2025 – 2026

Cataloguing Grants Awarded 2026

Bromley House Library – £46,335

Project – WHAT’S BEHIND THE DOOR? Unlocking 270 years of history from the Archive at Nottingham’s hidden library

Bromley House Library’s archive is a rare example of a continuously operating subscription library. It contains thousands of unexplored items that tell the story of this Georgian building and garden in Nottingham, and of the library’s inquisitive, pioneering membership communities over 210 years. Cataloguing the archive will enhance scholarly access, deepen understanding and illuminate key moments. Through studying contested histories, including the overlooked stories of female readers, new interpretations of reading culture will be made possible. Public engagement, inspired by the narratives uncovered during the project, will also be delivered through exhibitions, audio tours and workshops, with new writing and associated activities created by a Scribe in Residence.

Peter Ware, Chair of the Board of Trustees, says What’s Behind the Door? will enable us to increase and share our knowledge of this remarkable organisation, and better understand its significance in Nottingham and beyond. It may even solve a few centuries-old mysteries.”

Dartmouth Museum – £36,246

Project – Vernon MacAndrew Photographic Archive: Cataloguing Project

Dartmouth Museum preserves and shares Dartmouth’s history and maritime heritage. In 2025, the museum was donated the Vernon MacAndrew Photographic Archive featuring around 5,000 images from 1900–1940, more than half in early colour. MacAndrew’s photographs record Dartmouth, the River Dart and the emergence of dinghy racing in the harbour, his sailing career and successful international yacht racing, and his shell collecting expeditions to the Red Sea and Philippines. They also present insights into his family and their home in Dartmouth. Archives Revealed funding will enable this nationally significant collection to be catalogued and made searchable by the public.

Jonathan Turner, Vice Chair, Dartmouth Museum, says: “we knew we had been given a beautiful photographic archive, but as we have explored it, its extraordinary breadth has connected us to collections and organisations around the world.  We would love to hear from others in Dartmouth, Devon and beyond who can help us explore MacAndrew’s extraordinary life and photographs.”

Garden Museum – £42,786.76

Project – Unboxing the Nesfield Archive

The Garden Museum leads the country’s only dedicated Archive of Garden Design. In 2024, it acquired the Nesfield Family Archive, one of the most important British garden design archives. For much of the later Victorian period, the ‘Nesfield Style’ of complex parterres, grand fountains and landscapes was highly sought after by powerful and wealthy patrons. The archive of designs, artworks, notebooks and maps richly documents the work of William Andrews Nesfield (1794–1881) and his sons, including Eaton Hall, Regent’s Park, and proposals for Buckingham Palace. With many of their gardens lost, the archive is the best surviving record of hundreds of important landscapes nationwide.

Robert Hillman, Archivist, says “Thanks to this grant, the archive will be catalogued and shared with researchers, in the galleries, and online. We will create a short film, tour material across the country, and deliver sessions to introduce children to garden design through the Nesfields’ stories.”

IOU Ltd – £48,035.62

Project – IOU at 50: Capturing the story of alternative arts

For 50 years, IOU has worked to redefine what outdoor and site-specific art can be, influencing generations of artists and cultural organisations from its home in Halifax. With support from Archives Revealed, IOU will unlock one of the UK’s most important archives of experimental performance by cataloguing 1,880 records spanning five decades of radical artistic practice. From hand-drawn designs and production files to photographs and films of iconic performances, the project will turn a hidden collection into a publicly searchable resource, revealing the ideas, experiments and innovations that helped shape contemporary outdoor arts and making them available to inspire the next generation of artists, researchers and audiences.

Richard Warburton, Creative Director, IOU Creation Centre, says: “Archives aren’t just about preserving the past; they’re about shaping the future. This project unlocks 50 years of radical artistic practice, putting IOU’s ideas, experiments and innovations back into the hands of artists, researchers and communities.”

