Your stories remain yours to tell.
We work with personal memories, family histories, and belongings that may have been kept private for generations.
We believe people should understand how their stories will be recorded, used, and shared before agreeing to participate. These principles guide our work.
You decide what to share.
You never have to answer a question or discuss an object you’re uncomfortable with.
Not every story needs to become part of the finished book. You may ask us to leave out a memory, photograph, or personal detail. You also decide who may receive the finished work.
We ask permission first.
With your consent, conversations may be recorded to help us write accurately. We explain how recordings will be used, who may access them, and how long they will be kept.
If you’d prefer not to record a particular conversation, please tell us before we begin.
Nothing is printed without review.
We prepare the stories and photographs for your review before the finished book goes to print. You can correct factual details, request changes within the agreed revision process, and decide what should remain private.
Your name, photographs, recordings, or book will not be used in our public portfolio without separate permission.
Everyone deserves to know who will see their words.
Some commissions invite relatives to share memories or thoughts about meaningful belongings. Participation is voluntary.
Before responding, each person is told who will receive their answers – usually the storyteller whose belongings are being recorded – how they may be used, and whether anything could appear in the book.
Individual responses are not automatically circulated among participating family members. Sharing an interest in an object does not create a right to receive it.
You choose who receives it.
A book may be prepared for the storyteller alone, shared with selected relatives, or printed for a wider family group. When a commission is a gift, the storyteller – not the person who arranged the gift – approves the pages and decides who receives them.
Once copies have been delivered to their recipients, those individuals may retain them. For that reason, we confirm sharing preferences before printing.
Clear arrangements from the beginning.
Before recording or collecting personal materials, we explain where the work will be stored, who may access it, and when working files are scheduled for deletion. Any ongoing access to digital or audio materials will be explained separately.
If you have questions about the information associated with your commission, please contact us.
Personal history, not legal advice.
Provenance & You documents personal memories and the stories behind belongings.
We do not provide legal advice, decide who should inherit an object, prepare estate documents, conduct appraisals, or mediate family disagreements. Questions about estate planning and distribution of property should be discussed with a qualified attorney.
Questions about privacy?
We’re happy to explain how your information will be handled before you decide to begin.