Outreach

Archives – what they are and what you can do with them?

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During this period where many of us are in effect house-bound, we thought that it would be useful to revisit the basis on which the Dorset History Centre (DHC) was established in 1955 – i.e. to preserve and make accessible archives and to ask the question ‘what are archives?’ and ‘why should we keep them?’… Read more Archives – what they are and what you can do with them?

Review of the Year

Dorset History Centre – Year in Review 2021

2021 was a year of adapting to live with Covid as the vaccine roll-out and warmer weather increased public confidence to come out and to return to places like DHC.  The team has worked hard to make the building a safe and welcoming place and has continued to work on a wide range of activities as our Year in Review document shows.  We continue to receive significant quantities of important records and to see increased access to archives via our web services and through remote enquiries.  Thanks to our supporters in Dorset Archives Trust, we have been able to acquire important archives for the public collection.  We value your feedback on the services DHC provides and hope that 2022 offers greater opportunities to provide access to collections and heritage here in Dorset.

With best wishes

Sam Johnston

Service Manager for Archives and Records

Please click on the above image to open a larger version, that can be magnified and explored!

A visit to Swanage Probus Club

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Our Community Engagement Officer spent a lovely morning with the Swanage Probus Club in early March. Maria received a very warm welcome and was able to tell the members about our work collecting and  preserving records and making them available to the public. There were also plenty of pointers on documents and collections that may help… Read more A visit to Swanage Probus Club

Have you been spellbound by the archives?

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Having been in post as Dorset History Centre’s Archive Learning Officer for over a year now, I have heard my fair share of gasps and exclamations from pupils entering the archive repositories for the first time. But, for pure creativity, this one has to be my favourite: “Wow, it’s just like Mr Ollivander’s Wand shop!”… Read more Have you been spellbound by the archives?