Islington Heritage Service – £49,512.73

Project – All Politics is Local: The Jeremy Corbyn Collection

Islington Archives forms part of the London Borough of Islington’s Heritage Service. They will undertake a project to catalogue the papers of Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North. The collection charts Corbyn’s significant political career, touching on local, national, and international political histories and movements. The grant will support the recruitment of a project archivist and fund an exciting engagement programme, especially in the borough’s north. Engagement outputs will focus on developing understanding of local history, civic participation, media literacy, and will include educational resources for school ages children. The Corbyn Collection speaks directly to many of the existing strengths of Islington Archives’ collections—the work of community organisations, local democracy, grassroots campaigning, and activism. Improving access to the material will strengthen the stories Islington Archives tells, especially connecting local politics to global struggles.

Jacksons Lane – £45,642.88

Project – Acts of Change: Young People & the Nicky Gavron Archive

Jacksons Lane is Haringey’s leading arts and cultural centre and a UK leader in contemporary circus. Acts of Change will use their funding from Archives Revealed to preserve, catalogue and open up the Nicky Gavron Archive for public access. In partnership with Bruce Castle Museum & Archive, the project will safeguard a unique record of community activism, environmental campaigning, local democracy and the founding of Jacksons Lane. Young people aged 16-21 will explore the archive, develop new skills and co-create public events connecting Haringey’s rich history with its future.

Hannah Cox, Executive Director and Joint CEO, Jacksons Lane, says: “we’re delighted to receive this support from Archives Revealed. By opening up the Nicky Gavron Archive and putting young people at the heart of its interpretation, we’ll celebrate Haringey’s history of activism while inspiring a new generation to imagine the role they can play in shaping their communities.”

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) Special Collections & Archives – £46,887

Project – Fashioning Trans History: April Ashley’s Personal Papers

Fashioning Trans History: April Ashley’s Personal Papers will enhance access to the papers of Liverpool-born model, performer, and transgender activist April Ashley MBE. Working with communities, volunteers, researchers and creative partners, the project will deliver cataloguing, workshops, open days, and co-produced physical and digital exhibitions. It aims to connect local and international audiences with underrepresented trans histories, support research and wellbeing, strengthen trust in archives, and develop community-informed ethical guidance for the heritage sector. April Ashley’s papers are housed at Liverpool John Moores University Library’s Special Collections & Archives which hold more than 65 archive collections, many relating to the visual and performing arts; pop culture and counterculture; and fashion.

Susannah Waters, University Librarian, says: “This project will honour April Ashley’s remarkable legacy by making her story more accessible, while creating meaningful opportunities for communities to shape how trans histories are preserved, understood and celebrated.”

National Museums Scotland – £49,087

Project – Jean Muir Archive

The archive of internationally renowned British fashion designer Jean Muir (1928-1995) comprises an estimated 18,000 items documenting the design, production and promotion of her business from 1962 to 1995. Collectively, the material offers a unique opportunity to examine how Muir managed a successful international fashion design business as she navigated the changing context of fashion production, marketing and retailing across four decades. The archival material within the Jean Muir collection remains largely unresearched. Cataloguing this archival material will uncover stories currently hidden within the collection, enriching storytelling opportunities for audiences.

Georgina Ripley, Principal Curator, Modern and Contemporary Design at National Museums Scotland, says: “The Jean Muir archive is internationally significant for its scale, being one of the largest and most comprehensive public fashion designer collections in the world. The opportunity to catalogue this vast and unique resource will increase understanding of Muir’s individuality as a fashion designer and her impact on the industry, making this knowledge more accessible to the public.”

Norfolk Record Office – £49,563

Project – The People’s Naturalist: Cataloguing the Ted Ellis Archive

The People’s Naturalist: Cataloguing the Ted Ellis Archive will enable the Norfolk Record Office (NRO) to preserve, catalogue and promote the nationally significant archive of Edward ‘Ted’ Ellis (1909-1986), the renowned East Anglian naturalist, writer and broadcaster. NRO is a local authority archive service which collects, preserves and makes accessible records of enduring value relating to Norfolk. Their large archive includes diaries, correspondence, research, drawings and photographs. This project will create a catalogue for the archive, thus improving its long-term preservation and accessibility for research, education, and public engagement.

