Explore Your Archive 2017

#Explore Your Archive is finally here!

In Special Collections we are all very excited to launch #ExploreArchives and get our events underway in our first ever university-wide campaign to take the joy of archives across campus and get staff, students and the public involved.

The Explore Your Archive campaign is run by The National Archives and the Archives and Records Association. It’s a national celebration of the unique potential of archives to excite people, bring communities together and tell amazing stories. This year the campaign will take place from 18-26 November and Special Collections will be participating.

Look out for us across campus next week talking about all things archives!!!

Archive Roadshows: where, when and what

Throughout the week we will be hosting several archive roadshows in various faculty buildings where will be setting up an Explore Your Archives display and stall that will reflect the subjects studied at each location.  Here, you can find out more about our holdings, and, most importantly, how they could help you with your research!

Tuesday 21th November, Vijay Patel Building, 11am-2pm

Situated in the foyer of our beautiful new art and design building, we will be showcasing collections relating to art, design, architecture and fashion, featuring samples of previous staff and student work, press cuttings, photographs, exhibition booklets, and much more.

Wednesday 22st November, Hawthorn Building, 11am-2pm

Situated in the foyer of the faculty of Health and Life Sciences building, we will be exhibiting a range of medical and science-related collections, including our extensive nursing and midwifery archives and a collection on Russian space exploration.

Thursday 23nd November, Clephan Building, 11am-2pm

Situated in the foyer of the Humanities building, we will be presenting materials on an array of subjects including English, Sports History and Politics where you will be able to see some original scripts by Bryony Lavery and Andrew Davies, 19th century boxing artefacts, historical newspapers, and much more.

Sunday 26th November Heritage Centre, Trinity Chapel, The Castle, 11am-3pm

Explore Your Archive coincides with Heritage Sunday (held on the last Sunday of the month from Mar-Nov) so we are very pleased to be able to offer an archives roadshow as a part of this event. Heritage Sundays open up the institution’s historical sites and collections for public view and are a perfect family day out. Family-friendly displays and activities will be taking place in the Heritage Centre in the Hawthorn building, in Trinity Chapel Hospital and The Castle.

We look forward to seeing you at one or all of our roadshows! All are welcome at any of the events.

@DMUSpecialColls Blog posts: a theme for every day of the week

As well as our roadshows we will also be engaging with the Twitter themes challenge as set by the National Archives and ARA. Listed below are this year’s themes so remember to keep a look out on our Special Collections Blog and Twitter @DMUSpecialColls  on the day to see how we do!

Monday 20th November #Archivecatwalk

Tuesday 21st November #Ediblearchives

Wednesday 22nd #hairyarchives

Thursday 23rd #Archivescience

Friday 24th #lovearchives

We hope you enjoy our Explore Archives events and activities and that we see you in Special Collections in the future!

About Katharine Short

When I was 13 every careers questionnaire I did at school suggested I become an archivist. In rebellion I studied History of Art at Cambridge and the Courtauld Institute before giving in to the inevitable and undertaking a qualification in Archives Administration at Aberystwyth University. I worked at King’s College London Archives and the London Metropolitan Archives before becoming the Archivist here at DMU in January 2013. My role is hugely varied: answering enquiries and assisting researchers, sorting, cataloguing, cleaning and packaging archival material, managing our environmentally controlled storage areas, giving seminars, talks and tours, researching aspects of University history, liaising with potential donors and advocating for the importance of archives within the organisation. I am one of those incredibly fortunate people who can say ‘I love my job’ and really mean it.
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