Hi Jane
Would suggest to all. Copy prior to donation if possible. But as we all know. To copy huge
collections for some on an individual basis can be cost prohibitive. Many professional
collections stored in boxes all over the UK. And one could suggest all over the world are
normal practice. Reason being, there is simply not enough museum / Library Shelf space to
show all treasures at once. Would think that places like NLW would catalogue.
So, when you place professionally held collections against private collections held in
homes around the country / world wide. The amount of historical material National and
Local out there becomes not huge, but massive. Once could suggest that even our
professional institutions, at times, have to make choices as to what they accept into
their existing collections and sadly pass on those, which, they consider to be lesser
subjects. When this issue is considered, it can be seen that this leaves incredible amount
of material still in private / individual hands.
On the subject of your father's huge collection. It would be his decision and his
decision alone to decide where, if anywhere, it should be placed after he has gone. After
all, he built his extensive collection. As an all volunteer run organisation. Axis, from
its early days, had written policy / provision, for our extensive collection of Barry
historical material should we cease to exist. But it would be our committee that decides
the body best placed to receive such an important collection into its keeping should that
day come.
Would therefore suggest to all like your father, who hold huge collections, not just for
Barry, but all over the UK, to sit down and make provision for the good of heritage once
they are gone. Wether professional institution or local. It is for the holding individual
to choose. In the meantime, Axis being alive and well will continue promoting the history
of Barry by way of World Wide Web. That way we can get as much of our local material out
of its dark boxes and on show 24/7 for Barrians / Interested parties based world wide to
enjoy.
Please see the latest addition to Axis Historical Society - Barry Archive. A transcript of
document we hold in our collection c. April 1941. Contains a complete hour by hour log of
activities following an air raid on Barry in which sadly civilians lost their lives. You
can find it listed under items 1-17 in our "Barry At War 1939-45". Has plenty of
good information for family historians. Lots of Police names. Council officials,
Wardens' etc., If anyone out there finds a relative of theirs on the document, please
let me know. Same goes if you have any images of named persons. Would be great for us to
be able to put names to faces.
http://barryachive.zoomshare.com/
Hope my suggestions help regarding copy / donations etc. Hope you find latest addition to
our archive web site useful.
Kind regards
Martin
Chairman : Axis Historical Society
Local History For Barry South Wales
Reg. Charity no.1052998
martinaxis(a)hotmail.co.uk