PRESS RELEASE
5 November 2014
Jamie Owen Explores Welsh Archives
TV & Radio Broadcaster Jamie Owen has been researching his grandfather’s role in
Pembroke Dockyard building submarines as part of the Explore Your Archive
campaign which will run from 10-16 November in archives across the UK and
Ireland.
Returning for the second year, the campaign is encouraging people to discover the
stories, the facts, the places and the people that are at the heart of our communities
with many archives opening their vaults and inviting the public to experience,
understand and take pride in the wealth and variety of material they hold.
Archives across Wales will have a variety of free events and exhibitions suitable for
all ages, including talks, school workshops, history hunts, taster sessions, balloon
launch, storytelling and sculpting covering topics from WW1 to celebrating 100 years
of the Women’s Institute. Find out what activities are taking place in your local area
by visiting archiveswales.org
Jamie Owen says, “It’s been an interesting and personal journey of discovery which
has unearthed home movie footage that I didn't know existed of my grandfather and
my father on a family day out on the beach in the 1960's long before I was born.
Visiting an archive can take you on an adventure – you may end up discovering
much more than you imagined. Archives are full of fascinating content to read, touch
and explore. Whether you’re interested in sport, food, animals, fashion there will be
something to inspire you in archives.”
Ken Skates, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism commented, “Archives
play an integral part of shaping our communities in Wales and help us to develop a
deep sense of place and identity. They are unique as they hold the original records
of local people, families, businesses and organisations which you can read in their
own words. I am delighted to support the campaign and would encourage everyone
to visit their local archive.”
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Two well-known faces supporting the campaign are Stephen McGann, currently
known to millions as Dr Patrick Turner from Call the Midwife and Kate Adie. Stephen
is passionate about archives and has spent time researching his family history as
well as using archives for his current role.
Stephen says, “I started tracing my family tree in my local archives when I was just
17 years old. I was enthralled. The old records were alive with humanity; voices from
the past - long forgotten passions, pains and lost worlds. I was amazed that I could
simply request these amazing documents as my citizen’s right. I’ve never lost the
sense of wonder at this. Our archives are a priceless national treasure and they
belong to everyone. That’s why I’m an Explore Your Archive Ambassador – because
I want everyone to share in our nation’s historical masterpieces.”
Ambassador Kate Adie adds, “Searching archives is an adventure. History comes to
life, and the only drawback (for me anyway) is that I find myself straying down so
many fascinating paths of information....”
This year many archives are highlighting their First World War records and artefacts
as we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the conflict. In Wales,
the campaign will be launched on 10 November at West Glamorgan Archives with a
WW1 theme. A short film highlighting the sources available at archives relating to the
history of the First World War has been produced and will be showcased at the
launch. This film can be viewed on archiveswales.org
During the campaign, some Welsh archives and museums will be ‘taken over’ by
kids – Dea Birkett, Director, Kids in Museums says, ““Thursday 13th November is
Taking Over Day – when archives and museums are handing over to children and
young people, giving them jobs and roles normally done by adults. So if you’re
greeted at your local archive by a teenager, or assisted in your research by a child,
that’s because they’re Taking Over for the day. Find out more about at
www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/takingover.”
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A key Archives Wales project currently taking place is the development of a
crowdsourcing website which will eventually allow users to search an online map of
Wales in 1840. The project website for volunteer crowdsourcing will go live later in
November. Manager of the Cynefin Project Einion Gruffudd adds, “The project,
mainly funded by the HLF, is digitising all the 1200 sheets of Welsh tithe maps,
covering about 95% of the country. Digital copies of all the relevant apportionment
documents have already been acquired and the aim of the project is to transcribe all
of these, including the names of the people and places referring to the maps and
present them in a searchable geographic interface. The conservation work on these
popular maps is being done at the National Library of Wales, as is the imaging of
these diversely sized maps. For more information please visit
cynefinblog.archiveswales.org.uk.”
Users will be encouraged to join in the Explore Your Archive campaign on Twitter
(@archiveswales) with opportunities to ask questions and share their stories and
photos using the hashtag #explorearchives.
To start exploring please visit your local archive service, go to archiveswales.org or
find Archives Wales on Facebook and Twitter.
Editor’s Notes
For further information, please contact:
Nicola Williams
nicola.williams@wrexham.gov.uk
01978 722988
Wrexham County Borough Council has been selected by CyMAL: Museums
Archives and Libraries Wales, Welsh Government to receive a grant to deliver the
Audience Development and Marketing Plan for Archives Wales for 2014-2015.
CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales is a policy division of the Welsh
Government, based in Aberystwyth and is responsible for developing policy for local
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museums, archives and libraries in Wales and advising the Deputy Minister for
Culture, Sport and Tourism.
The strategic vision for the archive sector in Wales is set out in Archives for
the 21st Century and can be found at:
http://wales.gov.uk/topics/cultureandsport/museumsarchiveslibraries/cymal/ar
chives/archives21stcentury/?lang=en
The archive sector in Wales comprises:

13 local authority archive services (record offices) including 3 joint services,
with 15 service points

5 higher education archive services

The National Library of Wales

Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales
(RCAHMW)
These organisations work together through the strategic partnership body Archives
and Records Council Wales (ARCW) to deliver all-Wales developmental projects.
Explore Your Archive has been developed by The National Archives and the
Archives and Records Association (UK & Ireland) and is supported by The Public
Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), The National Archives of Ireland, The
Archives and Records Association Ireland, National Records of Scotland, Scottish
Council on Archives, The Welsh Government through its CyMAL: Museums Archives
and Libraries Wales division and The National Library of Wales.
Further information about the national campaign and events taking place as part of it,
can be found at www.exploreyourarchive.org
Follow the campaign on Facebook www.facebook.com/ExploreYourArchive and
Twitter https://twitter.com/exploreyourarchive
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Sign up to the Thunderclap campaign www.thunderclap.it/projects/17644-exploreyour-archive?locale=en
Archives sector in the UK and Ireland
Archives hold the records and memories of individuals, communities, organisations
and nations. They ensure accountability and good governance and make access to
history possible. Archives look after and make accessible the records that hold the
stories, facts, places and people at the heart of our communities. Archives underpin
education, heritage, business and identity. There are more than 2000 archives of all
kinds in the UK and Ireland. The largest archive is The National Archives, which
holds the records of the UK government. Some archives are tiny; they may hold the
records of a community group or a family. In between are local authority record
offices, university and public bodies, private, religious and corporate collections.
Family and community history has never been more popular and archives are a
dynamic and growing sector which is open to the public as never before.
Programmes such as ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ have helped millions
understand some of the work done every day by the professionals who work in
archives.
Each day, more archive material is made available online. Millions of people access
material in this way. Particularly popular are censuses (the 1911 censuses are the
latest available) and newspaper archives. A wealth of other material – music, art,
design, photography, cartoons – is also available to view online. While a relatively
small percentage of material held in archives in available online, we can all now do
basic searching – particularly of births, marriage and deaths – online and then visit
archives to delve more deeply.
What does an archivist do?
Archivists and record managers use their skills to identify, collect, list, catalogue,
preserve and make available, where appropriate, records of all kinds. Decisions on
what records are to be kept – and in what format – are made every day. Some
archivists are working with historical records and artefacts; paleography (reading and
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dating historical manuscripts) may be a core skill. Cataloguing and researching are
vital skills and most archives are open to researchers and/or the public, so customer
service, advice and referral are important. Many archivists are involved in outreach,
exhibitions and publications. Current challenges for those working in archives include
digital preservation and how to take in and give access to material that was ‘born
digital’.
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