Libraries
Walsall’s history to be celebrated with new digital archive grant awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
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Walsall Council has secured a grant of £249,020 to create a digital archive celebrating the borough’s rich history and diverse communities.
The funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will be used to deliver the ‘Walsall Archive for All’ (WAFA) project, which will preserve Walsall’s heritage and ensure it is accessible to all.
Inspired by the work of local transport photographer and historian Jack Haddock, the WAFA project will include thousands of historic images, audio recordings, and personal accounts, bringing untold heritage stories to life.
Volunteers and community members will play a vital role in curating these materials, ensuring that the voices of Walsall’s diverse communities are heard and celebrated.
The Jack Haddock Collection will also be digitised as part of the project. This includes 2,200 photographic prints, 5,928 plastic slides and 220 recordings.
“ The Walsall Archive for All project will give our residents a chance to share their stories and contribute to a growing digital archive that celebrates our borough’s past.
“We have a proud history in Walsall, and through this project, we will be able to uncover untold stories through material captured by local people.
“By working together, we will create an inclusive and accessible collection that future generations can learn from and be proud of.
“This project aligns with our Walsall 2040 strategy, which aims to build on our identity within the Black Country and continue sharing our collective stories and legacy.
“I would also like to acknowledge ongoing contributions by the ‘Walsall for All’ partnership, which has worked closely with the archives team. “
Ian Gray from Walsall Archives said, “Walsall Archive For All is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to digitise thousands of images and audio history recordings for intergenerational and intercultural representation.”
A community exhibition programme will also be developed as part of the project, while Walsall College will begin incorporating the Jack Haddock Collection into their photography courses. This will allow students to engage with the material and produce contemporary reflections which will be used to create a photo book and exhibition content.
ENDS
Notes to editor
Walsall Libraries within Walsall Council.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That is why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
heritagefund.org.uk
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook, and Instagram
Further Information
To find out more about using the archives service, please either email LocalHistoryCentre@walsall.gov.uk, telephone 01922 652 212 or visit our website at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries/lichfield-street-hub/walsall-archives-services
Walsall Archives are open to the public 10am – 4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and 10am – 1pm every Friday.