Gary Tuson, County Archivist of Norfolk, says: “Ted Ellis helped generations of people understand and appreciate the natural world. This archive is an irreplaceable record of his life, work, and influence. Through exhibitions, talks and online resources, this project will inspire greater understanding of Norfolk’s natural heritage, environmental conservation, and the value of observing and recording the natural world.”

North Craven Building Preservation Trust Ltd – £50,000

Project – Historic health: the archives of Shepherd and Walker (Chemists) of Settle

The Shepherd and Walker archive is a near-complete record of a business supplying medicines in the Yorkshire Dales. It is held by the Museum of North Craven Life, which tells the story of this rural region from 1600 to the present day. Historic Health will catalogue and digitise the collection for the first time and compare two online tools to determine which is most user-friendly for the community. Meanwhile, the Community Creator will work with local groups to explore a holistic view of health, responding creatively to material from the collection. Participants will create “prescriptions” capturing personal approaches to wellbeing and work with a storyteller to create trails and family activities.

Carson Murphy, the Collections Manager, says: “It’s a real step-change for our organisation to be able to catalogue such an important collection in such depth. Who knows what prescriptions for living well they will inspire in this unusual approach?”

Oldham Archives – £49,968

Project – Headliners: Revealing Real Life Through the Oldham Chronicle

Headliners: Revealing Real Life Through the Oldham Chronicle will transform access to a much-loved family-owned newspaper that was an important part of daily life in Oldham for over 160 years. As home to the documented history of the borough, Oldham Archives wants anyone with a connection to Oldham to feel that the service is theirs to use. Through targeted cataloguing, volunteer-led digitisation of photographic negatives, and an engaging programme of community activities, Headliners will reveal previously hidden stories, strengthen local connections, and inspire people of all ages to explore and celebrate Oldham’s shared history.

Neil Consterdine, Director of Communities, says: “The Oldham Chronicle holds a unique place in the borough’s collective memory and identity. Its coverage of everyday life, social change and civic achievement provides an unparalleled record of Oldham’s history. Headliners will transform passive historical records into an active public resource that supports learning, participation and place‑based pride.”

Salford Lads and Girls Club – £49,850

Project – Salford Lads & Girls Club Archive: Preserving 120 Years of Youth, Community and Cultural Heritage

Salford Lads and Girls Club is a charity founded in 1903, supporting local children and young people through youth work, sport, wellbeing, heritage and volunteering. Its 22,500 Stories project will catalogue approximately 22,500 membership cards for members born between 1884 and 2010. By linking existing scans and data, improving storage for fragile records and creating a searchable digital catalogue and public touchscreen, the project will open more than a century of Salford’s social history to former members, families, researchers, schools and visitors.

Leslie Holmes, Culture and Heritage Project Manager at Salford Lads and Girls Club, says:  “this grant will enable the club to preserve and share its unique archive of over 22,500 membership records. These remarkable documents tell the stories of local teenagers and their families as they moved from school into employment in the industries surrounding Salford Docks.”

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust – £49,638

Project – Raising the Curtain: A First Reveal of Abd’Elkader Farrah’s Theatre Design Archive

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust cares for Shakespeare’s family homes, internationally significant collections and archives in Stratford-upon-Avon, connecting people with Shakespeare and his continuing cultural legacy. This project will begin to unlock the most complete surviving body of work by Algerian-born designer Abd’Elkader Farrah (1926–2005), whose work transformed theatre scenography in the twentieth century. The archive includes original costume and set designs, drawings, models and working notes revealing Farrah’s creative process and distinctive cross-cultural perspective. Through cataloguing, research and collaboration, this remarkable and largely unexplored archive will be made accessible, offering new perspectives on theatre and performance and opportunities for research, learning and creative engagement.

Professor Charlotte Scott, Director of Shakespeare Studies, says: “There is no other single archive that captures the brilliance of Farrah’s mind and vision, the evolution of theatre and the effect of art in shaping character, emotion and story. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is immensely proud to hold this archive, whose global impact on Shakespeare in performance cannot be overstated. This grant will allow us to develop a cornucopian resource for artists, researchers and theatre lovers worldwide.”

