Accessions Report 2017 - 2018
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This report presents the highlights of the 253 accessions received by East Sussex Record Office at The Keep over a twelve-month period. Many of them – almost 15% – have been funded by grants from the Friends of The Keep Archives, amounting to nearly £11,000.
Perhaps the highlight of the year was the purchase of 72 lantern slides showing the construction of the Beachy Head lighthouse between 1901 and 1902, but the sheer variety of The Keep’s acquisitions is remarkable, as is the energy and enthusiasm with which they have been pursued. In 1924, the Keeper of the National Archives of Canada summed up the essential value of keeping and maintaining accurate and comprehensive records in an organised archive when he said: Of all national assets, archives are the most precious, they are the gifts of one generation to another, and the extent of our care of them marks the extent of our civilisation. As a rule the papers of a given generation are seldom required after their primary use; but when all personal touch with that period has ceased, then these records assume a startling importance, for they replace hands that have vanished and lips that are sealed. As we face an uncertain future, such words must be borne in mind and taken to heart by anyone in whose hands the future of County Record Offices lies. Lady Teviot, Chairman of FOTKA |
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Acquisitions report 2016 – 2017
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It is again my great pleasure to introduce the annual Acquisitions Report, put together by Christopher Whittick and his team, which chronicles the vital work undertaken in a twelve-month period to preserve the history of East Sussex, including Brighton and Hove. As well as its other activities FoTKA, like its predecessor FESRO, is ready to assist when archival material needs to
be purchased. We are not the only source of funds, and we pay tribute to the role of national and other organisations, as well as generous individuals. The report begins with the East Sussex accessions, followed by those for Brighton and Hove. Two significant events have taken place during the year under consideration – the award of Accredited Status to The Keep by The National Archives, and the retirement of Elizabeth Hughes as County Archivist. At a ceremony at The Keep on 22 February 2017 (photo above) Peter Field, the Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of East Sussex, representing the three partners, accepted the award from Jeff James, Keeper of the National Archives. I can do no better than to repeat some of his remarks. Accreditation defines good practice in the world of archives, and sets agreed standards for archive services across the UK; in so doing, it encourages and supports the development of the services who measure up to its exacting standards. Here in East Sussex, we know we have an archive service which is second to none, and an archive building – The Keep – which must rival any such repository in the country. It is gratifying to see our convictions, which could be described as partial, confirmed by The National Archives, which is the arbiter of standards for archives throughout the UK. |
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The Lord Lieutenant went on to say that the bulk of the exacting work which the application entailed was largely undertaken by Elizabeth Hughes, who retired in November 2016, and that in doing so, in this as in so many areas, she had laid a secure foundation on which her successors might build.
Elizabeth came to East Sussex from Berkshire, where she had been involved in designing the public service side of the new Record Office. She vividly remembers the first month at Lewes: ‘Twelve days after I started, the town flooded and so did the warehouse where the modern records were stored. I learnt the hard way about how to salvage archives – in wellies, boiler suits and masks! I also learnt things about insurance and team building that I hadn’t known before.’
In 2006, following an inspection of The Maltings in Lewes by The National Archives, the County Council recognised that a new building was needed. It was a project which ended only when The Keep opened its doors in November 2013 and it represented an enormous personal achievement. Having watched the process from beginning to end, including a series of false starts over 20 years,
Christopher Whittick is convinced that only Elizabeth Hughes could have brought the project to fruition.
Following Elizabeth’s departure the County Archaeologist Casper Johnson took over the service, with the designation Team Manager for the Archaeology Section, Modern Records Management and The Keep archive. It was felt to be important to retain the title of County Archivist, and on Casper’s appointment Christopher Whittick succeeded to that role, as the tenth County Archivist of East Sussex.
I hope you enjoy browsing this report, and even more that you are able to explore what The Keep can offer you in pursuing your own interests.
Lady Teviot, Chairman of FoTKA
Elizabeth came to East Sussex from Berkshire, where she had been involved in designing the public service side of the new Record Office. She vividly remembers the first month at Lewes: ‘Twelve days after I started, the town flooded and so did the warehouse where the modern records were stored. I learnt the hard way about how to salvage archives – in wellies, boiler suits and masks! I also learnt things about insurance and team building that I hadn’t known before.’
In 2006, following an inspection of The Maltings in Lewes by The National Archives, the County Council recognised that a new building was needed. It was a project which ended only when The Keep opened its doors in November 2013 and it represented an enormous personal achievement. Having watched the process from beginning to end, including a series of false starts over 20 years,
Christopher Whittick is convinced that only Elizabeth Hughes could have brought the project to fruition.
Following Elizabeth’s departure the County Archaeologist Casper Johnson took over the service, with the designation Team Manager for the Archaeology Section, Modern Records Management and The Keep archive. It was felt to be important to retain the title of County Archivist, and on Casper’s appointment Christopher Whittick succeeded to that role, as the tenth County Archivist of East Sussex.
I hope you enjoy browsing this report, and even more that you are able to explore what The Keep can offer you in pursuing your own interests.
Lady Teviot, Chairman of FoTKA
Accessions Report 2014 - 2016
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This report is a snapshot of vital work, which goes on continuously, to document the history of East Sussex through the acquisition at The Keep of a huge range of written documents and visual items such as maps and photographs, whether serious or eccentric, ancient or contemporary. FoTKA, like its predecessor FESRO, exists to help in financing acquisitions of such material. We are not the only sources of finance, and we pay tribute to the role of national and other organisations, as well as generous individuals. Often we are able to partner with such organisations in order to make the available funds go further.
Previous annual reports of ESRO have publicised highlights of acquisitions, but with the advent of The Keep the requirement for a formal report has disappeared. We think it is important for FoTKA members to have a full account of this most important aspect of our work. This report, put together by Christopher Whittick, Anna Manthorpe and Andrew Bennett of ESRO’s Document Services team, shows what can be done with necessarily limited funds. Some things get away! But more is added every year to the wonders of The Keep.’ Lady Teviot, Chairman of FOTKA |
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A Variety Of Other Acquisitions
Lady Catherine Saunderson, c1825 Miniature Portrait |
Cambridge Mission, fruit-pickers c1935 Photograph |
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Royal Navy Artillery Reserve Photograph |
Sheffield Park Estate, 1884 page of survey |
William Dolloway of East Hoathly, c1795 miniature portrait |
Mrs Ann Wilson, c1810 miniature portrait |
SS Brighton programme, 1935 picture/programme |
Agreement of separation, 1773 document |
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