I am throwing away my National Geographic collection:

[raid]

Is this like moving from film cameras to digital cameras?

It may sound strange at first, but I have been thinking about the technology advances, while I was packing away hundreds of magazines. The entire collection of NG can be obtained on CD ROM, so the paper version of the NG has to go.

The digital advances have replaced what we had gotten used to as being classic and irreplaceable.

Is this similar to what is happening with film photography? Just a few years ago it was unthinkable to me to even consider throwing away one issue of National Geographic, but as we are in the process of moving to a newer home, I was asked to "throw away old stuff".

I was at least firm to keep one issue of NG!
I have a 1958 issue with a section on the new Republic of Iraq.
"Iraq- Where Oil and Water Mix".

I see postings at RFF where people say "I will move to the M9 but I will keep my Contax II" .... and similar.

Anyways,I wanted to share with you my thoughts on moving from old to new. May you have a safe move yourselves.

 

[batterytypehah!]

I would keep the "Afghan Girl" issue, too, but I hear you.

Years ago I had a colleague at work who moved almost every year, and was on a mission to shed his possessions. He would scan all his correspondence etc. and toss the paper originals. (I do hope he used quality storage media.)

I don't have that kind of resolve, by a long shot.

 

[monochromejrnl]

Raid - rather than throw them out, perhaps you could contact a local public library (or community center, retirement home etc..) that would be willing to accept it as a donation. I'm sure you can find someone in your community that will continue to enjoy your old magazines.

 

[emraphoto]

i continue to wait with anticipation for my geo to arrive each month. the photography has been superb issue after issue with some truly inspiring work as of late (somalia, the draught in australia, christian exodus etc.)

i cannot imagine giving up the pleasure of a coffee and the new geographic out in the garden?

then again i have been shooting A LOT of film these days. whatever that means.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Keep the best of them. I have the issue done after JFK was assassinated, which also featured plans to reach the Moon. Also have the July 1957 copy, and some others. A 1950's look at Washington, DC area including the Shirlington housing development that I grew up in.

I stare at computers enough during the day. I like picking up a magazine.

 

[peter_n]

Raid - rather than throw them out, perhaps you could contact a local public library (or community center, retirement home etc..) that would be willing to accept it as a donation. I'm sure you can find someone in your community that will continue to enjoy your old magazines.

+1. Also, wider afield, there are many who would learn much from the contents. Your donation could also be tax deductible.

 

[gnarayan]

It may sound strange at first, but I have been thinking about the technology advances, while I was packing away hundreds of magazines. The entire collection of NG can be obtained on CD ROM, so the paper version of the NG has to go.

Mum threw out the old issues of NG when I moved from India to the US for college. I was heartbroken. I probably read more because they were harcdcopy and there were copies laying around the house and I could just pick a random one up, and sit and read for a while. I read articles that I might never have looked at if I had to search for the information online or on a CD.

In that sense it is nothing like film and film cameras but like getting prints of photos. I've no sentimental atachement to film, but if I have prints, even cheapo drugstrore ones, I've something I can flip through randomly from time to time - something I'm much less likely to do with digital files on a hard disk.

Cheers,
-Gautham

 

[jpa66]

Raid - rather than throw them out, perhaps you could contact a local public library (or community center, retirement home etc..) that would be willing to accept it as a donation. I'm sure you can find someone in your community that will continue to enjoy your old magazines.

I third this. Post them on Freecycle or Craigslist, and someone is sure to pick them up. Lots of good stuff in those magazines.

 

[kitaanat]

monochromejrnl, great idea. NG is a nice magazine that every pictures are great. I'm confident that those nice picture can be inspiration for someone. Unlucky, All of my NG including photo magazines became termite's food.

🙂

 

[fgb2]

I'd hold onto October 1963 - first Everest summit by Americans, with some great pictures; 12/69 (Apollo 11); and July 1974, "Climbing Half Dome the Hard Way", with photographs by Galen Rowell.

 

[wlewisiii]

If I lived anywhere near you, Raid, I'd take them all. If nothing else, I'd leave them where my son could discover them at his leisure... a very effective form of self-education would then happen.

William

 

[Krzys]

Id rather view visual content physically in my hands than on a screen.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Raid, do your girls read? I'd keep the magazines for them. The articles are nothing to sneeze at.

You can always donate them. Throwing them away, even if you're recycling them, doesn't help anyone. Let the things live longer and prosper! 🙂

Boy... didn't I show my age here too... 😉

 

[raid]

Raid - rather than throw them out, perhaps you could contact a local public library (or community center, retirement home etc..) that would be willing to accept it as a donation. I'm sure you can find someone in your community that will continue to enjoy your old magazines.

Of course, I will not literally throw the issues in the garbage can. I will give the magazines to some people who hopefully will be inspired to learn more about our world.

 

[amateriat]

Francisco: Wow, I think you nailed it!

Raid: While NatGeo might have the resources to digitize its library, others don't have the luxury: I have the last several years of Camera 35's output, as well as the entirety of Camera Arts' second incarnation (they had three, for the record), and I'd never think of parting with them. I also have cerain select issues of Modern Photography and Popular Photography from the 60s and 70s, which I'm also keeping. We all hang onto what we deem vital, and "vital", of course, varies from person to person. All I can say is: choose carefully. And let let your daughters read through a lot of it before you let if go. They will absorb important stuff we can't even start to articulate.


- Barrett

 

[raid]

Guys,
I am negotiating with my wife regarding the NG magazines, and I shared with her some of what I have seen here.

Before Barrett commmented here, Francisco's reminder to me that I have girls who can read was what made the difference. I will call a carpenter tomorrow to see whether he can install some shelves in our new home so that the NG magazines can be kept. My wife would rather have me give up my large number of lrage sized photography books and keep the NG.

I will try to find a solution which allows me to keep the NG for my girls.

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Also, public schools would be interested. Teachers often use these as resources for everything from student research to art projects. Put the whole thing on Craigslist first... see what happens.

 

[Chris101]

Did I taste sarcasm all over this post?

Everything old shall be new again.

 

[thinkfloyd]

If you are getting rid of them, can i have the may 1979 issue? 🙂 I've been looking all over for it, but no such luck. It's my birth month and year 🙂

 

[P. Lynn Miller]

Raid,

There are some things that a lcd monitor will never be able to replace... incuding the printed page and photographic print... and I am no retro-grouch... I literally could not survive without my computer... my entire business is based on the internet... and what did we do before Google, eBay and RFF...

But staring at a computer screen is not the same as browsing my collection of 300+ National Geographic's and after selecting an issue, settling into my lounge chair with a bourbon in hand... I do not live my life through a box(screen)... maybe that is why I am not a fan of TV either...

And my children are always grabbing issues of National Geographic and reading them... they spend enough time in front of the box... computer, TV, or game console... reading 'real' literature is encouraged in our house.

Oh... mp3 players are banned from our household as well, we have a real audio system... vintage 70's power amps, 4-way speakers with 15" woofers, and turntable with a large collection of vinyl... I would consider myself a failure if my children never heard 'real' music...

Just my 2¢...