Spórtlann CIC – £45,447.50

Project – Cataloguing The GaelStair Archive

The GaelStair Archive tells the story of the contemporary Irish language revival in Belfast from 1960s onwards. Held by Spórtlann na hÉireann, this unique collection captures how a grassroots community led one of the most remarkable cultural and linguistic revivals in modern European history. The project will serialise, archive and digitise documents, photographs and artefacts linked to major initiatives such as the establishment of Ireland’s first urban Gaeltacht at Bóthar Seoighe and the growth of Irish-medium education.

Spórtlann an hÉireann Chair Pilib Ó Ruanaidh says: “For decades, Gaeilgeoirí have painstakingly gathered documents and artefacts recording how our ancient and sophisticated language was revitalised in the face on near-terminal decline. With support from Archives Revealed, we will preserve and protect this history for generations to come, celebrating the historic role of the Irish language in shaping our society for the better.”

The University of Salford – £47,526.18

Project title – Land and Legacy: Enabling digital access to the Bridgewater Estates Archive

The University of Salford Library Archives and Special Collections preserves and provides access to material that supports teaching, learning, research and public engagement. This project will unlock access to one of the Library’s most sought-after collections, the Bridgewater Estates Archive (BEA), which documents the management of land and property across Salford and west Lancashire from the 1920s to the 1950s. Working with the University’s GLAM Lab, the project will use AI-assisted techniques to extract and structure data from a card index to create an online catalogue for records that are currently difficult to discover. Alongside preservation work, the project will deliver workshops with local groups, open collection events and sector-facing outputs.

Dominic Broadhurst, Head of Content and Discovery, said: “The Bridgewater Estates Archive is a significant record of the changing communities, industries and landscapes of our region. By combining archival expertise with AI-assisted approaches, this project will enable more people to discover and use this important, shared heritage.”

The University of York – £49,581.44

Project – People, Power, Planet: The Patrick Duncan Archive

The Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York will catalogue the papers of Patrick Duncan (1918–1967), an anti-apartheid activist, newspaper editor, Liberal, and Pan Africanist Congress member. Through an online catalogue, selective digitisation, and co-created learning resources, new audiences will be able to explore Duncan’s journey from establishment insider to outspoken critic of racial segregation. The project will highlight Duncan’s early environmental writings on ecological responsibility, linking his advocacy to contemporary themes of people, power, and planet. By connecting dispersed records across South Africa, Lesotho, and the UK, the project will support digital decolonisation and strengthen international collaboration. It will also create lasting opportunities for research, teaching, and public engagement while illuminating the historical struggle for racial, social, and environmental equity in Southern Africa.

Laura Yeoman, Acting Keeper of Archives at the Borthwick Institute for Archives, says: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this grant from Archives Revealed. The funding will allow us to make this collection available to the public in full for the first time and it will unlock the potential within the collection for future research and outreach work.”

Wheal Martyn Trust – £49,942.00

Project – Cataloguing Cornwall’s China Clay Heritage

Wheal Martyn Trust, the UK’s only china clay mining museum, shares the history of an industry which was a driver of the Cornish economy for 100 years. They will use their grant to catalogue the largest single collection of china clay companies’ administrative records in existence and make it more accessible. This collection includes records of English China Clays (ECC), one of the UK’s top 100 companies and leading exporters in the 1980s, along with records from smaller companies and associated industries. Volunteers will be trained to support with this work and new and existing audiences will be engaged through school workshops, work experience, micro-internships and ‘Show and Tell’ sessions.

Sarah Jane, Collections Manager at Wheal Martyn, says: “We are delighted to receive an Archives Revealed grant, unlocking the potential of this nationally important archive, which has been amassed and cared for by our dedicated China Clay History Society volunteers for over 20 years.”

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Churchill Archives Centre – £49,998

Project: The Personal is Political: the papers of Harriet Harman

Churchill Archives Centre holds personal papers which are important for the research and public understanding of modern British politics and society. This project will allow the Centre to catalogue, and make available, the papers of Harriet Harman, one of the most significant political figures of recent times. The collection encompasses national and local issues, most notably her feminist activism and close involvement with her Peckham constituency. The project will engage new and existing audiences through a series of events, digital storytelling on social media, blogs, research guides, and online exhibitions. The collection has the potential to complicate male-dominated narratives and the project’s focus on feminist cataloguing practices will develop methodology to help the wider archives community.

