Behind the scenes

Collections Fortnight 2024

In January 2024, for the first time ever, Dorset History Centre has held a two-week closure period. Closure periods are not uncommon in the archive world, and provide an opportunity for staff and volunteers to spend some dedicated time working on collections, trying to solve known problems, or simply cataloguing newly acquired archives. For ourselves… Read more Collections Fortnight 2024

An Introduction to Salvage – what to do if it floods!

Recently staff and volunteers at DHC took part in an Introduction to Salvage training event, and after a very wet couple of months weather wise, the timing seemed particularly pertinent. So, what is salvage? In collections care salvage refers to the moving and stabilisation of collection items after, although possibly also during, a disaster or… Read more An Introduction to Salvage – what to do if it floods!

Goodbye from Clare: Four Years of Highlights

Clare, our Collections Assistant in Digital Preservation has decided to move on at the beginning of November. Over the course of the last four years, she has contributed to a wide range of projects and helped us with processing a lot of our digital records. Before she left, we asked her to write us one… Read more Goodbye from Clare: Four Years of Highlights

Work Experience 2023: Molly’s experience

Through four weeks in June and July 2023, Dorset History Centre hosted two students on work experience placements. During this month, they were given the opportunity to learn about what DHC does and how we work. In this blog, Molly gives us her thoughts on the placement… — Hi there! My name is Molly Butcher… Read more Work Experience 2023: Molly’s experience

Work Experience 2023: Ben’s experience

Through four weeks in June and July 2023, Dorset History Centre hosted two students on work experience placements. During this month, they were given the opportunity to learn about what DHC does and how we work. In this blog, Ben gives us his thoughts on the placement… — Hi, I’m Ben Corben-Hale, a history student… Read more Work Experience 2023: Ben’s experience

The Records Management Programme

The world of archives and records management can be a little difficult to understand and are often confused by members of the public. In reality, the two services are subtly, but significantly, different in what they do and how they do it (basically the difference between ‘active’ and ‘permanently inactive’ records). In this guest blog,… Read more The Records Management Programme

Volunteers week at Dorset History Centre

At Dorset History Centre we have a group of enthusiastic, committed, and wonderful volunteers who help us with a range of activities, from cataloguing, to interviewing for oral histories, to supporting young learners, to giving talks. As this week (1-7 June) is Volunteers Week, we wanted to celebrate our volunteers, and share with our readers… Read more Volunteers week at Dorset History Centre