Engineers Australia Qld Division Heritage Archives: Inheritance for the Future by Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS, AALIA Engineering Heritage Aust - Qld Panel, AGM 21 Nov 2011

Heritage, History, Archives.. 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 Society is – ‘an inheritance of …’ Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

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

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

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

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 – Support EA & EHA’s programs & services Be a research source for members, students, public… Complement Reference Library – rare publications… Leaders and champions Dr Norm Sheridan Prof Ray Whitmore Robin Black, Evan Richard…. Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

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

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

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 materials Accessible collection Space Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011 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 ….. Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

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

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

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011 Tasks (cont’d) Target categories of records & reappraise for values - D = Division files > cull ephemeral value E = Excellence awards > Winners + special cases V = 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 Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011 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 …. Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

Heritage Archives Holdings Qld 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’ Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011

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

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

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

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011 Engineers Australia – 2011 Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 2011