Elderflower Life Recording is a woman-owned & operated archival company with plans to service those in the aging community and their families.
Hello! I’m the owner and operator of Elderflower Life Recording and my name is Maureen Hahn. I have around eleven combined years of experience in archiving, elder care, and organization. I was introduced to archiving as a concept at an early age and have since been passionate about all things time-worn.
“I never thought I’d be in need of someone for transcription services but I found myself in possession of the personal journals of a talented artist. These journals sat untouched for 75 years until Maureen Hahn took on my request to uncover their contents. The handwriting was erratic and difficult to read, but in short order was deciphered and put together in a beautiful and readable format. Thanks to this undertaking, the words of this long forgotten talent have resurfaced and can be shared once again.”
— Joseph L.
“Having someone to assist me with purging and organization is so helpful. To do this while still in a healthy state of mind and body makes it less of a burden. I am doing this for myself and my children, to make it easier for them when I die. The Swedish death cleaning is so beneficial and makes for a more simple existence, without excess. Thank you Maureen. Your kind, warm and caring ways make a huge difference in what could otherwise be an emotionally difficult situation.”
— Margie F.
“Maureen was many things to our ailing mother, but perhaps her most lasting contribution was the work she did on Mom’s memoirs. She took a genuine interest in our Mom and her story, gently teased out anecdotes that would otherwise have remain buried, then knit it all together in a highly readable structure. She even deciphered chicken scratch hand writing and keyed in copy that was extremely clean. I do not hesitate giving Maureen the highest marks for her work on what has become a treasured document.”
— Justin P.
“Maureen Hahn worked under my supervision in the Burchfield Penney Art Center Archives from 2015 - 2019. I trained Maureen on digitization, documentation, transcription, and art handling practices according to accepted archival and museum standards. I trust Maureen completely, and know she has the skills necessary to digitize and organize historical documentation with care and intention. She is also one of the nicest and sweetest humans I've ever met, and a joy to be around!”
— Heather Gring, Archivist (MLIS/MAS), Burchfield Penney Art Center
About the ‘Elderflower’
The Elder tree (Sambucus candensis) is considered a keystone plant, which means it supports and is supported by many ecosystems. It has been said by folk groups that the Elder tree teaches the plants ‘what to do and how to grow,’ and that, without its presence, the local plant community will become confused. The Elder tree is often found in damp or wet areas such as flood plains, ditches, moist forests, and near streams and lake shores. The Elderflowers arrive in early summer and have a flat-topped mass of creamy-white petals with a distinctly musky and sweet fragrance. Later into the summer and fall, its berries drop and are a deep purple color. These berries contain anthocyanins and research has shown that they help protect our bodies from oxidative stress, which is linked to cancer, brain degeneration, and accelerated aging. I have found beauty in the Elder tree not just for the physicality, but also because it symbolizes a chance to age more gracefully.