November is fast approaching which means only one thing for Explore Your Archive – Focus Week! The highlight of our campaign’s year, Focus Week condenses all of the engrossing, engaging, and exciting things about what archives and ourselves do.
Looking ahead to this year’s Focus Week got us thinking about the great moments from previous editions. So we asked for feedback from archives who have participated before…
How have you previously been involved in EYA’s Focus Week?
The mainstay of the campaign is of course social media, with archives encouraged to post content relating to the daily themes. Naturally, all archives who responded highlighted this.
One of our favourites to see throughout the year anyway, is the mascot of Warwickshire County Record Office, Chambearlin! Here he is introducing the first theme of the Focus Week in 2022 – Maps and Plans. Such was the success of this theme that at one point it was trending in the top 20 on the platform formerly known as Twitter!
Hannah Keelan at Dublin City Library and Archive has been managing their social media for nearly three years. Here she reveals the process behind her work:
Once the annual themes are announced, I typically share them with my team to begin brainstorming. I find that brainstorming together leads to more creative and diverse content, as each team member brings a unique perspective and interest in our collections. After selecting an item to feature, I gather the relevant materials, digitise and photograph them, and then write captions and schedule the posts for publication.
Just like Explore Your Archive as a whole, the celebration of archives is not just confined to social media. As seen on our Discover, Celebrate, and Learn pages, our website publishes blogs, Spotlight exhibitions, and research guides as well.
Last year, Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies wrote a blog about the minute books of the Haverfordwest Assembly Rooms, which covered the themes of Dances and Decisions. Click on the image for an interesting read!
Some archives have also hosted events to mark the week. Last year, Gwent Archives held a series of familiarisation sessions for different local groups including registrars, museums, and family history groups. Over the years they have also held open days and papermaking workshops as shown below.
What has been your favourite previous theme?
As seen above, there have been many different themes just over the last five years! So this was probably an unfair question to ask! But here are some of those which were singled out.
My favourite past theme was Small. I enjoyed exploring our collections for miniature items—there’s something inherently cute about tiny artifacts, especially when photographed alongside our hands to show scale. I also appreciated seeing how other institutions interpreted the theme and showcased their small items.
– Hannah Keelan, Dublin City Library and Archive
There have been so many good ones, it’s difficult to pick a favourite. We always love a good Archive Animal theme though (who doesn’t?!).
– Jo, Warwickshire County Record Office
Favourite is a difficult one! Mythology, Expedition and Animals have been daily themes I have enjoyed in previous years.
– Rhiannon Phillips, Gwent Archives
As someone who loves travel literature in all its forms, it has to be Expedition! In prepping for that I came across a beautifully illustrated journal of a tour to Egypt in 1888 which I can’t stop returning to! Disco and Beards have also been highlights., as they’ve shown the humorous side of archives.
-Elliot MacMillan, Pembrokeshire Archives & Local Studies
Big in 2023 was a challenge, but it didn’t get bigger than an animated advertising takeover by AA Bronson/General Idea in Piccadilly Circus (December 2021).
Fashion in 2024 was an opportunity to show some of the designer t-shirts in my collection, by Alistair McQueen and Antoni & Alison (designed for Red Ribbon International, in limited editions of 250. 1996).
– Siân Cook, HIV Graphic Communication Archive
Which theme are you most excited about this year?
When setting the themes each year, the aim has been to make them specific enough to act as a guide, but intriguing enough to allow for different interpretations. Based on the responses of the aforementioned archives, it seems that this year’s themes have hit the same mark!
The first theme, Conservation, is one that has featured before in the guise of Conservation Nightmare in 2021. This time around, the day may take on a more celebratory tone, highlighting the crucial behind-the-scenes work which many archive users do not usually have the chance to see. For more about conservation in archives, check out our Caring for Archives page.
We have something special lined up for the Conservation theme this year, so stay tuned to our socials to see what we have in store!
Jo, Warwickshire County Record Office
Beauty is sure to be absolutely fabulous, with archive social media channels resplendent with treasures! Sometimes, no description is needed as archive material is just a joy to behold. Or maybe, it might tackle how different generations have perceived and understood beauty.
The third theme, Medieval, might be a challenge for some archives to find period accurate items. But this is where we are happy for themes to be interpreted in different ways. Perhaps something is reminscient of the Middle Ages, or a collection sheds light on a topic that remains in the so-called ‘Dark Ages’.
One theme that we can not wait to see – or should we say hear – how it is interpreted is Silence. How do collections show previous experience of peace and quiet? What voices in the collections are waiting to be heard?
I think it’s a tie between Beauty and Silence which are leading to some interesting discussions in how to interpret these.
Rhiannon Phillips, Gwent Archives
As mentioned earlier, animal-themed days are always a great time, but on day five we are asking to see as many Pets as possible. Whether common or exotic we want you to take us on a walk on the wild side.
Archives are not just about physical items but also about maintaining and preserving digital collections as well. So day six is a chance to showcase such items or perhaps highlight the opportunities and challenges involved with the digital world.
We are privileged enough for archives to be for everyone. But this has not always been the case, whilst some archive documents reveal the ways in which the past has not been welcoming to all. So day seven celebrates Inclusion and encourages its spirit and offers the chance to highlight the positive contributions of archives.
Medieval will be a challenge, as my archive materials are only from 1980s onwards. But I think I might be able to cheat on that one.
Siân Cook, HIV Graphic Communication Archive
Inclusion might be an easier one for me – I will be spoilt for choice!
There will also be cause for celebration on the penultimate day, with Anniversaries. Perhaps it will be a case of many happy returns for someone? Or an item which marks a significant event? Or looking ahead to an important milestone?
We have some excellent material related to LGBTQ+ history that will align well with Inclusion and offer an opportunity to highlight important voices in our collection. For Beauty, we hold early 20th-century periodicals featuring some questionable (and entertaining) beauty tips, as well as teen magazines from the 2000s, which is perfect for illustrating how beauty trends and standards have evolved over time. As for Medieval, our medieval holdings include rare and remarkable items such as an ancient sword, historic charters, and other seldom-seen artifacts. This theme gives us a unique chance to showcase some of the most treasured pieces in our collection.
Hannah Keelan, Dublin City Library and Archive
One theme that has become a fixture of the last day of the Focus Week is Your Archive. This not only gives archives an opportunity to shine the spotlight on themselves, but also to open up the Focus Week to archive users and their collections. We hope to end things on an important reminder that archives are for all, anywhere, anytime.
