Author: archiveswales

The theme for this years’ International Archives Day is Empowering Archives. Sally McInnes, Chair of the ARCW Digital Preservation Group and Head of Unique Collections and Collections Care at the National Library of Wales, explains how services are supporting each other to advance the digital preservation agenda in Wales. The ability to remotely connect and network … Continue reading Teaming up to save the bits: digital sustainability in Wales

“This is a shilling, and here’s a threepenny bit and here’s…” Watching a very elderly woman patiently explaining the pre-decimal currency system of Britain to a genuinely interested and much younger woman was a delight. Even more so when one understood that the older lady had dementia, and the younger was one of a team … Continue reading The Brilliant Past –Dementia and Archives

2020 was the year when we clapped for our carers, and publicly celebrated our health heroes. The nursing profession was a big part of this, and they have continued with their incredible work and devotion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking through the archives, it is clear that an appreciation of nurses and the nursing profession … Continue reading Decades of dedication – an archival appreciation of the nursing profession

National Tea Day is observed in the United Kingdom every year on 21st of April to celebrate the drinking of tea. The North East Wales Archives (NEWA), Hawarden, holds this advertisement for Ishmael Roberts, Miller, Tea Dealer and Grocer from Lane End in Buckley, mid-19th Century. With over 30 potteries, brickworks and an abundant supply … Continue reading National Tea Day

We are pleased to announce that Archives and Records Council Wales have been have awarded a Covid-19 Archives Fund Grant of £50,000 from The National Archives. This generous award will allow us to develop a national strategy to identify records at risk due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensure that they are safeguarded for future … Continue reading Archives and Records Council Wales awarded Covid-19 Archives Grant

Inspiring female stories from our archives have leapt from paper to screen as part of a grant funded project with Theatr Clwyd. North East Wales Archives, which covers both Denbighshire and Flintshire archives, has been awarded a Welsh Government grant to work alongside Theatr Clwyd to create monologue style films which will re-tell rousing stories … Continue reading Women Rediscovered: Stories from North East Wales Archives

Gwynedd Archives Service holds a number of items in their collections detailing the 1866 Caernarfon cholera epidemic. There were numerous outbreaks of cholera across the UK during the 1860s, with Caernarfon suffering most severely in 1866. It is estimated that during this time around 100 people died of the disease and 77 of the victims … Continue reading Caernarfon’s 19th century cholera epidemic uncovered as part of Explore Your Archive week

A Green Shield Stamp catalogue from the 1960s has been uncovered by Archives Wales, ahead of Explore Your Archive Week (Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th November 2020). Before the Argos catalogue or Tesco Clubcard, shoppers in the 1960s and 70s earned Green Shield Stamps for purchases in a range of smaller shops like local grocers, … Continue reading Green Shield Stamp catalogue from the 1960s uncovered by Ceredigion Archives as part of Explore Your Archive week

A historic property listing for Gwrych Castle, made famous by this year’s series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has been uncovered, ahead of Explore Your Archive Week (Saturday 21st – Sunday 29th November 2020). Gwrych Castle 1910, North East Wales Archives The 19th century castle and estate, which is based near … Continue reading Historic property listing for ‘I’m a Celebrity’ castle uncovered as part of Explore Your Archive week

World Digital Preservation Day Every year, the Digital Preservation Coalition holds a World Digital Preservation Day with the aim of drawing attention to the complex strategic, cultural and technological issues involved in ensuring sustained access to digital content. This year has brought into particular focus the global reliance on digital information, infrastructure and connectivity and … Continue reading Keeping the Good for Good: Preserving the Laws of Hywel Dda at the National Library of Wales