Chapter One How to Create Your Ark to the Future Time discovers truth. —Montaigne THE TIME CAPSULE The concept of the time capsule as we know it was invented by G. Edward Pendray of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Pendray’s capsule was buried at the site of the 1939 New York World’s Fair on September 23, 1938, and is scheduled to be opened in 6939. It was the intention of the organizers to “represent all the enormous variety and vigor of life” and to deposit “information touching upon all the principal categories of our thought, activity, and accomplishment; sparing nothing, neither our wisdom nor our foolishness, our supreme achievements nor our recognized weaknesses.” Since that time, numerous time capsules have been buried, placed in the foundations of buildings, or catapulted into space. Now, at the turn of the millennium, it seems a particularly poignant time to seek a means by which to speak to those who will inhabit the earth in the future. While The Ark to the Future relies upon and is inspired by the idea of the conventional time capsule, it differs in four significant ways: 1. it is not to be buried, sealed in concrete, or sent into space; 2. it is intended for use within the family; 3. it is meant to be sealed for a relatively short time (twenty-five or fifty years); 4. it is meant to be updated by future family members. The capsule contains two compartments, each measuring (at the widest point) 73/4 inches wide by 91/4 inches high by 11/4 inches deep, that flank the memory album. Obviously, the size of the objects you include in the capsule is limited by these measurements. You should be careful not to force any items into the capsule, as you could damage the compartments, which are designed to snap snugly into position when you close the lid. You should take a few minutes to read this handbook before you begin to assemble the contents of the time capsule, which you should do at the same time you assemble the photographs and other items for the memory album. It is a good idea to place these materials in a manila envelope for safekeeping during the process. Keep in mind that the journey your Ark takes may land it in some very unusual places, in atmospheric conditions that may not be ideal. You should avoid placing the Ark where it will be exposed to extreme changes in temperature or humidity. In some rare instances, basements or attics will be acceptable, but others could prove disastrous. The top shelf of a little-used closet, where inquisitive hands are unlikely to find it, is probably a safe bet. Because it will stay above ground and will be opened in a relatively short time (as time capsules go), you should not encounter any problems if you use common sense and take a few precautions. Obviously, food of any sort should not be included. If you insert a perishable item, such as a flower or a tobacco product, it should be placed in a Mylar envelope (see chapter two for a full discussion on archival procedures). You should avoid liquids, such as perfume or ink, as any leakage could corrode the compartments of the capsule and destroy the other items in it. Following are some ideas for things you might want to put into the capsule: • jewelry, such as rings, watches, cameos, pendants, necklaces, brooches, pins, and other small items or family heirlooms • personal items that individuals might have carried with them, such as a wallet, medallion, religious object, key or key chain, lucky coin, pair of eyeglasses, pocketknife, or lock of hair • membership cards, birth certificates, diplomas, an expired driver’s license, credit card, or ID badge • household items, such as a pipe, pen (without the cartridge), paperweight, empty perfume bottle, framed photograph, figurine, or piece of crystal (wrapped in tissue paper) • small articles of clothing, such as a scarf, tie, or handkerchief • items that document an era, such as a fax, a mouse, a train schedule, advertisements for clothes, computers, or cars, the cover of a contemporary magazine, paper money, or coins (which some experts feel will be obsolete in the future) In addition, audio- and videotapes, CDs, and computer diskettes offer a simple, dramatic, and efficient way of communicating a great deal of personal and intimate information. With proper care, these items should survive the next quarter- or possibly even half-century; however, they are delicate and quite sensitive to extreme atmospheric conditions. Place such items in Mylar envelopes for their added protection. Keep in mind also that today’s new media will be tomorrow’s antiques, and it may be difficult for your descendants to readily find a player for such items. Also, you can open a bank account in a descendant’s name and place the banking statement or passbook in the capsule, purchase stock in an emerging company and place the certificate in the capsule, or purchase a savings bond that will mature around the time the capsule is opened. Even more revealing is to include an Ark to the Future postcard addressed to a future family member, or perhaps a more intimate sealed letter to the children of your children’s children. The Dedication Ceremony Usually, when community time capsules are dedicated, the mayor gives a speech, the local clergy recites an invocation, and a band plays the national anthem. The 1939 World’s Fair capsule was lowered into the ground exactly at noon, as a gong tolled. You and your family will probably opt for a somewhat less elaborate ceremony, but it is an event that should be attended by all available family members. If there is a prayer, poem, or quotation that has personal meaning, you might have the oldest or youngest person recite it, and someone should read aloud the text of the dedication page. When to Close and Open the Capsule You should select a day of significance, either universally or personally. Some obvious days are January 1, Christmas Day or another religious holiday, the vernal equinox, July 4, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, or a day of historical importance. How long you choose to keep the capsule closed is entirely up to you. We feel that twenty-five years is the minimum length of time. To a child, that will seem like an eternity, but most adults realize that it passes in a veritable blur. Each year the Ark is in transit will add to its power and mystery, as time and events reveal the secrets of the future. Today’s society craves instant gratification, and so this concept is entirely contradictory to our present way of life. Be patient. It will be worth the wait.
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