Young Archivists

Q & A with the Young Archivists Group

What do the young archivists do?
De-frame photos, sort and catalog them. And, as they are moving sites, the current priority is cleaning out their current spot (the Old Chapel) to the new Archive and Heritage Centre being built next to the staff centre, which will be opened at Commem. Any inquisitive minds looking to expand their knowledge of the School and its history are encouraged to visit the group. They are also researching into the history of the School to answer any questions from relatives of Old Bromsgrovians. As well as making photo albums, which are then placed in the Headmaster's dining room and in Routh Hall. Plus, cataloguing by filling in an excel spreadsheet, which is then transferred to the online archives.

They also collect information about Old Bromsgrovians and file them to learn more about the history of the past and compare it with the present.

  


Why have they chosen this activity?
They wanted to learn more about the history of the School and expand their knowledge in history, as well as trying out something new, which they found interesting, along with building an understanding of the archiving process. It is the enjoyment of comparing the historical, political and economic climate of the past with that of today and how past events have affected the School.




What can you learn from this activity?
That there is a wider variety of things to go through than it may first seem (jackets, books, photos, etc.) and it’s not just about simply dusting off and looking through books.



What challenges do you face in this activity?
Actually, sorting through the insane amount of information that piled up over the years and the process of preserving everything, as well as the sheer amount of detail that has to be maintained while sorting.

What have they found the most interesting so far?
Reading and sorting through letters and student accounts (e.g. diaries, School notes).

What skills are needed to become an archivist?
There are different routes but the most direct one is doing a Masters in archiving. However, there are other ways such as: gaining experience through working in record offices, which require people sorting out and looking after archives.

What is the general atmosphere like?
The overall environment is very relaxed and friendly, with students sitting together and chatting as they work.


Aishah Elnaggar et al.
January 2020