Community archives

Community archives are collections of material that epitomise a community's understanding of its identity and history. They are those collections of archives that seek to represent the broad spectrum of people that make up our society. The East Midlands is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the country and MLA East Midlands encourages the acquisition of archives from different community groups and the promotion of the use of archives by those groups who are not traditional users of archives.

Regional initiatives include:

Northamptonshire Black History Association

NBHA is a community-led organisation established in 2005 in order to continue with the work of the Northamptonshire Black History Project by recording and promoting the histories and stories of Northamptonshire's black communities throughout the last 500 years and beyond. To this end, the association undertakes three main activities: historical research, community archiving and the recording of oral history.

Northamptonshire Record Office has received several collections of community archives through the project and these have been preserved for the use of present and future generations of researchers. Oral history interviews recorded by the project are also available through two audio booths at the record office.

East Midlands Oral History Archive

EMOHA has collected, preserved and catalogued existing oral history collections originating from the East Midlands, as well as generating new interviews through its own interviewing programme and, through providing advice, training and support to groups and individuals has enabled them to record their own histories.

Leicestershire Villages is an online community for residents of, and visitors to, Leicestershire. Information is submitted to the website by local residents and members of the community. EMOHA has submitted oral histories to the website for several Leicestershire villages.

For more information on EMOHA and its work, visit the above links or our Film and sound archives pages.

National Initiatives:

Community Archives Development Group

CADG aims to monitor and inform developments in the field of community archives and to act as an expert body on best practice in this area. The group brings together bodies and organisations concerned with community archives and provides a forum for the regular exchange of views and information.

CASBAH

www.casbah.ac.uk is a website for research resources relating to Caribbean studies and the history of Black and Asian peoples in the UK.