Archives are a rich cultural resource and can provide learning opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. In this article, Gwynedd Archives Service explain what their education service can provide. The Education Service at Gwynedd Archives Service was established in 1974 and formalized a progressive arrangement by the old Caernarfonshire from developing learning packs … Continue reading Bringing History Alive: the Education Service at Gwynedd Archives

Cardiff University’s Special Collections and Archives often play host to students from a range of academic disciplines undertaking paid research placements that draw on our archival collections. We’ve been fortunate for the last two summers to be joined by Pip Bartlett and Katy Stone, Modern Languages students who have worked on the Barbier family archive … Continue reading The French influence on Welsh language revival in Cardiff

The National Coal Board collection at Glamorgan Archives contains around 4000 glass plate negatives, documenting coal mining in South Wales.  These glass plates illustrate a range of subjects concerning colliery life above and below ground.  As glass plates offered more dimensional stability in comparison to plastic supports, they are often found in large industrial collections … Continue reading Conserving Photographs on Glass

To celebrate the year of the sea, and Ynys Môn’s rich maritime history, we ran an art project that used archival documents to create ceramic pieces depicting the story of the wrecked steam clipper, The Royal Charter. These ceramic art works were created under the guidance of local ceramicist, Lyn Gallagher. Whilst researching for the … Continue reading Gorwel Ddoe / Yesterday’s Horizon – an Anglesey Archives project.

Last week (10th to 14th December) Flintshire Record Office was closed to the public for Stocktaking Week. This provided the opportunity for staff to catch up with back-room tasks for which there is insufficient time whilst the search-room is open. The event takes place annually and whilst the checking of our “stock” (the archive collections) … Continue reading Stocktaking at Flintshire Record Office

Commemorating the centenary of such a cataclysmic conflict as the First World War is not an easy task. We wanted to produce something that would be different and lasting, that could be a focus of remembrance and at the same time a resource to help people discover the part their family members played in the … Continue reading “Their names shall live for evermore”: uncovering hidden war memorials at West Glamorgan Archives

The Deuddwr Estate Map 1747/8 is a very large map (294 x 357cm) showing lands inherited by John Newport from the Earl of Bradford. The map was surveyed and engraved by John Rocque, a significant 18th century figure. His other works include plans of Richmond Gardens (now the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew), Windsor Castle, … Continue reading Conservation of a very large estate map at Powys Archives

By Guest Blogger, Aron Roberts I started volunteering with Denbighshire Archives at the beginning of July, looking to gain some valuable work experience before undertaking a Masters in Archive Administration at Aberystwyth University this September.  During my time here, I have been improving the catalogue for the Building Control Plans for Colwyn Bay by adding … Continue reading My Route into the Archive Profession

World Digital Preservation Day (formerly International Digital Preservation Day) is held on the last Thursday of every November.  This year, on 29th November 2018, the digital preservation community will come together to celebrate the collections preserved, the access maintained and the understanding fostered by preserving digital materials. The aim of the day is to create greater … Continue reading World Digital Preservation Day