Email at the LHC

This note describes the email system we're using at the LHC, to help clarify how it works and how to use it.

In order to facilitate easy communication between staff and volunteers at LHC we've setup email forwarding, so that everyone has an email address at LHC which is firstname@lawrencehistory.org. This way, anyone who wants to send an email just needs to know the person's first name and the mail will get to them. (Of course, this will get complicated as soon as we have two people with the same first name... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.) It is important to note that this system doesn't change anything about either the sender or recipient's use of email - it only provides an address which will forward to the person's regular email box. There is no password or other configuration to be done by the recipient to collect their mail - it's just passed on. Kind of like having the post office use a forwarding address for you.

There are several other advantages to this system in addition to being easy to remember someone's address. First, if your email address changes, a single change to the forwarding address will be all that is required and it will be completely transparent to everyone who uses your LHC address at LHC. Of course, it does require you to let me know that your address has changed so I can change the forwarding.

Second, you can use the LHC address as needed for 'official' business. When you're dealing with vendors, at conferences or seminars, etc. you can use the LHC address which will, hopefully, give the LHC a more 'pro' impression.

So, there's nothing you need to do about the address except use it if you'd like. Those who want to send to your LHC address can, but those who have your regular email address can use that - it all ends up in the same place: your regular email box. You will be able to tell which address a sender used by looking at the 'to:' field on the email.

Now, if you want to send email and have it show to the recipient like it was coming from your address at LHC you'll need to change your email client (eg. outlook) to use what is usually called another 'identity'. Then, when you send mail you indicate which identity you want to use. Each email client is setup differently. Let me know if you want to do this and I'll help you with it. Another client feature that you could use is to have mail that was addressed to your LHC address automatically go into a different folder, and replies to that mail automatically use your LHC address. This is a little more complicated, and not all clients allow it. I'll investigate it for your client if you'd like.

Please let me know if you have any questions.