Blasts from the Past: Welcome to the school archive

“What do you do as an archivist?” This is a question I get asked a lot! Often followed up by, “is it like being a librarian?” It is not surprising that there remains some mystery around what we archivists actually do. For one thing, there aren’t many of us; apparently, there are only around 1,500 working in the UK. For another, archives have, historically, been hidden away. Archivists were the gatekeepers of the precious records allowing only limited access to the select few. I still remember when you needed to provide a reference to obtain a reader’s ticket to some public archives. Fortunately things have changed a lot, in this country at least. Most archivists would now consider that making archives – and the stories they contain – more accessible and more visible is a key part of their job.

In this regular series of blogs about the archive I hope to do just that. Give readers a peek behind the scenes to see what we do in the archive and find out more about some of the documents and objects we look after (I say ‘we’ as I am fortunate to be assisted by a group of volunteers, but more about that in a future post).

The short answer to the question of what I do is: I collect, catalogue, preserve and make accessible all records of enduring historic value related to King’s College School. It sounds simple. The reality is often messier and definitely more time-consuming that you might imagine. Firstly, how do we decide what to collect? We can’t – and shouldn’t – keep everything. The next dilemma is can we maintain the original order of the documents, so as to capture the context in which they were created and used? Then, how do we find the time to adequately describe what the documents are about so that the relevant records can be found when needed? Finally, how do we ensure that the archival records survive for as long as possible? Some preservation actions are relatively easy, such as removing old staples and elastic bands (don’t get me started on elastic bands…). The real challenge now is that the majority of current records are, in fact, born-digital, that is to stay they were created in the first instance as digital files and so are kept as such in the archive. How do you ensure that they remain usable over time? Obsolescence and bit rot are just two of the potential dangers, and corrupted digital files are much harder to spot than damaged pieces of paper.

Why keep it all? I do sometimes sense surprise that King’s has an archive, and an archivist. I would argue that there is a public interest in the records we hold; I get a steady stream of enquiries from biographers and genealogists. We might not have much information about individuals, but it all counts. In my experience, carrying out research can often feel like putting together a second-hand jigsaw puzzle, with several of the pieces missing, and those that you do have sourced from a number of different boxes!

Then there is the value of the archive to the school itself. King’s is not alone amongst schools, and schools are not alone amongst private organisations, in recognising the importance of its archive. It is its corporate memory. Gone are the days when it was usual for members of staff to remain for 20, 30 or even 40 years, and even those who do stay with one organisation for a long time could not and should not be expected to know about all aspects of that business and its associated community.

Archives can also be fundamental in shaping our identity. They tell us about our past – who we were – and help us to decide the path we want to take going forward. They can also connect across generations. This summer, the wonderful estates team undertook the slightly scary of task of re-hanging the nameplate from one of the ‘King’s – Wimbledon’ Schools Class locomotives (scary as it is unbelievably heavy). The nameplate was given to the school by British Railways after the locomotive was removed from service in 1961. For many years it was on display in the sports hall; it is now just around the corner from the archive. Underneath the nameplate is a replica numberplate, generously donated by Derek Brough (OK 1934) who had been one of the pupils to petition the then headmaster to allow one of the engines to be named after King’s. Derek had left the school by the time the ‘King’s – Wimbledon’ was unveiled at Wimbledon station in February 1935; all 500 pupils went down to see it, and a model engine was given to the school by the assistant general manager at Southern Railway, Gilbert Szlumper, who coincidentally was a King’s alumnus. The plates, the model engine, and the story continue to engage not just pupils but pretty much everyone I have ever spoken to about it.

Ultimately, it is this community – alumni, pupils, parents, staff (present and former) – and my contact with it, that makes me feel that my main purpose is to look after people’s memories. I feel incredibly privileged to do so. If anyone has their own reminiscences that they would like to share with me, please do get in touch. I promise to take good care of them.

Lucy Inglis | School Archivist