By Nick Corbo-Stewart, Volunteer Co-ordinator and Archivist
Office searchroom
This week is National Volunteers’ Week and we’re taking this opportunity to celebrate the contribution volunteers from the local community make; their hard work has a hugely positive impact on the services the Record Office provides to its researchers.
The Record Office would like to thank all of our volunteers for continuing to support our work throughout 2022-2023, as we recover from the closures imposed by the pandemic. Whether they have returned or are new to us, their invaluable work has meant that many important West Sussex collections are once again being catalogued and made available to our researchers.
Over the last year, volunteers have continued to work on our numerous and varied historic collections, a flavour of which is reflected in the list below:
- Work continues to index our Quarter Sessions records, bringing to light the names and professions of people found in the Quarter Sessions rolls.
- Industrial history has been a significant theme this year, and volunteers have catalogued collections including DANDO engineering of Littlehampton, Britax car accessories manufacturers of Chichester, and APV Baker, aluminium plant manufacturers of Crawley.
- Numerous parish collections which document our community history ranging from Slindon to Horsham, Chidham to East Grinstead.
- Deeds from across the whole of West Sussex, covering many centuries, reflecting national or local legal changes and documenting the exchange of land and property, whether in the city of Chichester, in the towns of Horsham or Crawley, or within the local countryside, such as around Bolney or Midhurst.
- A visual panorama has been emerging from our multiple photograph and slide collections, covering river courses, coastal scenes, the Downs, industrial activity, sporting events and all kinds of people from every walk of life.
It is through the work on these, and many other collections, that the Record Office provides opportunities for volunteers to learn new skills in research, transcription, listing, sorting, checking, conservation, packaging, information technology and item handling. It also a place to meet other volunteers and members of staff who share the same passion for the care and development of our archive.
Above all, their invaluable support allows the Record Office to provide a varied and vibrant public service to all our visitors.
Thanks to the volunteers for continuing to work during this National Volunteers’ Week and beyond.
If you’re interested in volunteering at the Record Office, please visit our website for further information.
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