'Why archive?' — a talk by Elaine Kirby

Elaine Kirby with a picture of Archivist, Richard Pearce-Moses

Picture by Bob Naylor©

"Archivists keep records that have enduring value as reliable memories of the past, and they help people find and understand the information they need in those records."

The words of renowned American archivist, Richard Pearce-Moses who is the inspiration for Elaine Kirby's talk 'Why Archive' which Devizes Boat Club have organised at the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf on Saturday — all are invited.

Elaine is the Administrator and one of a team of volunteers at the Kennet & Avon Canal Archive based at the British Waterways offices at Caen Hill in Devizes. 

She brings to the talk many unpublished old pictures of the Kennet & Avon Canal along with some memorable early film — including some old colour film shot by the Army Air Corps that highlights the many changes to the look of the canal in recent years.

Stills from the Army Air Corps film of the K&ACanal

Saturday 12  November 2011 at 7pm in the upstairs meeting room of the Canal Centre on Devizes Wharf.
There is a charge of £2 a head. Tea and coffee will be provided and any surplus money from the evening will go towards the work of the archive.

You are welcome to bring your own wine and beer.

The K&A Canal archive team are a mine of useful information — they can be contacted at:  kamuseumandarch@yahoo.co.uk

Why Archives? A talk by Elaine Kirby to Salisbury IWA

Few visitors to the Kennet & Avon Canal Museum on Devizes Wharf give any thought to what goes on behind the scenes to preserve this important museum and its archive.  

What is on display is only a small part of a vast collection of artifacts and documents which are an invaluable reference resource for anyone doing research on the K&A Canal.  The three members of the archive team answer queries from all over the world as well as cataloguing new museum acquisitions. 

Elaine Kirby the archive administrator will talk to the Salisbury Branch of the IWA and explain the role of an archivist — and she will be bringing some of the K&A Canal museum's photographs and documents. 

                              

Thursday 17th March 7.30pm 

at the Green Dragon,  Alderbury

Salisbury SP5 3AR

Tel: 01722 710 263

Turning the clock back on the K&A Canal

A new working sundial calibrated to ‘Widcombe Time’ next to the canal towpath near the Horseshoe Walk end of the Widcombe Flight in Bath will commemorate the Kennet & Avon Canal's 200th Anniversary. The sundial commissioned Bath & North East Somerset Council is the creation of local artist Alun Dun.

As part of the art project Alan visited Widcombe Junior School near the canal in Bath last week. He talked to pupils about the history of sundials and how he created the piece for the canal. Alan and canal museum archivist, Elaine Kirby also worked with pupils to explore the history of the canal and the people who worked on it. During the day the children created their own working sundials, which will be on show at the unveiling of the canal-side sundial on Saturday 30 October.  

Artist Alan Dun, canal museum archivist Elaine Kirby and art project manager Kate Orchard worked with Widcombe Junior School pupils on a canal history and sundial project. Pictures by Bob Naylor

  

Sarah Brice of British Waterways said, “It’s great to see that local children are getting involved with the celebrations to mark the Kennet & Avon Canal’s bicentenary. The canal is a great local resource and offers a link to the area’s past as well as being something for everyone to enjoy today.”

Alan said, “It’s a great pleasure to be able to work on the project and help celebrate this often overlooked corner of Bath. The Kennet & Avon Canal is a green route through the city and a showcase of industrial heritage. I hope that the piece I am creating will be a welcome addition to the towpath and help people appreciate the canal now and in the future.”


Previous story about the K&A 200th anniversary sundial at: Planners OK canalside art