There’s an interesting discussion on the Archives listserv on Time Capsule etiquette. Of course it’s corny, and rusty old aluminum boxes (buried in dirt, no less!) are a preservationist’s worst nightmare- and the discussion has frequent mentions of “black sludge”. But for so many kids, time capsules are an early introduction to material culture, as in “the way the things I look at every day look will tell someone something about my life”.
Among the tips:
- Open the thing beforehand/ work with your institution
- Be prepared for health risks associated with mold and dirt
- Do preservation/conservation measures right away.
March 8, 2007 at 2:34 pm
This totes reminds me of that episode of Saved by the Bell where the class of 2003 finds a VHS tape put together by the class of ‘93, which is Zack and the gang!