Christ Church Archive achieves prestigious accreditation
On Friday 15 November, following many hours of meticulous work by Archivist Judith Curthoys, the Christ Church Archive received Archive Service Accreditation for the first time. With fewer than one in 10 archives securing this status, acquiring accreditation is a remarkable achievement for a single archivist working independently. Judith let us know how it was done.
After 30 years in the Archive at Christ Church, it seemed time to apply for Archive Accreditation. Not least because colleagues at New and Lincoln Colleges had just achieved this! The scheme, administered by a panel made up of representatives from the Archives and Records Association (the archivists’ professional body), and the four national archives, has been running for 10 years now and aims to define good practice and agreed standards for archive services across the UK.
Applying for accreditation meant filling in a long and complex form covering all aspects of the job including Organisational Health, Collections and collection management, and Engagement with stakeholders. It is necessary to prove that there are policies, procedures, and plans in place for the management of the archive; that there is support of all sorts (not just financial) from the organisation as a whole, particularly its governing body; that the buildings that house the archive are up-to-scratch and cared for; that the collection is well cared for, including having conservation plans and emergency procedures in place; and ensuring that the archive is open and available to all potential users.
It is a real feather in Christ Church’s cap to achieve this. There are around 2,500 archive services of all shapes and sizes across the UK and only 200 or so have been accredited.
It is a real feather in Christ Church’s cap to achieve this. There are around 2,500 archive services of all shapes and sizes across the UK and only 200 or so have been accredited.
Once the form was filled in, sent off, and appraised by the accreditation panel, the next, and rather scary thing, to happen, was the validation visit. Three archivists arrived for a full day of inspection and questions. It wasn’t just me, either; the Dean and the Treasurer volunteered to be interviewed to reassure the validation team that the archive here is valued and used.
The validation team reported to their accreditation panel which announced in July this year that Christ Church archive service had been awarded accreditation. Last Friday (15 November) we had a small party to celebrate the award and the handing over of the vital certificate. The Dean and the Treasurer attended along with other friends and colleagues in Christ Church, and two fellow college archivists, Michael Stansfield from New College and Faye McLeod from Balliol College.
It is a real feather in Christ Church’s cap to achieve this. There are around 2,500 archive services of all shapes and sizes across the UK and only 200 or so have been accredited. Much credit must go to everyone who takes care of me and the building: the Dean, the Treasurer, the House Surveyor, the Clerk of Works, the Housekeeping team, the porters, colleagues in the Library, and my associate college archivist colleagues, all of whom are endlessly supportive.
I am thrilled to bits by the award; after 30 years of work – first in the underground horridness of Blue Boar 4 and now in the wonderful C15 Brewhouse – it is fabulous that the archive is recognised both inside and outside these beautiful walls.
The Archive is open to all those who have an interest in the history of the College, the Cathedral, the estates, and all the men and women who have worked and studied at Christ Church. Learn more about its contents here.
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