A Very Pertinent Day!

[Daft Bat]

Especially for us! Today, 9th June is International Archives Day.

It commemorates the date in 1948 when the International Council of Archives was established at a meeting of archivists in Paris.

Yes, it is possible to undertake research into your family’s past just by using the internet, but not everything is there. If you have never visited an Archives, I strongly recommend that you do as you could well discover things about your family that you had not even thought of. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well!

There is nothing like holding a 200-year-old document in your hand and seeing the signature of one of your ancestors on that page, knowing that they have also held that document. I love Archives and, if I could have my time over again, would opt to be an Archivist.

We will be looking at paper and parchment for many years to come.

 

[Archie's Mum]

Hubby’s cousin is the custodian of a tiny little note book that she found amongst her mother’s belongings after she passed away. It was owned by their ancestor, Alfred Pettit, who was transported to Tasmania in 1839. He worked there as a tailor whilst a ticket of leave man and this little notebook contains notes on measurements for clothing for some well to do men and women of Tasmania. (I have checked up on their names) In the back of the book is a list, tea, sugar, flour, written in pencil. Most likely items to be picked up at the Government stores by his wife Caroline Seago, another convict. It was such a heartwarming experience holding that tiny little notebook.

 

[Bay Horse]

That's lovely Sue. I have a picture on my mind of Caroline walking into the stores - "Tea... sugar... flour. No, that's all, thank you."

Jan, I always thought that, if I had my time again, I would have liked to have been an archivist.

I handled old documents at work and I wasted a lot of time just breathing in the scent of old parchment, reading through and admiring the flourish of old handwriting. Sometimes the documents would arrive in a little plastic bag, or what was left of them, having been damaged by rodents, flood or fire. I just loved holding history in my hands.

 

[Archie's Mum]

It is lovely @Bay Horse. I do have a photo of one page but have no idea how to get it on here. He gives the measurements for a coat for Mrs J Tho. Mansons and the waist measurement is 161/4 inches. Breast 19 1/4. Surely it must be for a child. Another on the page is for trousers leg length 31inches. Waist is too hard to read.

 

[Anthony J Corps]

Especially for us! Today, 9th June is International Archives Day.

It commemorates the date in 1948 when the International Council of Archives was established at a meeting of archivists in Paris.

Yes, it is possible to undertake research into your family’s past just by using the internet, but not everything is there. If you have never visited an Archives, I strongly recommend that you do as you could well discover things about your family that you had not even thought of. The staff are super friendly and helpful as well!

There is nothing like holding a 200-year-old document in your hand and seeing the signature of one of your ancestors on that page, knowing that they have also held that document. I love Archives and, if I could have my time over again, would opt to be an Archivist.

We will be looking at paper and parchment for many years to come.

You do right to remind us of this fact I know it but I have still to visit my local county archives I am ashamed to say it is only sixteen miles away and I've been meaning to go for five years at least Will have to make the effort