engineers australia qld division heritage archives:

Engineers AustraliaQld Division

Heritage Archives:Inheritance for the

Future

byElisabeth Wheeler MIMS, AALIA

Engineering Heritage Aust - Qld Panel, AGM 21 Nov 2011

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011 2

Heritage, History, Archives..

Heritage – That which is inherited and

passed on, heir to heir, generation to generation…

– Beliefs, customs, traditions, knowledge, + Objects, Places and Things

– Society –Inheritance of Culture and

Civilisation


History‘History is philosophy teaching by examples’

Thucydides

‘History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life….’

Cicero


Archives– Recorded/documented –

Events, decisions, communications, things…

– Held in a medium – Document, photograph, plan, object,

data…– Significant –

Cultural & historical values > Heritage Value

– a Place of stored Memory and Knowledge

‘Nothing has really happened until it has been recorded’Virginia Woolf


Program• Background to the Heritage

Archives • Situation in 2010• Goal for Heritage Archives• Response and Solutions• Aims of Heritage Archives Project• Key Tasks • Outcomes to date• Heritage Archives Holdings


Background to Collection• 100 years+ of collecting • By IEA + Members • 1995 - Qld Div. commissioned –

Archives Policy and Retention Schedule (EW)

• Qld Heritage Archives formalised to – o Support EA & EHA’s programs & serviceso Be a research source for members,

students, public…o Complement Reference Library – rare

publications…• Leaders and champions

– Dr Norm Sheridan – Prof Ray Whitmore – Robin Black, Evan Richard….


Background (cont’d)• Dr Norm Sheridan – Set up & organised the Heritage

Archives– Implemented • Archives Policy 1995• Retention Schedule 1995

– Appraised records & disposed of unwanted

– Listings > Archives Catalogue (hard-copy)

– Conservation of material – shelving, boxing

– Access to Source material– Research value enhanced


Situation in 2010• Archives Policy 1995 – not in systematic use,

not current• Limited intellectual control – Archives

Catalogue (2002)• Several Shelf metres of Records, 1900 - 2010– Committee Minutes, Files, photographs, 3D

Objects… • New material – What to keep?• Electronic records – what to do?• Lack of Space – where to place?• Volunteers only

>>>Professional skills


Goal for Qld’s Heritage Archives

• A functional Archives with – System with online, up-to-date

catalogue Electronic data storage – documents,

images… Systematic operations Procedures – Deposits, Accessioning,

Cataloguing... Wanted materialsAccessible collectionSpace


Response and Solution• EHA(Q) Panel establishes Special Project,

2010• Archives Consultant appointed (EW)• Qld Panel representative appointed –

Project Manager role• Consultant to prepare a Project Plan –

Aims, Tasks, Outcomes…• Agreement to Project Plan• Volunteers sought – key assistants• Set tasks • Reporting to Project Manager


Aims of Project• Current Archives Policy – scope &

criteria• Procedures/Protocols for accepting

material…• Materials appraised & unwanted

disposed of• Archives database system • Catalogue of archival collection• Image & data storage• Better use of space• Manual for Heritage Archives• Volunteers Trained


Tasks• Revise Archives Collection Policy – Framework for –– Development of collection, programs,

administration– Defines –– Scope of collection, purpose, criteria for

archives, formats, services, access…• Identify suitable software –– Define needs of user– Survey systems– Report, with Recommendations

• Document what is held & wanted > Audit


Tasks (cont’d)• Target categories of records & reappraise

for values -D = Division files > cull ephemeral valueE = Excellence awards > Winners + special casesV = videos > cull redundant > reformat to DVD

• Develop Manual for Heritage Archives –

Includes –Policy, Protocols, Procedures, Control Lists, Retention recommendations

• Deliver training in Manual and system to members


Outcomes to date Inventory of collection – what is held, action

required Archives Database Report &

Recommendation accepted… Heritage Archives Policy approved Protocols -

• Lending• Receipt and Accessioning of material• Committee Minutes • New Retention Schedule*

Updated Archives Catalogue (2011) More Shelf Space


Heritage Archives HoldingsQld Heritage Archives – concerned with Qld Engineers and Engineering – role, contribution and actual structures, places, movable items.

Key Series held –• Committee Minutes + Papers, 1900 + > ‘D’• Engineering Heritage Recognition >

Marking Ceremonies > ‘P’• Eng Heritage Item Files > ‘QA’• Excellence Award Submissions > Annual

Awards > ‘E’ • Biographical files – bio data > ‘Eminent

Engineers’ > ‘S’


Holdings (cont’d)• Qld Conferences – Proceedings > ‘Q’• Technical Papers > ‘A’• Oral histories > EHA(Q) Oral History Program

> ‘OH’• Personal Collections & Research –– Norm Sheridan – renewable energy,

thermodynamics…– Ray Whitmore - Engineering heritage,

mining…– Evan Richard – BCC Municipal

• Company records –– MR Hornibrook > photographic record of

projects– Evans Deakin > photos and documents


Holdings (cont’d)• Photographic - Cine film

Albums Early historical photographs

• Plans of Qld buildings, Arch. Drawings, Maps…

• AV of projects, people and Qld events >DVD• Museum Objects + Artefacts –

• Historic mechanical objects…• Drawing instruments…• Mathematical aids…• Memorial Plaques…• Portraits…• Framed photographs & drawings,

artwork


References• EA – Qld Division, Archives Collection Policy, 2011• Historical quotes from <http://thinkexist.com> at

16 nOv 2011• Archives matter!, National Archives of Australia,

2007• Engineering Heritage Australia (Qld) website

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/queensland-division/welcome-queensland-branch-webpage> accessed 16 Nov 2011

• Engineers Australia http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/at 16 Nov 2011

http://thinkexist.com/

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/queensland-division/welcome-queensland-branch-webpage

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/queensland-division/welcome-queensland-branch-webpage

http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/


Engineers Australia – 2011

engineers australia qld division heritage archives:

Documents