13b Who Cares? Do Nothing and Watch it Die! Advocacy and Protest at the National Trust.
Tracks
Developing Practices
| Wednesday, October 19, 2022 |
| 11:45 AM - 1:15 PM |
Presentation Type
Traditional Paper --- Moderator Dr Jessie Lymn
Session Information
What is an archive to a community? The three papers in session 13 describe different archives and different initiatives, different from each other and from the purpose of the initiative: an archive embedded in Country and its people, who contextualise, maintain and develop it using their knowledge and a pusillanimous system; a ‘mega-archive’ comprised of many discrete archives within the over-arching framework of a single, volunteer-run organisation; and colonial re-positioning itself to enable truth-telling and improve its own practices.
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Mr James Bosanquet
Archives & Library Manager
National Trust
Who Cares? Do Nothing and Watch it Die! Advocacy and Protest at the National Trust.
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How do you manage an archive that operates over 35 heritage sites scattered across the State? Each heritage site has countless stories and their own conservation plans and issues. Operating as a charity the National Trust has a rich 76 year history and is powered by a volunteer workforce. How do you communicate and collaborate in such a diverse space and can you ensure each archive is working from the same page?
The National Trust of Australia was established in 1946 in Sydney by Annie Wyatt. Originally called The Tree Lover’s Association, the Trust has records of significant heritage for properties, sites, significant trees, moveable heritage, industrial architecture and more. The Archivist and Library Manager provides advice, coordinates the volunteers and manages the archives and the strategic direction for the archives.
Issues –
• Each site has its’ own conservation management plan and often complicated agreements as to how that plan is managed. Usually the plan and management is paid for by the Trust.
• Each property have their own archives, (Tenterfield in Parkes, Saumarez in Armidale, Miss Traill’s House in Bathurst, Lindesay in Darling Point, etc.)
• No records retention requirements –We operate under GDA28 as a general guideline but the Act doesn’t stipulate records retention.
• I took over in early December 2020 and we were very much were paper based.
• A collecting institution – we primarily collect heritage content and local histories. Also architectural designs and plans. Open to the public and members
• 135 Access databases, plus countless spreadsheets.
• Ageing volunteer workforce. Volunteer survey showed 70% of volunteers over 60 years.
Challenges -
• Different systems, operating environments, competing interests at the sites
• Storage of some very fragile and delicate items that are irreplaceable
• Pests (the usual - mould)
• Storage costs (offsite and increasingly Cloud)
• Not a rich organisation (we are a charity)
What does good collaboration and advocacy look like in this space?
1. The Trust has a strong history of advocacy and protest to save heritage sites. Advocating is what’s expected from our members
2. More communication with stakeholders. More availability. Improved channels and aware of issues;
3. Commenced large oral history project in 2022, to record voices of the trust and collect the stories and memories of sites, the organisation and heritage in NSW
4. A risk management assessment for each site (looking at storage, formats, archival risks and providing direction). What are the site specific issues? Provides an opportunity to frame the conversation around
5. Focus on significant heritage
6. What are the gaps? Designs and plans, conservation and archaeology of sites.
7. Making the collection outward facing - Moving the library and technical papers onto eHive and Trove.
8. Different types of communication, creating a template for each site. More face-to-face visits
9. Digitization projects focusing on the most used material and preservation assessment for the most fragile aspects of the collection.
10. Guided by audience and members. Using analytics to drive content.
The National Trust of Australia was established in 1946 in Sydney by Annie Wyatt. Originally called The Tree Lover’s Association, the Trust has records of significant heritage for properties, sites, significant trees, moveable heritage, industrial architecture and more. The Archivist and Library Manager provides advice, coordinates the volunteers and manages the archives and the strategic direction for the archives.
Issues –
• Each site has its’ own conservation management plan and often complicated agreements as to how that plan is managed. Usually the plan and management is paid for by the Trust.
• Each property have their own archives, (Tenterfield in Parkes, Saumarez in Armidale, Miss Traill’s House in Bathurst, Lindesay in Darling Point, etc.)
• No records retention requirements –We operate under GDA28 as a general guideline but the Act doesn’t stipulate records retention.
• I took over in early December 2020 and we were very much were paper based.
• A collecting institution – we primarily collect heritage content and local histories. Also architectural designs and plans. Open to the public and members
• 135 Access databases, plus countless spreadsheets.
• Ageing volunteer workforce. Volunteer survey showed 70% of volunteers over 60 years.
Challenges -
• Different systems, operating environments, competing interests at the sites
• Storage of some very fragile and delicate items that are irreplaceable
• Pests (the usual - mould)
• Storage costs (offsite and increasingly Cloud)
• Not a rich organisation (we are a charity)
What does good collaboration and advocacy look like in this space?
1. The Trust has a strong history of advocacy and protest to save heritage sites. Advocating is what’s expected from our members
2. More communication with stakeholders. More availability. Improved channels and aware of issues;
3. Commenced large oral history project in 2022, to record voices of the trust and collect the stories and memories of sites, the organisation and heritage in NSW
4. A risk management assessment for each site (looking at storage, formats, archival risks and providing direction). What are the site specific issues? Provides an opportunity to frame the conversation around
5. Focus on significant heritage
6. What are the gaps? Designs and plans, conservation and archaeology of sites.
7. Making the collection outward facing - Moving the library and technical papers onto eHive and Trove.
8. Different types of communication, creating a template for each site. More face-to-face visits
9. Digitization projects focusing on the most used material and preservation assessment for the most fragile aspects of the collection.
10. Guided by audience and members. Using analytics to drive content.
