{"id":1011,"date":"2019-09-09T09:05:14","date_gmt":"2019-09-09T09:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetforyou.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2019-09-03T15:47:45","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T15:47:45","slug":"work-experience-and-dorset-heritage-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/dorset-history-centre-blog\/2019\/09\/09\/work-experience-and-dorset-heritage-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Work Experience and Dorset Heritage Week"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier in the year Dorset History Centre had two work experience students join us for a month. In this blog, Sarah talks us through her experience…<\/em><\/p>\n

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Throughout July I was lucky enough to complete a work placement at the Dorset History Centre. I have studied the different aspects of archiving including public services, cataloguing and indexing documents. During my first week I catalogued the Trent Women\u2019s Institute records which had been donated by the Women\u2019s Institute Federation. I documented the committee minute books, photographs and financial records.<\/p>\n

All documents are stored within the strong rooms specifically designed to preserve and prevent the deterioration of archive material. I found it rather interesting that documents are stored at a slightly \u2018uncomfortable\u2019 room temperature – at an average of 17\u00b0c. When I entered the rooms I certainly did not want to be in there very long! I discovered too that photographs degenerate over time and consequently smell of vinegar! Thus it\u2019s highly important to store photographs appropriately to prevent the oxidation of chemicals.<\/p>\n

As a postgraduate Public History MA student, my interest lies in affording the general public the opportunity to interact more with the past. My main project at DHC fitted perfectly with my educational background and aligned perfectly with areas of personal interest too- I got to curate an exhibition for the annual Dorset Heritage Week<\/a>! This event is designed to encourage interest and interaction with Dorset\u2019s architecture and heritage. On 15th<\/sup> September 2019, my exhibition will be held at the Corn Exchange alongside the opening of High East Street\u2019s historic buildings for public viewing.<\/p>\n

One of the many interesting aspects of creating the exhibition was learning how to digitise archival material. I was able to play around with the positioning of the materials and the equipment- for example: adjusting the lens for the correct angles and zoom, using Perspex, glass, and paper weights to achieve the perfectly proportioned and flat image for digital use. Below is the camera and equipment I used.<\/p>\n

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The below images feature some of the archival material I digitised for my exhibition:<\/p>\n

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D-PAR\/E\/4\/2<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about the history of my home town. Growing up in Dorchester and attending school at Thomas Hardye, the High Street was on my every day commute to school. Through research I realised a lot of the \u2018family run\u2019 and independent shops that started in Dorchester were acquired by chain businesses- Genge & Co for example became The House of Fraser, and the Dorset Wilts Banking Company became Lloyds Bank.<\/p>\n

Also, being able to talk to my family about their memories of the street inspired me to make the exhibition centred around memory and family history. I wanted to evoke the same conversations I had with my family for others.<\/p>\n

When researching the history of the various families who worked along High East Street, I heavily relied on Ancestry.com for the basic information- it holds national census material, and marriage, birth and death certificates to help trace family history. For example, I researched the Parsons family who owned the tobacconists and grocers on High East and South Street. Being able to trace names, dates and ages was very useful when compiling information about the family for my exhibition.<\/p>\n

By way of example, I used the 1901 census which recorded Walter Charles Len Parsons as a young child (approximately aged 7) living in Dorchester- I looked too at the First World War service records and was able to record that he entered the war at the age of 22 in 1915, and thus was able to provide more background information to the records held at the DHC about W.C.L Parsons.<\/p>\n

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Using Ancestry and the archival records at the DHC has both been incredibly interesting and useful for my project.<\/p>\n

I have learnt a wide variety of skills attached to this project and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Thank-you DHC!<\/p>\n

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We enjoy introducing young people to the work of the archive and we benefit from having tasks undertaken by short-term placements. We will introduce you to all aspects of our service and provide a varied experience. We hope that after spending time with us you will act as an informed advocate for archives.<\/em><\/p>\n

Student Placements:<\/em><\/h3>\n