by Cathy Gilmore | Jun 9, 2017 | Features, Resources, Software
You don’t need to have a stack of old family records to need a Kindex archive. Just today I was staring at a pile of my daughter’s artwork from school and thought, “I’m archiving this on Kindex!”
1. Gather
We started with a set of pictures my daughter drew for a book. First, we created a free, private archive on Kindex.org in her name. Then, we scanned the pictures and added them to her very first Collection: Charlotte’s Book.
2. Index
We opened each drawing and she told me a little about each one. As she talked, I typed in a description (she’s six, so not quite skilled enough on the keyboard). She loved telling me about each drawing!
3. Search & Share
Because of Kindex’s built-in transcription and metadata tools, finding each record will be so easy. No longer will we be searching through endless piles of art projects; we can simply search Kindex and it will be there.
Share
Every Kindex archive has a “Share” page where you can share your archive with someone new. She is so thrilled with the idea that she can have her own archive! In fact, by the time I finished this post, she drew another picture for me to “Kindex”:
Getting to this point took about 15 minutes, start to finish, I’m so excited scan the rest of her artwork. It will sure help us simplify, get rid of clutter, and feel better about discarding many of the papers she has accumulated.
My next project is to help my older children scan the all the school projects and papers they have saved for the past 18 years. I can be hard to throw away that book report you spent so much time on, but knowing it will be archived and searchable on Kindex certainly helps all of us feel better about getting rid of a few things.
AW, SO CUTE! CREATE MY ARCHIVE
Expanding the Idea
Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to create a Kindex archive, what will you put in your archive? Here are some ideas to get you thinking:
- Create a living family archive with collections for each child. Scan & preserve school papers, awards, art, report cards, letters, and other special documents.
- Create an online cookbook and collaborate with family members near and far.
- Scan, save, and organize receipts, bills, and other important papers for your home or business.
- Scan your family trust papers on a private archive and invite board members to the archive.
- Start your own personal archive and add special records like letters, diaries, and photos.
- Use Kindex for research projects. Organize, transcribe, and search primary sources in a private archive and invite other researchers to collaborate.
- Use Kindex to teach your students about historical records. Invite each student to transcribe a record and share what they learned.
- Start a private collaborative archive for your genealogy or historical society and add the Kindex CSV data download to your database.
- Set up a public transcription project for your private collection.
- Create archives for families who donate collections to your society. This allows them to have access to their records and collaborate in transcribing records.
SIGN ME UP!
Why Kindex?
But why would I choose Kindex over other media storage options like Google Photos, Dropbox, and similar products? Ask yourself the following:
- Does it offer unlimited records?
Kindex’s current special offers unlimited records for about $8/month*
- Does it have built-in tools for metadata, transcriptions, and tags?
Kindex is a rare web software tools that offers all these features.
- Can I assign metadata to multiple records at a time?
Kindex allows batch record uploads and metadata editing.
- Can I choose between a private and public archive?
Kindex offers the option of private or public archive*
- Is it collaborative?
Kindex allows you to invite unlimited people to add, transcribe, search, and share records in your archive*
- Can I download all my archive data at any time?
Kindex allows archive owners to download all archive data as a CSV file.
- Is it fully searchable?
Kindex allows full searchability on titles, descriptions, transcriptions and other metadata.
*upgraded archives only
Archive Your Life on Kindex
Now that we’ve got you thinking, it’s time to head over to Kindex.org and get started. If you already have a free Kindex archive, now is the time to upgrade for only $99.
LET’S DO THIS!
by Cathy Gilmore | Mar 12, 2017 | Features, Stories from the Archive
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we are sharing the stories of women who are examples of strength and courage.
It was December 1929, just a few weeks after the stock market crash, and many families were feeling the pinch. As a teenager growing up in the 1920’s Dorothy Smith developed an interest in art, and enjoyed sketching the faces of her friends and family. Her parents invested in a few art lessons, and the hobby blossomed into an opportunity for Dorothy to answer an ad in the local paper. The problem was, the ad was for “male-help-only”. Dorothy was not deterred, at at the encouragement of her mother, put some trousers on and answered the ad.
From Dorothy Smith’s own life sketch:
“In December of my 18th year came an answer to a prayer for financial help as well as an unexpected opportunity to “cash-in” on my parent’s monetary investments in my future. At Mother’s suggestion, I bravely answered a “male-help-only” ad that had appeared for a week in the local newspaper. I got the job and was promptly put to work. I learned a lesson in preparedness when I was retained to work the rest of the day and was afraid to remove my coat because I hadn’t bothered to wear my belt. I thoroughly enjoyed my (one-man?) job as a sign-writer and copy-checker in the advertising department of the city’s largest store, T. Eaton, Co., and was glad to be able to help in the support of my elder brother Marv.”
-From the Dorothy Smith Archive, A Brief Life Sketch, written 31 January 1975.
Dorothy Smith with her parents Hyrum and June, in the late 1920’s, in front of their home in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Dorothy Smith sketching a face.
