In the last half century, when a person died, they would leave behind physical remains, like photographs, diaries, letters, bank statements, certificates; videotapes, notebooks and shopping lists.

After a death, these material possessions were divided among and spread across family and friends, kept in boxes and photo albums and stored carefully away.

Family would sort through these physical remains, keeping some, giving some away, throwing some out.

Often, photos and letters would become lost or damaged: both during life and after death it was hard to keep and preserve large amounts of physical remains.