unique reflection of a significant part of the American experience.

Let me know if you have any interest in accepting such a donation.

Cordially.

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Your inquiry of 18 March 2009 concerning a potential donation has beenreceived in the Smithsonian's Public Inquiry Mail Service office for a response.

The Smithsonian Institution does not generally collect primary materialsof a genealogical nature. A better repository for your family diaries,letters, and photographs might be a library or historical society in acity or county that is significant in your family history.

The Institution's Archives Center of the National Museum of AmericanHistory (NMAH) preserves and provides access to documentary evidence ofAmerica's past. The Archives Center collections are wide ranging;however they are particularly rich in the areas of advertising, Americanmusic, and technology. Please contact the Archives Center directly at archivescenter@si.edu todiscuss the material you wish to donate and its possible relevance tothe NMAH collecting efforts. Information about the Archives Center canbe found at http://americanhistory.si.edu/archives/b-1.htm.

If you have not already done so, we encourage you to contact the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library about donating a copyof your book on Wik family history. The DAR Library -http://www.dar.org/library/about.cfm - houses an excellent collection of genealogical resources, including many published and unpublished family histories.

Thank you for your interest in the Smithsonian Institution.

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To the extent possible, I would like your Archives to be a permanent home for all key primary written matter. There would be no restrictions on this donation.

Would you be interested?

Regards.
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The South Dakota State Historical Society would be pleased to consider the donation of your family history. You may send it to me at the address below.

Marvene RiisArchivist/Special Collections Librarian
South Dakota State Historical Society Archives
900 Governors DrivePierre, SD
57501605-773-4233
http://www.sdhistory.org/arc/archives.htm

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I recall our correspondence from some time ago and your kind proposal for a donation. I'll discuss this with our acquisitions coordinator,Craig Orr, but my recollection was that he felt the Archives Center wasnot the most appropriate repository for your family papers. We'll get back to you on this.
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Thanks for your note.

I have since received interest from the South Dakota State Historical Society for my family's history.

I appreciate the work you are doing in preserving our nation's history.

Best wishes.

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Thanks very much for informing us. Feel free to contact us again if that doesn't work out, and we can reconsider.

Sincerely,

David Haberstich
Associate Curator of Photography,
Archives Center
National Museum ofAmerican History Smithsonian Institution
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This is Matthew Reitzel, manuscript archivist with the SD State Archives.
Marvene Riis has forwarded the Wik family history to me.
It will probably be some time before I completely process the collection and have accession paperwork sent to you.

Thanks again for the donation,

Matthew T. Reitzel
Manuscript Archivist
South Dakota State Historical Society - State Archives
900 Governors Dr.
Pierre, SD 57501
(605) 773-3615
Matthew.Reitzel@state.sd.us

Visit the South Dakota State Archives at www.sdhistory.org/arc/archives.htm