A window Dorothy Smith decorated at T. Eaton Co. in Lethbridge, Alberta.
by Cathy Gilmore | Sep 9, 2016 | Uncategorized
In my grandmother Dorothy Smith’s collection of photos there is a picture of her standing alone, posing on a hill with a snowy mountain in the background.
When I first saw this photo, I turned it over to see if any information was written on the back. I was lucky to find a description in my grandmother’s own handwriting.
University Hill Provo
April 1933
I was going to catch a butterfly but it flew away and left me.
Springville Art Exhibit
I was so pleased she had written the date, place, and occasion of this photo. But who took it, and why was she there? I knew she kept a diary from that time, and because it is transcribed, I was able to search for those dates and words. Here’s what I found from the day the photo was taken:
Sunday April 23, 1933
Went by Orem Electric to annual Springville Art Exhibit with T.S. Knaphus, sculptor. Spent 3 hours in Provo, sight-seeing on our way back to S.L.C. Took kodak snaps on B.Y.U. campus.
This was a very interesting day for me and rather an outstanding one I suppose, inasmuch as I was so kindly favored and well treated by one so prominent in his sphere.
En route he gave me valuable instructions and criticisms on art. Urges strongly that I begin to busy myself with “oils” and harness the talent he believes lies dormant. (I hope to do this soon, as I have been so inspired today)
Left Knaphus at 8 P.M. to finish the day with Ellsworth. Youth does have its preferences.
What started as a photo and ended with a diary search reveals a snapshot of Dorothy’s life from the early 1930’s, where Mormon sculptor and artistic mentor Torleif Knaphus and husband-to-be Ellsworth Clark contended for Dorothy’s affections. It was a very pivotal time in Dorothy’s life as she was mentored by influential artists and courted by multiple suitors. To connect an image with a specific page from her diary in history adds rich context to his photo and lends a greater understanding to who our grandmother was.
Sometimes searching for stories in our family records is like chasing butterflies: we never know where the path will lead us, and catching them is elusive. With Kindex, our goal is to make that path easier through the ability to search and share family records. Had I been required to manually page through these diaries (shown below) to find that story, it would have been far more difficult and time-consuming. So here’s to catching butterflies—and finding stories!
A Sample of Dorothy Clark’s Diary Collection
by Cathy Gilmore | Dec 20, 2015 | Uncategorized
Dorothy Smith was an art student at the University of Utah in the early 1930’s, and had many outlets for her artistic talents. In addition to her job decorating store windows and making signage at Kress, she often took side jobs to supplement her income. She lettered doors and windows, and sold handmade greeting cards. Christmas was a particularly busy time for her, as she writes on November 12, 19331:
I have Christmas card orders to fill for Torleif S. Knaphus2 in return for clay which he gave me for modeling. He certainly has inspired me and been a great help in pushing me, as it were, along the road to accomplishment. I don’t know many other grown people who have so influenced me to good and been as companionable.
At the same time, her fiancee Ellsworth received a call to serve a 6-month Western States mission.On November 29, 1933 Dorothy writes:
Ellsworth’s farewell testimonial in Capitol Hill Ward. He spoke splendidly. We, his friends and relatives were more than proud of him. Received $25.00 contributions, 10.00 of which was sent to other Capitol Hill missionaries for Xmas.
We glimpse at Ellsworth and Dorothy’s generous nature as they both sought to support one another and others. On December 3rd, she writes:
Attended Sunday School and fast service. Paid some back-tithe
for Marv. I feel especially grateful today for opportunities
Ellsworth and I are having of helping each other and the world at large.
Thankful for our peaceful home, health and the love of friends –
for my close association with the Clarks and above all for the
directing hand and inspiration of God in the lives of Ellsworth
and myself.
He has been gracious and understanding – helped us to
cooperate in facing life – helped us to find the one real Love –
that of sacrifice and true devotion.
Throughout December, Dorothy was busy filling Christmas card orders, tinting photos for Esther Jahries (wife of Walter C. Jahries, Kress store manager) creating displays for Kress, and hand-lettering doors for local businesses. Dorothy was so busy, that Mr. Jahries gave Dorothy permission to hire Dorothy’s friend Olive Knaphus as an assistant. On Saturday, December 12th Dorothy writes:
A big rush at Kress and all over the city. Business seems good. I
finished shopping at 7:30. Visited Ellsworth’s folks for awhile
came home and finished wrapping parcels & mailing cards.
Made about 4 or 5 dozen for us this year besides 2 1/2 dozen for
Knaphus. Have been extra busy. Sent Ellsworth box of mother’s
chocolates. His folks sent a cake, shirt, tie and hankies and candy.
Dorothy’s talents and work ethic provided means of support for her family, her brother Marvin on his mission, and her fiancee Ellsworth, to whom she sent money every week. Here is the card she sent Ellsworth that Christmas a hopeful scene that was reflected in their ensuing years.
1Diaries of Dorothy Smith Clark, 1929-1934, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2Torleif S. Knaphus was Dorothy’s artistic mentor and friend.