Mr Allen Packwood, Director of Churchill Archives Centre, says: “The Churchill Archives Centre is thrilled to be the recipient of this grant, which will allow us to make available the papers of one of this country’s foremost female parliamentarians.”

Govanhill Baths Community Trust – £24,941

Project: Revealing Govanhill Baths Archive: Cataloguing a Century of Community, Activism, and Renewal

Govanhill Baths Community Trust (GBCT) is a grassroots activist-based organisation delivering wellbeing, arts, environmental and heritage projects. It grew out of the historic Save Our Pool campaign in 2001. When Glasgow City Council proposed the closure of Govanhill Baths, local residents occupied the building for 140 days in the longest sit-in of a civic building in British history. Its Archive has three collections: Before Closure, Save Our Pool and GBCT. This grant will enable cataloguing to item level, school and community workshops and an exhibition.

Fatima Uygun, CEO, says: “we are thrilled that Archives Revealed is supporting the cataloguing of Govanhill Baths Archive. This award recognises the national importance of our collections and the powerful story they tell of public health, working-class life and community activism. The funding will safeguard these materials, ensuring they are preserved, accessible and celebrated by communities, schools, researchers and future generations.”

Insole Court Trust / Ymddiriedolaeth Cwrt Insole – £45,797

Project: Insole Court Archive Revealed

Insole Court is a Grade II listed mansion house and gardens in the historic conservation area of Llandaff, Cardiff. Built in 1856, and once a private home for the colliery-owning Insole family, it now serves as a heritage venue, green space and community hub, managed by Insole Court Trust. A dedicated group of volunteers has developed an extensive collection of information and objects relating to the heritage of the family, the estate and its associated uses. Insole Court Archive Revealed is an 18-month project to catalogue and digitise the archive, making it accessible on site and online, including via dedicated events.

Lloyd Glanville, CEO of Insole Court Trust, says: “The archive developed by our dedicated volunteers deserves the care and attention that this funding will bring. We’re very grateful to the funders and excited to begin sharing this wonderful resource with the community who made it possible.”

Leighton House and Sambourne House, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) – £49,539

Project: Unlocking the Leighton House and Sambourne House Archives

Leighton House and Sambourne House are both house-museums owned and run by The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Their extensive archives relate to the lives of its Victorian occupants, Frederic, Lord Leighton PRA* (1830-1896) and Linley Sambourne (1844-1910), as well as the history of the buildings and their collections. This project will provide the expertise needed to access and understand these archives as a resource for engagement and learning, ensuring their preservation and sustainability long-term. A professional archivist will lead on the reappraisal and cataloguing of the undocumented collections, supported by trainees, volunteers and museums staff. An exhibition on the little-known Sambourne archive will also be developed to promote awareness.

Daniel Robbins, Senior Curator at RBKC Museums, says: “the remarkable archives supporting Leighton House and Sambourne House have remained an underutilised resource. It’s wonderful that, through this project, their potential will now be unlocked and this fascinating material can be made accessible fully for the first time.”

*President of the Royal Academy of Arts

London School of Economics and Political Science – £37,606

Project: Charting the journey: cataloguing the Sheba Feminist Publishers archive

The LSE Library is custodian of The Women’s Library, Britain’s oldest and largest library devoted to women’s campaigning and activism. Their project, Charting the journey: cataloguing the Sheba Feminist Publishers archive, will make accessible the records of a pioneering independent publishing collective. As a racially mixed, female-led collective prioritising the voices of Black, working-class, and lesbian writers, Sheba represents an underexplored chapter of radical feminist publishing in late 20th-century Britain. Funding will enable the appointment of a cataloguing officer who will adopt a reflective and participatory approach designed to both maximise discoverability and ensure ethical stewardship of the collection. Engagement activities will include a series of workshops, supported by the Poetry Society, for young writers from underrepresented backgrounds to co-create a zine inspired by the archive.

