Writing a Company History with Holes

We want to celebrate our company’s 75th anniversary, but our records are scattered, and no one remembers the founder’s actual birthday. How do we write an accurate history when the timeline has holes? — Corporate Archivist-ish

Dear Corporate Archivist-ish,

First of all, congratulations — 75 years is no small feat! And while your records may be more “Where’s Waldo?” than Library of Congress, don’t let that stop the celebration.

The truth is, most long-standing organizations have patchy histories. Time passes, people retire, and somewhere along the way, files get lost to office moves, floods, or someone’s overly enthusiastic spring cleaning.

Here’s the good news: your company’s story doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful.

Start with what you do know. Build a timeline from verified documents, annual reports, or key product launches. Then, fill in the blanks with oral history.

Talk to retirees, legacy employees, or even longtime customers — people often remember more than they realize when asked the right questions.

A shared memory of “when the founder brought in his dog every Friday” might say more about your company culture than any date ever could.

Don’t be afraid to embrace the gaps with transparency and humor. Instead of glossing over missing details, acknowledge them: “While we’re not sure of the founder’s exact birthday, we know he loved strong coffee, bold ideas, and always wore a bowtie.” It adds color, personality, and authenticity.

And if you still want to honor the founder despite the date mystery? Choose a symbolic day. Maybe the date of incorporation, the first sale, or even the anniversary of the building’s ribbon-cutting. That becomes your “birthday” to celebrate each year in the future.

Finally, remember that the heart of an anniversary isn’t about pinpointing every date correctly — it’s about honoring your journey, your people, and the values that carried you through decades of change.

Let the gaps become part of the story, not a reason to hide it.

With archival affection and a very vintage toast,

Theradore Higgonbottom