![\"Hill\u2019s](\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/49754730732_9cf7961cfc_z.jpg\")
<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Hill\u2019s](\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/49753864843_0da8056639.jpg\")
<\/a>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA book called Hill\u2019s Manual of Social Business Forms<\/em>,\nit is an etiquette guide for the proper use of language and writing in diverse\nsituations. Within the pages are step-by-step instructions on how to craft\nletter of recommendation, writing invitations, petitions, to name a few. I was\ngifted this from my grandmother-in-law earlier this year, as she was moving and\nthought I would appreciate it. Spring cleaning remained me that I needed to\nfind proper housing for the antique text and that the book should not reside on\na shelf for any duration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Since, this particular book has family sentimental value, I\u2019m going to continue to hold onto it for a bit longer. However, in the future, I will consider donating this item to the Chicago History Museum (link: https:\/\/www.chicagohistory.org\/<\/a>) archives. The inscription indicates the book had a special meaning to families in Chicago, so I know it will be a place where the text will be kept safe, yet still available for research. Perhaps now is the perfect time to go through desk drawers, filing cabinets and boxes with the intent to donate your works to an archive? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you live in Hampton Roads, or graduated\/work(ed) at Old Dominion University, our archive is a great option!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right now, your work\ngathers dust (not in this house!) or lies inactive at the bottom of a drawer. A\ndonation to an archive will give these materials new life, providing access to\npotentially thousands of researchers, who\u2019s own papers could value from the\nexpertise of your hard work. Moreover, you can rest assured that an archive\nwill not simply take proper care of your items (in a lovely climate-controlled\nfacility) but be excited for the chance to preserve a bit of history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I only anticipate my cleaning whirlwind to escalate, the\nlonger the stay-at-home order persists. My hope is when I do finally return to\nwork that my in-box will be filled with donation requests from patrons in the\ngrip of their own spring-cleaning frenzy! (and leaving the lemony freshness at\nhome\u2026)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are considering donating your papers and ephemera to the Old Dominion University Special Collections and University Archives, please contact: <\/strong>libspecialcollections@odu.edu<\/strong><\/a>. We can discuss your collection while we are closed, and if it’s a good fit, work on transferring it when we reopen!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Lara Canner, Allan Blank Curator of Music Special Collections My house is both simultaneously the cleanest and dirtiest it has ever been. The quarantine has led to me polishing the floors till they reflect like mirrors, my windows gleam … Continue reading