FFHS-NEWS The Future of Plymouth & West Devon Record Office

[News from the Federation of Family History Societies]

The Future of Plymouth & West Devon Record Office (PWDRO)

 

We are pleased to publicise the following notice concerning the campaign to
support the PWDRO.

 

--o0o-

 

In November 2008, an open letter was sent from the Chairmen of Devon Family
History Society and the Friends of Devon's Archives to Plymouth City Council
and signed by a coalition of Plymouth and Devon County heritage societies
and prominent private individuals. It expressed concern regarding the
Plymouth & West Devon Record Office building in Plymouth, which has been
designated fundamentally unsuitable by the National Archives and the
Historical Manuscripts Commission.

 

The current building was opened in 1982 as a temporary measure and if the
service continues to fall short of the prescribed national standard, certain
classes of archives will be removed from Plymouth and housed elsewhere in
the country.  

 

Public meetings were held in November 2008 and January 2009 in Plymouth. At
the January meeting, the leader of the Plymouth City Council stated that a
replacement building was the second priority of the council. News is still
awaited of any firm action to support this pledge.

 

However, during that time the Plymouth City Archivist has resigned and moved
to another county. As yet, the post is unfilled.

 

Plymouth City Council needs to state publicly how it intends to adequately
provide for Plymouth's ancient heritage.

 

Another public meeting to discuss developments in the campaign to support
the PWDRO will be held on 27 November at 2.15 in the Spurgeon Hall, Mutley
Plain, Plymouth, PL4 6LB.  

 

Anyone interested in the archives provision for Plymouth and West Devon is
welcome to attend or send responses/comments for use at the meeting to
chairman at devonfhs.org.uk.

 

Dr Todd Gray, Chairman, Friends of Devon's Archives

Maureen Selley, Chairman, Devon Family History Society 

 

-o0o-

 

Newspaper reports can be seen on the Internet at:

 

November 2008 meeting:
http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/news/RECORD-FAILURE/article-507310-detail/arti
cle.html

 

January 2009 meeting:
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Historians-attack-council-records-care/
article-605454-detail/article.html

 

 

Roger Lewry

FFHS Archives Liaison

exec.member.rl at ffhs.org.uk

 

The Federation of Family History Societies is a Company Limited by Guarantee

Company Number 2930189 (England & Wales) - Registered Charity Number 1038721

Registered Office: Artillery House, 15 Byrom Street, Manchester, England M3
4PF

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://ffhs-lists.org.uk/pipermail/ffhs-news_ffhs-lists.org.uk/attachments/20091012/f70af78c/attachment.html>