CULTURE Archives
Author AS Byatt wrote: “The more research you do, the more at ease you are in the world you are writing about. It doesn’t encumber you, it makes you free.” Although she was obviously writing about the research that is needed to underpin a good novel, it applies equally to the research that is undertaken to answer archival queries, write articles and process archival acquisitions. Queries have rolled in from near and far. The Christ’s College Old Boys’ Association has sought information and photographs for reunions, and
Old Boys themselves have continued to provide items to enhance College collections. University students sought information about Somes House, and this led the archivist to seek out the story of Rolleston House. Another query involved the teaching of French in the 1860s, while the histories of Upper and philanthropy involved delving into various sets of minutes. Old Boys and descendants of Old Boys regularly seek information about their ancestors. Each time an article appears in In Black & White or College , it is the
result of the archivist making a query of the collections. Indeed, it is a way of testing the collections to see if they hold the information or whether it is necessary to use outside resources that can range from digitised newspapers like Papers Past , to emails to individuals with specific skills or institutions that hold complementary collections. PD Days, when archivists get together, are always a delight. We managed one this year, a catch up from two previously postponed because of Covid-19. It is important to share information and teach each
Above: The ‘x’ marks the location of the schoolroom at the Church at Christchurch. Merton Album CCPAL51/1 Christ’s College Archives.
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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