 Kevin pictured working with the collecton and completing the final box!
Our first volunteer back to the service after Covid was Kevin Mottram. He started in June last year, working with a new accession. The large collection included correspondence and diaries belonging to Rosemary Knight from Cannock who corresponded with a lot of people throughout her life. She was involved in lots of causes, including fund-raising for The Samaritans and other charities. Many of the letters are of a wider interest outside Staffordshire, and correspondents include someone who was part of Churchill’s medical team in the 1940s. Her mother was Armenian and there is a lot of material about Armenia, as well as her passion for Micky Mouse memorabilia. The correspondence includes copies of her own out-going letters and letters from other family members.
Kevin enjoyed researching the interesting letters and believed the collection gave a nice insight into social history during the second half of the 20th century. He sorted, weeded and repackaged Rosemary’s collection, which was made up of 150 folders and shoe boxes when he started. They are now contained in archival boxes in the strong room. He has not only repackaged the collection but assisted us in basic cataloguing as well. Kevin has been able to use the project as part of his degree in Archives and Records Management. It is a huge achievement and we’d like to say a big thank you for his hard work.
 School hat and uniform ribbon (2022.009.0001-3)
New accession - Burton Girls' School uniform
The items were part of a deposit of documents made by the Burton upon Trent Girls' High School Association consisting of school memorabilia donated by former pupils. The archive documents include minutes of the Association and records of activities and events, copies of The Optimist school magazine 1920s-1970s, prize day programmes, orders of service, newspaper reports on the school, school prospectus c.1920, school rules and regulations, and photographs of classes, sports and teachers c.1920s-1940s (LD410 and LD590).
The school closed in 1975 following a merger with Burton Grammar School and Ada Chadwick Secondary Modern School, to form the new Abbot Beyne Comprehensive School. Other records of the former Girls’ High School already held by the Archives date back to 1881, including staff registers, pupil admission registers (from 1897), reports and other memorabilia (BD36/6).
UNBOX your summer - Free family events in the Midlands, Summer 2022
Take part in free awe-inspiring events and online activities taking place across the UK this summer. UNBOXED: Creativity in the UK has created unmissable experiences that bring together science, technology, engineering, maths and the arts. Here are a just a few ways your family can have fun - and learn - together this summer!
StoryTrails
A unique, immersive storytelling experience across 15 UK towns and cities including – Blackpool, Bradford, Sheffield, Lincoln, Wolverhampton, Swansea, Newport, Bristol, Swindon, Slough, Lambeth and Lewisham. Experience them in a completely new way through the magic of augmented and virtual reality. Find out more.
PoliNations - Birmingham, 2-18 September
A series of live events and workshops in Birminghm will see the city centre bloom into a vibrant living oasis, with free garden tours, audio baths, live music and light shows, costume design workshops, sensory experiences, spoken word and more! Download the PoliNations app and create a unique flower based on your thoughts and feelings. Find out more
Our team of staff and volunteers continue to enjoy exploring our new temporary lodgings at Eastgate House whilst the Staffordshire History Centre is under construction.
Rear Stairs – In 1845, the Goat’s Head Inn on this site was put up for sale by Jane Collier, widow of the late licensee. ‘On the ground floor is a large parlour, a good dining room, bar and back parlour. Upstairs are a good dining room and bedrooms to make up 15 beds.’
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