Ebony spent three days with the Archives and Heritage Team in February. Find out more about her experience in the blog below.

“My time at the Staffordshire History Centre served as both an insightful and exciting experience. Upon surface level, activities such as creating book covers or wrapping up tea sets in parchment paper could be quite mundane and repetitive (as I initially found). However, once you learn the importance of doing so, these “simple” projects are quite literally the building blocks of the whole archive. 

On the first day I worked with the team and took part in some hands-on work, switching the hats and the shoes of the 1920s fashion display in the exhibition space.  Being able to grasp and feel these fragile accessories that were made over a century ago was one of the most intriguing aspects of my whole work placement here. 

Once I was given a tour of the strong rooms, I was able to explore the state of the ancient documents, maps and books as well as the production process of the archive which was extremely educational.

I helped with facilitating interactive workshops for young children during the spring half-term which helped improve my communication skills as someone who is not as talkative as most people are.  Although it was a difficult task, I’m glad to have taken part in such a diverse event working alongside hard-working, ambitious and welcoming people. 

Additionally, I was given the opportunity to independently innovate my own exhibition concerning the Stafford flooding of 1946, utilising contemporary sources and extracts to develop my own interpretation of the event.

Overall, my placement here has been beyond a wonderful experience. From collections to staff, to the activities, everything and everybody serves an integral purpose to the Staffordshire History Centre here in Stafford.”