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

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 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

Elisabeth Wheeler MIMS AALIA EHA - Qld AGM 21 Nov 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 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 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 Background to Collection 100 years+ of collecting By IEA + Members Qld Div. commissioned – Archives Policy and Retention Schedule (EW) Qld Heritage Archives formalised to – oSupport EA & EHA’s programs & services oBe a research source for members, students, public… oComplement 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 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 Situation in 2010 Archives Policy 1995 – not in systematic use, not current Limited intellectual control – Archives Catalogue (2002) Several Shelf metres of Records, – 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 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 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 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 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 Tasks (cont’d) Target categories of records & reappraise for values - D = Division files > cull ephemeral value E = Excellence awards > W inners + 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 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 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, > ‘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 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 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 References EA – Qld Division, Archives Collection Policy, 2011 Historical quotes from at 16 nOv 2011http://thinkexist.com Archives matter!, National Archives of Australia, 2007 Engineering Heritage Australia (Qld) website division/welcome-queensland-branch-webpage> accessed 16 Nov division/welcome-queensland-branch-webpage Engineers Australia at 16 Nov 2011

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