In recent times we have published requests for Coronavirus diaries and other media, we have told you more about who we are, and what we do; and we have shared with you an example of what records from centuries ago can tell us about how (or how not) to manage during a crisis.
In the coming weeks we will be publishing a series of ‘Archival Types‘ which will explore some of the different sorts of records we hold at Dorset History Centre, including diaries and letters, photographs, maps, and other common records. Keep your eyes peeled for these!
Of course, we don’t just want to collect material about Coronavirus. We are happy to assess any records you might have with a view to adding them to our collections! We are anticipating that whilst people are self-isolating during this period they may well use the time to tidy their lofts, sheds or cupboards, and might potentially find documents they didn’t know they had!
These archives might include your grandad’s photo-album of Shaftesbury. They might include a family video of Lyme Regis sea-front. They might include a diary of life working on one of Dorset’s estates from the 19th Century. Was one of your family self-employed in Bournemouth and did they generate business records that have been sat in the attic for years? Those are archives as well! Essentially, we are looking for any records with a link to life in Dorset.
If you’ve found something and you aren’t sure whether it would be considered an archival document, why not send us a picture and let us offer you some advice? You can email us archives@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and one of the team will get back to you in due course. You can also contact us on Twitter, and your message will be passed onto the relevant team member. Finally, you can still telephone us as well on 01305 250550. At the moment your call will go to voicemail, but leave us a message and someone will return your call.
Finally, if you do have material you want to donate to DHC, please do not bring them along without getting in touch first. The doors are closed to DHC at the moment, and there are no staff on-site to receive any physical material from you. When the lockdown is over and DHC is open again, please get in touch with us about when you would like to bring your records in.