I
have written previously that 2012 is the year of WI Archives. Many WI members,
as well as Federation archivists (WI members too), willingly give their time to
make sure the WI's history and the history of women in society is recorded,
collated, kept, and stored in the proper fashion.
I
was very proud to be able to tell this to the assembled company at the launch
of the Campaign for Voluntary Sector Archives last Monday. In the River Room at
the top of the House of Lords, against the backdrop of THAT green wallpaper, I
told of how our own NFWI's national archive was rescued from the damp obscurity
of the garage of Denman and found its home in the Women's Library - soon to be
relocated to the London School of Economics. I also spoke of both WI and
Federation archives being housed in local Records Offices, as well as in some
Federation offices. The main message always has to be: a) take a record b) keep that record c) know
where that record is kept.
"Neglect
of archives across the voluntary sector is endangering our ability to
understand activities and agencies which impact on all our lives". This
sentence from my letter of invitation to speak is the essence of the subject
and must be remembered. The smallest action can grow. Keep those notes, those
odd scribbles that may become a driving force, collate them and find a relevant
home for them. One day they may form the basis of a research project or even a best-selling
book - available in e-book edition!
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