AT our October meeting museum curator Michelle Savage gave us a comprehensive talk entitled “What’s in the Box” showing how acquisitions are logged and recorded. It was a look at the museum’s collections and how they are being managed. Miichelle works with a team of volunteers, some of them long-standing. Sadly there are no vast display cases and digital display. The gallery only shows a small proportion of the collection, with thousands of objects in store – on the 4th floor, basement and the middle of the museum.
Collections started in the early 1900s. There is a need to know who donated, when and their history, telling a story of Thurrock heritage. Half are donated, half archaeological. The Collections Trust create a standard for collections.
In 2017 Hazel Sacco and Simon Brinkley assisted and there has been a big turnover of staff since the late Jonathan Catton. There is a lot of information in peoples’ heads and we need to find out more.
The museum uses accession registers, also cataloguing cards. Accessions are first documented in a logbook, but need to be linked to an object so that queries can be answered and are easily found for displays. Some storage objects are put on display, looking for more information. They are slowly banishing the backlog. Those with no accession number need a unique number and may have been part of a private collection. Once donated, items cannot be returned.
The museum embarked on a full inventory – all boxes, racks, store cupboards searched. A temporary number is given if none is found, and logged onto the computer base. It has taken 5/6 years and is near to completion. Each item is given a unique number, name, brief description, location and picture. This helps with searching for an object with a query, also helping with other queries and school groups, bringing Thurrock heritage to life.
There are 15,000 objects recorded on data bases (boxes of flints etc counted as one item) with only 5% on display. Archaeology, photographs, books and maps comprise the largest part of the collection, with areas mostly represented by Tilbury, Orsett and Grays. Analysis of periods of history showed Roman is very well represented. Most of the collection is early 20th century. Using fixed standardised terminology gives a good picture of museum objects – how they are reported and if there are any gaps. Objects must be returned to their box after being used for displays.
Long term goals: Accreditation (policies etc), rationalisation and disposal – start collecting again. The museum is not accepting donations at present as they are full to capacity. The museum is looking to grow and become more relevant to our audience. Michelle would like the community to become involved, teachers, TLHS etc. and hopes to bring Thurrock communities together with a common goal, understanding, caring for and celebrating Thurrock heritage.
There is a project bid: NLHF Routes 2 Roots; they help new people to be integrated into the area. It is hoped to keep some temporary staff permanently. Michelle is really on her own and needs more help.
This was a detailed update from her previous talk on the museum, giving us hope for the future.
Our next meeting is at 8pm on Friday 15 November when our speaker Dr Peter Ross is giving a talk on The Curious History of Christmas Foods. Visitors are welcome.
