The latest update to A2A (Access to Archives) - the English strand of the UK
archives network at
http://www.a2a.org.uk - took place on Wednesday 3 March
2005. 2,423 catalogues were added to A2A. The database now contains over
7.4 million catalogue entries, in over 89,000 catalogue files, describing
archives held in 383 record offices, libraries, museums and other
repositories all over England.
The new additions at this update include finding aids describing the
following:
* the 18th-century archives of Dame Allan's Schools, Fenham (first opened in
1708), held at Tyne and Wear Archives Service and contributed through the
locally-funded North East regional project Bell, Book and Candle;
* a charter of Edward the Confessor dating from 1060, among archives
relating to the manor of Wheathampstead held at Hertfordshire Archives and
Local Studies, contributed through the HLF-funded project Hidden Talent;
* two volumes containing Royal Navy ships' logs kept by Midshipman George
Ross Divett, relating to seven voyages to the Americas and the West Indies
in the 1860s, held at Nottingham University Library and contributed through
the East Midlands HLF-funded project Home and Abroad;
* archives of various local clubs and societies held at Redbridge Local
Studies and Archives, contributed through the HLF-funded project Magpie's
Nest in London;
* archives of the internationally-acclaimed cross-disciplinary and
performing arts organisation motiroti, contributed by Future Histories
through the HLF-funded Re-membering Asian Performance project;
* a variety of archives held by Dorset Record Office, Gloucestershire Record
Office, and Plymouth and West Devon Record Office, contributed through the
South West HLF-funded project South West Access All Areas;
* the archives of 22 Church of England parishes, held at East Sussex Record
Office and contributed through the HLF-funded project Sussex Parish Chest;
* records of the Sun Fire Office held at the Guildhall Library;
* and the records of National Giro held at the Alliance and Leicester Group
Archives, and other public records held locally at West Sussex Record Office
and Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office.
Don't forget that you can restrict your A2A search to the catalogues added
at this update by using the Dates of Catalogues feature on the standard
Search page - why not give it a try?
I myself am taking an extended break from The National Archives for maternity
leave, starting on Monday 7 March. As this is the case, please direct any
enquiries arising from this update to one of my colleagues or to
a2a@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Don't forget that the A2A url is changing in a couple of weeks to
www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a, so do amend your links and bookmarks.
Sarah J A Stark
Regional Liaison Co-Ordinator, A2A
