Federation Of Family History Societies

Archive Awareness 2007 Freedom and Liberty Campaign

 

Following the success of 2006's Neighbourhoods and Woods campaign, which saw a record number of events take place in archives throughout the UK, Archive Awareness is looking forward to bringing the public even more exciting activities in 2007.

Archive Awareness is now in its fifth year and if you haven't got involved in the campaign before now, 2007 could be your chance!

Freedom and Liberty

The national theme for Archive Awareness 2007 is Freedom and Liberty - chosen to link with the bicentenary of the Parliamentary abolition of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade but also to highlight wider historical struggles for freedom and citizenship - from Suffragettes, Chartists to Indian Independence.

The main season of events takes place from September to December when organisations will be hosting workshops, exhibitions, open days, lectures and school projects to help celebrate the amazing wealth of their collections to audiences of all age groups.

However, other events throughout the year can be registered on www.archiveawareness.com and the central AAC team will be looking for publicity opportunities throughout the year.

Ideas for Events

Last year's Archive Awareness Campaign provoked some great ideas for events around the UK - take a look at www.archiveawareness.com for inspiration!

Events included open days, exhibitions, workshops, storytelling, screenings, lectures, debates, behind the scenes tours and online image galleries.

Perhaps there is an existing activity in your events calendar that you could brand with Freedom and Liberty marketing materials? A family history workshop could include finding the names of abolitionist campaigners or suffragettes in the census records. Perhaps you could even team up with a local museum, library or archive to carry out a joint event.

The AAC logo can be downloaded from the website along with additional publicity support. www.archiveawareness.com/contributors/promotional/downloads

Publicity

We will be looking for opportunities to promote the work of archives throughout the year and will need your help.

If your family history society has a particular document, story idea or event which you would like help promoting please contact Elise on or 0208 392 5237.

Even if you are not running an event but have a fantastic tale from your society please let us know and we can try and get it the attention it deserves!

 

Archive Awareness Background

Archive Awareness Campaign was originally designed to address the issues of under representation of UK archives, especially in comparison with the museum, gallery and library sectors. The campaign began with 'Archive Awareness Month' in September 2003 and since then has taken place over a longer period in the autumn.

The campaign is spearheaded at the national level by The National Council on Archives (NCA) in partnership with The National Archives (TNA) and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

 

Examples of projects using the Freedom and Liberty and Bicentenary theme

 

Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies: Remembering Slavery in 2007: Hidden Histories Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies

A countywide project in partnership with museums, libraries, BME groups, Herts University, schools, local history and community groups to research three areas: Links between Hertfordshire estates and slavery (wealth from plantations); Abolition and abolitionists (including Thomas Clarkson); Names and family histories of slaves who came to Herts (earliest is 1570 in Cheshunt). Outcomes will be refurbishment of Thomas Clarkson memorial, a touring exhibition (including overview of slavery from Roman times to present day), booklet, heritage trail, writer in residence, talks and events. The project will aim to show how understanding the past can change the future.

Black Cultural Archives: Ghana @ 50 Heritage Season

Thanks to a £49,900 Your Heritage grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and support
from the London Borough of Lambeth, BCA's Ghana Jubilee season will explore how Ghana and Ghanaians in the UK have impacted on Britain's heritage through an exciting programme of exhibitions, lectures, elders' oral history projects, youth events and family workshops. BCA is collaborating with the Ghana High Commission and a range of institutions and community groups in London, including the British Museum, Royal Geographical Society and the School of Oriental and African Studies to deliver its Ghana Jubilee programme. BCA's Ghana Jubilee season will generate a wealth of material that will complement its archival mission to document the presence of African and Caribbean communities in Britain. BCA will make this information as widely accessible as possible. BCA's Ghana Jubilee season website will launch mid-March 2007 at www.bcaheritage.org.uk/ghanajubilee.

The Black Cultural Archives (BCA) is a registered educational charity founded in 1981 to promote the teaching, learning and understanding of the contribution of people of African and Caribbean descent to the history of Britain.

Suffolk Record Office: 200th Anniversary Lecture on Thomas Clarkson

Listen to a series of talks by academic Clive Paine on Revd Thomas Clarkson - the unsung hero of the Abolition Movement has strong Suffolk links. He lived for a time in Bury, and for the last 30 years of his life, until his death in 1846, at Playford Hall, near Ipswich. In 1786 he won first prize in a Latin essay competition at Cambridge University on 'Slavery and Commerce of the Human Species, especially the African'. As a result he pledged his life to the abolition of the slave trade. He became the main researcher and collector of evidence, on the condition of slaves and the organisation of the trade. William Wilberforce and the other MP's, who advocated abolition and were involved in getting this important piece of legislation through Parliament, were supported by Clarkson's investigations and publications.

London Metropolitan Archives - Women and Slavery Conference

The role of free and enslaved women in the anti-slavery movement will be explored along with contemporary issues surrounding the existence of slavery today. Speakers include Nigel Sadler - Sands of time Consultancy, Henrice Altink - University of York, Charlotte Berry - University of Exeter Library, Zoe Whitley - Curator of Contemporary Collections V&A, Victoria O'Flaherty - Director of Archives St. Kitts and Olivette Otele - Institut Catholique de Paris and Université Paris XII. There will be a chance to see original documents from LMA collections.

Gloucestershire Archives - Inhuman Traffic

Part of Gloucestershire's Set All Free programme, lead by Churches Together. Gloucester Archives will create a virtual exhibition, associated interpretive materials/curriculum activities and a programme of events, including theatre performances and a talk. The exhibition will explore aspects of the legacy of slavery and modern day slavery, including racism and domestic violence. Exhibition will be shown and events delivered across different venues in Gloucestershire.

British Library/MLA Yorkshire - Making an Impact

Making an Impact is a British Library led project focusing on slavery, campaigning and citizenship issues and is part of the DCMS/DfES National/Regional Museum Education Partnership Programme. Working in partnership with MLA Yorkshire the project offers 3 teachers a placement with either the British Library, Harewood House or Hull Museums Service to produce exciting and innovative resources for young people. On 17th of October pupils took part in a recreated slavery debate at the Guildhall in Hull. This was filmed for Look North and was watched as a webcam by a London school. From January the schools will be taking part in modern day campaign.

Pupils from Crawshaw Secondary School, Leeds chose to work with a graffiti artist to interpret Harewood's history as part of Harewood House's Triangular Trade strategic commissioning project.

Dales Countryside Museum - Hidden History of the Dales

Hidden History of the Dales Led by the Dales Countryside Museum, this project focuses upon the untold stories of black and Asian people in the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding area. KS2&3 pupils will be introduced to the concept that people of various origins have passed through or settled in the Dales for thousands of years. Partners include Wensleydale Extended School Network, Harrogate and Knaresborough Multi-Cultural Network and UNICEF

Barnsley Archives - Hidden Stories

Highlighting learning possibilities using Barnsley Archives, the Cooper gallery, Cannon Hall and the award winning education pack 'Colonialism, Slavery and the Industrial Revolution -The Empire in South Yorkshire 1700-1860' Hidden Stories will enable museum staff, teachers and artists to be confident in facilitating learning using documents, paintings and artefacts to explore issues and create responses, artwork and interpretation. Partners include Barnsley Out of School Study Support Network, Foulstone City Learning Centre and Just Addictive Music