On Wednesday 27 November, Dorset History Centre’s Principal Archivist, Jacqui Halewood, will be celebrating her last day with the service before a very well-earned retirement. Jacqui has been with the service since 2000, and have overseen a lot of change in her time at DHC! Before she finishes, we asked her to reflect on her time here…
—
Well, where has 24+ years gone! It seems both a long time and like yesterday that I came to the then Dorset Record Office (DRO)!
I have enjoyed organising amazing events. Especially rewarding was the first Open Day in April 2001 to celebrate 10 years of the ‘new’ Dorset Record Office building. Thousands of people visited the building, where we showcased the service’s varied work.
The other special event was the celebration of the Dorset Women’ Institute War Record Book. This came joint first for England in the British Library Hidden Treasures competition in 2007. Achieved in association with the Dorset Federation of Women’ Institutes and the Dorset Library Service, we held a 1940s themed event to celebrate the triumph, here at DHC, where the book is still housed.
Many achievements have been through grant funding and partnerships.
- Cataloguing the Bankes archive was a massive 4-year undertaking with Heritage Lottery investment and National Trust support.
- Other cataloguing projects including Cooper Dean estate, Herrison Hospital, Dame Elisabeth Frink archive, and the current Thomas Hardy collection.
All have hugely increased the accessibility of important collections and enabled DHC to work with a range of wonderful partners.
I have particularly enjoyed working with Dorset Archives Trust (formerly the Friends of Dorset’ Archives), the charity which supports the work of DHC. The Archives Trust fundraising is vital funding for:
- cataloguing and digitisation projects, most recently the Thomas Hardy cataloguing project.
- purchases of much needed equipment
- providing a travel bursary for work experience at DHC each summer.
This volunteer-led organisation holds fundraising events and advocates for the service. Please consider becoming a member so that this important work can continue.
PR PICTURE BY: DORSET MEDIA SERVICE
16 MALLAMS, PORTLAND, DORSET DT5 1NJ
One joy of my job is meeting many interesting people, and hearing about varied research interests. A major reason for embarking on a career in archives nearly four decades ago was to communicate my enthusiasm for history to others. The stories of people and places. Holding outreach events such as talks, visits and workshops and answering enquiries is so rewarding.
I have worked with many wonderful people at DHC. I am proud of our support and encouragement for many young people as members of staff or work experience students starting out in their careers. Our fantastic group of volunteers is vital to the service and many projects we have undertaken. The dedicated, hardworking staff are instrumental in the strength, resilience and effectiveness of the service, thank you all.
In 2000 there were hardly any computers in the building, and certainly none for the public. With many national sources on microfilm including the General Register Office Index, to start your family history research you had to visit the DRO. This was great for visitor numbers, peaking at 13,000 in 2001. The digital revolution has changed family history research, but we have continued to adapt access to original records with Dorset records on Ancestry and by pioneering a digital copying service – now a vital part of the service for worldwide remote enquiries.
An important early task was to acquire an archives management database system to record collections and archive catalogue information. Now on our 3rd version of software system there is an online searchable database of over 400,000 records accessible across the globe for Dorset’s archives.
So much change yet the core aims and values remain the same: to acquire, preserve and make accessible the records of the county.
I will miss many aspects of my work, the people and events but managing services means I see little of the archives. I hope to reconnect with the documents which is where I started and have more time to further explore the beauty of this special county. Thank you, Dorset History Centre for 24 wonderful years!
Where does time go. I hope you have a long and happy retirement. My very best wishes.
Although I haven’t seen her for many years, I would like to take this opportunity send Jacqui my best wishes to her for a long, healthy and happy retirement. My contact with her related to a group which was set up as an amateur history society, to which she was immensely helpful.
As a former-professional colleague, of over 15+ years ago, I would like to wish you all the very best in your retirement!