This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the
history of British gerontology or of organisational history more generally, and
we are very keen to promote its use amongst the BSG membership and beyond. The
archive holds a vast range of materials, numbering over 44 ‘boxes’ covering
everything from committee minutes to conference tote bags, covering almost 30
years of the Society’s history from 1974-2003. The archive is now fully
electronically searchable and linked via the Swansea University webpage
and the Archive
Hub. It is open to anyone to visit by appointment and I can
personally recommend a visit to the Richard Burton Archive for those of you who
can make it. It is a wonderful space which hosts a fantastic variety of material
of local, regional and national significance, such as the South Wales Coalfield
Collection. The archivists are incredibly helpful and passionate about helping
people make the most of these amazing resources.
The BSG is committed to this archiving project and
preparations for the next step, to archive ongoing and future materials, will
soon be underway. However, we want to ensure that this archive is not simply
kept for posterity but is actively used by the wider research community. This
is not simply part of our legacy, it is an opportunity to open up new future
directions by drawing on the evidence of the past.