Anna Towlson, Archives and Special Collections Manager, says: “this project aligns with our commitment to making diverse histories more discoverable and is an exciting opportunity to develop inclusive models of engagement.”

Matt’s Gallery Ltd. – £49,779

Project: The Tardis – 46 years of Matt’s Gallery in 48 boxes

Matt’s Gallery, London, is a contemporary art gallery. It has supported the making of new and innovative work since its foundation by Robin Klassnik OBE in 1979. This grant will transform the gallery’s archive service, creating an overall structure with detailed records of analogue photographic and audio-visual materials, dating back to their first exhibitions, alongside an artist-led engagement programme. Preservation and access will be improved through repackaging and digitisation of key records.

Robin Klassnik OBE, Matt’s Gallery Director and Founder, said: “It started in a few Tesco bags in my bedroom in the 1960s, and it has grown from there. Part of it is in our gallery in London, more in a warehouse in Gloucestershire, some in other nooks and crannies. It needs to be brought into the 21^st century and made accessible. This grant will lay the foundation for this work. I can’t wait to get started!”

National Library of Scotland – £49,460

Project: Reparative Cataloguing:  Revealing the archives of the Church of Scotland World Mission Council

The National Library of Scotland will use their Archives Revealed grant to catalogue the final tranche of records from the Church of Scotland World Mission Council archive.

Since the arrival of its first tranche in 1953, the archive has been used by generations of researchers to uncover the history and impact of Scottish Presbyterian evangelical missions, telling the stories of individual missionaries, and of the communities who adopted Christianity. This support will enable the Library to catalogue records covering the end of the British colonial era and the final years of the Council’s activity. In some locations, the records are the only surviving trace of this shared history.

Amina Shah, National Librarian, says: “This archive is critical to understanding our shared heritage with other countries. We are grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and the National Archives for this funding which presents an exciting opportunity to open the archive to researchers, and to engage with international audiences during the project and beyond.”

Re-Dock Community Interest Company – £49,956

Project: Tim Brunsden’s Video Archive – Saving LGBTQ+ Heritage

Re-Dock CIC is an artist-led collective working across analogue and digital technologies to collaborate with communities in the North West and beyond. This project will secure, and make accessible, a unique LGBTQ+ moving image archive created by filmmaker Tim Brunsden, documenting nearly two decades of arts and activism connected to Liverpool’s Homotopia Festival and queer performance collective Duckie. Building on initial preservation work supported by The National Archives, Re-Dock will fully catalogue the archive to professional standards within the North West Film Archive’s and Bishopsgate Institute’s systems, addressing digital rights and GDPR requirements to ensure ethical public access.

By transforming a vulnerable personal archive into a discoverable national resource, the project will safeguard LGBTQ+ heritage, embed underrepresented voices within the cultural record, and ensure that these stories remain accessible for research, learning and community pride for generations to come.

Hwa Young Jung, Co-Director at Re-Dock says. “We are proud to be part of the long tradition of archiving underground culture, ensuring this perspective of everyday experiences sits alongside landmark events. This will give researchers and future audiences a multi-layered understanding of LGBTQ+ life and culture.”

Royal Horticultural Society – £49,905

Project: Cataloguing The Chelsea Flower Show Archive

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity, dedicated to the science, art, and practice of horticulture. Their Lindley Library houses the country’s most important horticultural archive, including that of the Chelsea Flower Show which, for over a century, has been the definitive showcase of garden excellence. The Flower Show is a staple of the UK social scene and a major media event followed by a global audience. The archive comprises correspondence, catalogues, design plans, photographs, objects, ephemera, leaflets, and administrative documents; an exceptional demonstration of how gardens and their makers have evolved across the 20^th and 21st centuries. With the support of Archives Revealed, the archive will be better documented, preserving records of these spaces and stories for future generations.

Fiona Davison, Head of Libraries and Exhibitions, says “We are delighted to receive this grant from The National Archives, the Wolfson Foundation, the Pilgrim Trust and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, without which this vital project would not be able to take place.”

Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) – £50,000

Project: The Special Collection of Henry Watson

RNCM acts as administrator of Connecting Manchester’s Music Archives (a partnership between the RNCM, MDMArchive, Hallé Concerts Society, and the Henry Watson Music Library) which has secured a grant to help them catalogue parts of the Henry Watson Music Library’s Special Collection. The project will reveal underexplored collections of more than two centuries of music programmes, minute books from some of the city’s oldest musical societies, and unique manuscripts from several of its musical pioneers. The grant will enable the RNCM to recruit a dedicated team who will work to uncover, organise, catalogue, and share core elements of the vast but underexplored stories of some of Manchester’s musical societies, concert series, and notable individuals.

Wiebke Thormählen, Director of Research for RNCM, says: “we are very excited by the opportunities that this Archives Reveal grant affords. The project will lay the cornerstone for significant research, revealing Manchester’s vibrant cultural, musical and social networks of national and international significance.”

University of Edinburgh Development Trust – £50,000

Project: The Last Catch: Surfacing Stories from the Salvesen Whaling Archive

The University of Edinburgh Libraries’ Heritage Collections team will use their grant to reveal intertwined human, environmental, and economic histories from the Archives of Christian Salvesen Ltd. This charts the history of modern industrial whaling based out of Leith, Edinburgh and Leith, South Georgia. The project will employ a dedicated archivist to create a structured, accessible catalogue, review legacy access restrictions, and work with the Living Memory Association, Leith, the South Georgia Heritage Trust, and academic collaborators to connect written records with lived experience and expose climate data.

Daryl Green, Associate Director of Heritage Collections (Research & Curatorial), says: “The Salvesen archive is a complex and significant collection that weaves together Scotland’s maritime heritage, polar exploration and environmental history. We’re delighted to receive support to ensure that these challenging histories are understood and used by researchers and communities alike.”

The University of Hull – £49,874

Project: Hull Truck Theatre Archive

Hull University Archives is a partner in Hull History Centre, where it preserves the University’s own records alongside a wide range of deposited collections. The University Archives will undertake a project to catalogue the records of Hull Truck Theatre which has spent over 50 years telling stories of all human life in Hull, and beyond. The archive reflects its central place in the city’s cultural life and its wide influence elsewhere. The archive includes scripts, production notes, photographs, audio recordings, wardrobe books, and models.

Chris Awre, Executive Director Scholarly Services and University Librarian, says: “Hull Truck Theatre is a jewel in the crown of Hull, and we were delighted to be entrusted with their archive as part of their 50^th anniversary year in 2022. The support from Archives Revealed will enable us to share its many stories and inspire others with a love of theatre.”

University of Leeds – £49,953

Project: Through the Microscope: Revealing the Irene Manton Archive

Cultural Collections & Galleries underpins teaching, research and experiences at the University of Leeds through its rich collections, from manuscripts to art and coins. This project reveals the archives of the renowned botanist, Irene Manton. While celebrated in some scientific circles, her place in international networks is underappreciated, and her practice at the crossover between science and art has the potential to bring traditional archives research closer to STEM engagement, and to inspire new audiences through displays and outreach. This is an archive rich in both written content and visual material, created by a scientist who deserves wider recognition and study.

Jane Gallagher, Director of Cultural Collections & Curatorial Practice, says: “This exciting project reveals Irene Manton’s pioneering work, foregrounding her innovative use of technology and her ability to dissolve the boundaries between art, rigorous science and cultural engagement in the male-dominated realm of mid-twentieth century scientific research.”

Yorkshire Film Archive – £50,000

Project: Presenting Video Vera

Through vital cataloguing, research, and outreach activity, Yorkshire Film Archive at York St John University will unlock a remarkable collection made by Vera Media, a ground-breaking collective founded in Leeds by Catherine Mitchell and Al Garthwaite. In 1985, faced with almost a complete lack of women in the film and television production industry, Vera’s founders were determined to take active steps to change the face of independent film production. The innovative feminist films will be opened up through a series of curated screenings, community co-curated online exhibitions, and publication on our online catalogue.

Megan McCooley, Head of Collections, says: “Vera Media specialized in participatory documentaries, involving and empowering women from different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds to tell their own stories through video. Forty years on, these films will continue to be a catalyst for change.”