“Leo Hershkowitz, 92, Dies; Unearthed New York City History”

This headline is merely a newspaper announcement. Behind the headline is an amazing human that understood the importance of paper documents – ephemeral in nature, but historically important and profound. Known as a paper scavenger, he found (soon to be shredded in the municipal pulp mill) “the city’s financial records for the funeral of Abraham Lincoln — held at City Hall on April 19, 1865 — including the undertaker’s bill for $1,000 and another bill, for $20, from James Ayliffe of Trinity Church for composing a funeral dirge and playing the church’s chimes.”

Old documents can be safely stored in our archival storage boxes and file folders.