Throughout history, storytelling has been key in sharing memories, information, and preserving legacies from one generation to the next. Some styles of storytelling include letters, pictures, videos, articles, interviews, and audio recordings. Although the methods of storytelling have changed over the years, the heart of storytelling has remained the same: people want to be remembered and share their experiences with others
Early Storytelling
Before the 1830’s the best way to communicate with others was through writing letters. It might have been hand delivered by a person on a horse, but it could be a private message sealed with a wax stamp. Back then, people received widespread news via newspapers but did not have a quick and accessible way of communicating with each other on a personal level. When the telegraph was introduced in the 1830’s, it provided a quicker way to communicate, but it was costly and only used for short messages.
The invention of the telephone in the 1870’s created an avenue for people to quickly communicate with others from a distance. This form of communication became prevalent in every home, but letters were still needed to provide any lasting records.
In the 1930’s radio was introduced, but, similar to the newspaper, it lacked a personal component. Then, in the 1950’s TV became prevalent in most people’s homes as a widespread way of storytelling, sharing news, and providing entertainment. Throughout the years, letter writing maintained popularity with people who wanted to keep a record of their correspondence.
Modern Storytelling
Beginning in the 1970s and through the early 2000’s many households had access to computers and the internet. Instant messaging gave us the ability to chat with each other in real time, and emails quickly became the new letter writing, providing the same permanence of a letter but adding convenience and quick response times. When texting became popular, it provided the quick response of an instant message with the mobility of a phone call. Then, with the surge of social media, people began connecting with friends or family as a means of staying in touch as well as connecting with people they may have never met in person before. Social media also promoted storytelling and communication not only with written words but with pictures and videos.
Preserving Stories
There have been many changes in the way we share our stories throughout the years. Due to these changes, there can be a generational gap in how to communicate best with the people we love and preserve the stories that matter most to us. At Picture This Organized, we strive to make your stories available to anyone that matters to you as well as securing those stories in a safe place that will last.
Our clients often have old formats of storytelling that are beginning to deteriorate such as old letters or newspaper articles. We also often transfer videos from outdated formats that can no longer be accessed into digital formats. However, we want to preserve modern stories for you as well. We can help you save screenshots of sentimental texts, organize your digital photo and video collection, and share your photos and videos with others. For our clients who do not stay up to date with social media, we love documenting stories with digital frames that can be accessed and added to by other family members or loved ones. No matter the story and the way it was originally communicated, Picture This Organized wants to make sure every story you value is preserved and shared with the ones you love.
Contact us for a free consultation today.