If you have original documents or photographs framed on a wall, protect them as much as possible from sunlight. Also, do not hang them on exterior walls, as they will be subject to too much fluctuation in temperature and humidity. If possible, make good copies to frame and hang those instead.
If you are deciding which parish records to keep, please note the Diocesan Record Retention Guidelines, found at: https://doy.org/archives/ Many records, including bulletins, are to be kept permanently. As we strive to preserve our community memory, we welcome questions and suggestions. If you would like to ask about what to save or dispose of in your parish records, you are welcome to contact Joan Lawson, Archivist, at 330-744-8451 x290, or email jlawson@youngstowndiocese.org.
Our diocesan Sacramental Records Guidelines are available online: https://doy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Sacramental-Records-Guidelines.pdf
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The Archives Office is pleased to search for sacramental records of closed parishes and is happy to assist parishes as needed.
If you have any questions about parish records and archives, you are welcome to contact Joan Lawson at 330-744-8451 x290, or email jlawson@youngstowndiocese.org
If you need to send a notation for a baptismal record, or find a sacramental record from a closed or merged parish, but aren’t certain where the records reside, please phone the Archives, or check this page on Catechist Café: https://catechistcafe.weebly.com/sacramental-records.html
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Learn More About the Archives Office.
