Our 2022-2023 has been published and is available to download on the Staffordshire History Centre microsite. The report highlights the work that has been taking place across the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service and Staffordshire Archives and Heritage Service.
The Archives and Heritage Service may have closed the doors of the Staffordshire Record Office while we build the new Staffordshire History Centre but our temporary home in Eastgate House is a hive of activity.
The team of History Centre Assistants are tasked with answering enquiries from the public. To do this they use a range of resources both online and from our own collections. Amanda has been using the British Newspaper Archive.
 Amanda working with the British Newspaper Archive
This allows users to search the largest collection of British and Irish historical newspapers online, covering nearly 300 years of history. This collection includes Staffordshire newspapers such as the Staffordshire Advertiser, Staffordshire Chronicle, Staffordshire Newsletter and Staffordshire Sentinel.
This resource is free to access within Staffordshire Libraries, where users will need to register and create their own accounts. Once your account has been created you will have access to the entire archive.
The website is a fantastic resource useful for family and local history. For instance, I was fascinated when I located an article concerning a family member in a 1951 Birmingham Gazette. He was one of the 25th party of the scheme of the “Little Brothers” who were chosen to sail to Australia after the war, to start a career in agriculture in New South Wales. The newspapers provide information of the time not available elsewhere and are well worth exploring.
The Archives and Heritage team are hosting a range of activities across the county through the school summer holidays. Full information is available on our blog. We also have a programme of touring exhibitions (see below).
Free family activities
 Carved wooden desk display stand from the Evode offices at the factory on Common Road, 1990s (2015.020.0008)
Heritage Open Day: Behind the scenes at the Museum Stores
Saturday 9 September, 2023
Go behind the scenes and discover the treasures in our museum stores for Heritage Open Days! Take time to look around behind the scenes and view our fascinating stored collections. Staffordshire social history, costume, art and the recently moved carriage collection will all be available to view and we will be taking a look inside some of our museum boxes to unbox creativity!
Families (and the young at heart) can pick up a mini trail sheet to help you explore, get hands-on with object handling and make a badge to take home.
This is a self-guided visit, but staff and volunteers will be on hand to highlight our treasures, direct you around our site and answer your questions. There will also be a chance to share your ideas of how we should create new displays for the Staffordshire History Centre.
 Exhibitions
Keeping the lights on: A history of Rugeley Power station
Heath Hayes Library until Friday 1 September
This exhibition looks back on the history of Rugeley Power Station and the people who worked there.
Our County, Our Climate exhibition
Codsall Library until Monday 5 September
This small exhibition explores memories of extreme weather events in Staffordshire through artistic responses. In 2021 local people were invited to participate in creative workshops in Stafford, Burton-upon-Trent and online. These included poetry, storytelling and paper art. Participants were asked to think about and record their experiences of extreme weather and climate.
Friends of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archives (FoSSA)
A visit to Blithfield Hall and Church with Cosy Bagot-Jewit
Wednesday 20 September 2023 at 2.00pm
£10 members, £12 non members
The Hall is set in an attractive rural location close to Blithfield reservoir and is Grade 1 listed. Now mostly apartments, we shall be able to see and tour the wing occupied by the Bagot-Jewitt family, descendants of the Bagot family. We shall have tea/coffee and cake in the Great Hall before a tour the church and visit to the Orangery.
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