Donating material to Walsall Archives
We rely on contributions to help grow our collections and capture the experiences of diverse communities. Your donations, such as photos, letters and recordings, play a key role in preserving and sharing history.
What we’re collecting
We are always seeking donations that relate to the local area. We'd especially like to receive items from local Black, Black African, Black Caribbean and Asian communities to better reflect the richness of our ever-evolving society.
We collect the following types of archives:
- local authority records including those of Walsall and its predecessor authorities
- public records, for which Walsall Archives are the appointed place of deposit e.g. courts, prisons and hospitals
- archives relating to all religious faiths and groups
- business archives
- school records
- property records, including building plans and maps
- records of local clubs, societies, and community groups
- archives of trade unions, political parties, and other related groups
- individual and family papers including letters, diaries, photographs, and manuscripts
We also collect non-archival material, including:
- books and other printed material for our local studies collection
- photographs
- O.S and other relevant maps
- ephemera including leaflets, posters, catalogues, and programmes
We might also accept material from outside our local authority if it is relevant to the Walsall area.
Items that we don’t collect
We may refuse to accept archives related to Walsall if the material is already in our collections or if the conservation cost is too high compared to its value.
How to donate
Email us to tell us you’re interested in donating.
We’ll check if the items are suitable and explain what to do next.
