About me
Women make up half the population and should make up half of history; it is up to us to insist on our own inclusion!
To that end, I help women capture their stories, and those of beloved women who came before them (family or not!). Together we can pull together photographs and papers to build personal archives, and even place those collections in public repositories to ensure that women’s history is saved for both the family and for posterity.
My work also reduces stress about family collections by assessing, organizing, and finding a permanent place for them. Downsizing and preparing to sell a parent’s home are important moments when clients can reach out to me for private work.
By tailoring my services to align with my clients’ needs, I help build lasting legacies to hand forward to our next generations. This work of adding women’s stories to archives ensures that women can be included in historical accounts.
I spent 18 years as “archivist and senior research scholar” at an academic science library, actively trying to add women & historically excluded folks to the global historical record of a branch of science and moving the department from a card catalog to a database. I have degrees in women’s history and cultural theory — the latter means that I see the cultural value of everyday practices such as food, clothing, hobbies, clubs, and domestic arrangements.
What do you do and why do you do it?
Women make up half the population; women do not make up half of history. The gap is caused in part by women NOT being included in the archives…the raw materials of history. I’m on a mission to get women in there! We can change history by including our own stories.
What changed for you after age 50?
I was born a little old lady; I feel like I’m FINALLY getting to it!
What would you tell the 20 or 30-year-old YOU?
Keep being weird. But don’t cash out your retirement account to backpack through Europe.
What do you think you’ll tell yourself in retrospect at the end of your life?
You did a good job.
What impact do you think increased visibility can have on your business?
Well, I feel like I am a public educator pushing a movement, and I DO believe I can change history.
Who or what inspires you and why?
Ani Difranco: She built a recording business, DIY-style, before entrepreneurship was a hot topic. And she built a following that she engaged for political change for the good.
“Women make up half the population but do not makeup half of history; it is up to us to insist on our own inclusion!”
Angela L. Todd
The Brief
In the conversation, Angela talks about her passion for preserving women’s history and the importance of archiving personal and professional experiences. She started her career working in archives and preserving family histories, which led her to create her own business. Angela shares her personal story of breaking trauma patterns in her family and how knowledge is power in decision-making.
Angela discusses the significance of including women’s voices and experiences in history to ensure accurate representation. She highlights the difficulties women face in recognizing their own worth and importance, which can sometimes be an impediment to their success. Angela emphasizes the necessity of preserving and sharing women’s stories for future generations.
To help others start archiving their personal and professional history, Angela suggests creating a digital or paper collection, organizing documents into folders, and establishing relationships with archives, historical societies, or libraries. The key takeaway Angela wants people to have is that their story matters and is essential to preserving American history.
Be sure to connect with Angela and learn more about her work.
