Community history doesn't just live in museums: it lives in family photo albums, handwritten letters, newspaper clippings, church programs, graduation photos, military records, business flyers, and the stories we pass from one generation to the next.

Community Archiving Day is an opportunity to bring those pieces of history together.

Throughout the event, trained volunteers will help participants safely digitize personal materials while sharing best practices for preserving family archives at home. Participants retain ownership of their original items, and any contributions to the community archive are completely voluntary. Community archives empower people to preserve their own histories and ensure local stories remain accessible for future generations.

We welcome a variety of historical materials, including:

• Family photographs

• Letters and postcards

• Newspapers and magazine articles

• Event flyers and programs

• Awards and certificates

• Community organization materials

• Church and cultural event photos

• Immigration stories and family documents

• Military memorabilia

• Business memorabilia

• School yearbooks

• Oral histories and personal stories

If you're unsure whether something is appropriate, bring it! We'd love to see it.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Digitize treasured family photographs and documents

• Learn practical tips for preserving historical materials

• Speak with local historians and community archivists

• Help document the history of Filipino Americans in North Texas

• Connect with others interested in genealogy, history, and community preservation

• Receive digital copies of scanned materials (where applicable)

The everyday experiences of families often go undocumented in traditional historical collections.

By preserving photographs, stories, and personal records, we create a richer and more complete history of our community—one that reflects the lives, achievements, struggles, and celebrations of Filipino Americans across North Texas.

Every photograph, document, and story helps future generations better understand where we came from and how our community has grown.