Author: archiveswales

During the eighteenth century the movement to abolish the Slave Trade and slavery in the British colonies was strongest in urban centres. Large towns and cities were often home to cultural and philosophical societies where the urban elite could debate the major issues of the day. Urban centres were also well served by newspapers: the … Continue reading The events leading up to the emancipation of an American slave at Swansea

Glamorgan Archives holds crew agreements and log books for ships registered at the Port of Cardiff for the years 1863-1913 (ref.: DCA).  The following incidents illustrate two extraordinary occurrences recorded in these logs. The master of the Talca (official number 50438), Charles Woollacott, a Devonshire man, aged 41, must have wondered at the events which … Continue reading Subordination and Devastation: Two Sea Voyages from the Port of Cardiff

In 2010, Swansea was officially designated a City of Sanctuary, a testament to Swansea’s long tradition of providing shelter and a safe space for persons fleeing war, famine and persecution. A neglected collection in the archives throws new light on one episode in this continuing narrative. Reproduced in countless exhibitions, books and television documentaries, photographs … Continue reading The experience of Basque refugee children in Swansea in the 1930s

Our ‘Glamorgan’s Blood’ exhibition launched in October 2019 and was on display at Glamorgan Archives until the end of last year. Caerau Colliery, Accident Inspector pictured walking between two rows of trams, 19 June 1952 (DNCB/14/4/24/5) The exhibition was due to travel to venues across south Wales during 2020.  We were only a few months … Continue reading Glamorgan’s Blood: An Online Exhibition

Happy International Archives Day! Today we celebrate the richness of archival collections, and the importance of the work of archivists and archival institutions around the world. As part of the Explore Your Archive campaign, Archives Wales recruited ‘Archive Ambassadors’ to share their own experiences and of using archive collections and service for professional and personal … Continue reading International Archives Day 2020

Due to the current COVID19 pandemic, the Richard Burton Archives temporarily closed its doors to the public on 19th March, and since then all staff have been working from home. The last month has been a bit of a blur of frantic messages to IT, getting to grips with remote working, and an increase in snacking. … Continue reading Keeping up with the Archivists at the Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University

The International Council on Archives are reminding people from all over the world that archives continue to be accessible, even though the buildings are closed to the public. The vital role of archives and records services cannot be underestimated in these challenging times, and they continue to operate to facilitate business and government operations. How … Continue reading The Archives and Records are Accessible

As part of it ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the many challenges of digital preservation, Anglesey Archives has created a mini "Chamber of Horrors" to illustrate how quickly new technologies are created and cast aside. Taking its cue from Cornell University Library’s digital preservation tutorial https://dpworkshop.org/dpm-eng/oldmedia/chamber.html  the digital items  on display remind us that … Continue reading Anglesey Archives and Digital Obsolescence