Archive and Museum Collection
Each month, we’ll be sharing stories from the collections at Newham Heritage Centre. From rare photographs to historic objects to documents, our archive and museum collections reveal the rich, diverse history of the borough and its communities.
This regular feature highlights newly catalogued items, special finds, and fascinating pieces of local heritage — offering a glimpse into Newham’s past through the collections we care for.
Phases
September
Our archivists attended the UK Archive and Records Association’s annual conference in Bristol. This year’s theme -- Next Generation: Innovation and Imagination in Record Keeping.
Discussions focused on sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion. We joined a wide range of talks, covering topics such as the ethical use of AI, online accessibility of collections, digital preservation, repatriation, trauma and emotions in archives, and even storing historical data in vaults in the Arctic.
We also visited We Are Curious, a Bristol-based museum exploring science in creative and inclusive ways. The image here shows their RoboThespian, an interactive robot programmed to answer questions about life and the world we live in.
We have returned inspired and eager to bring fresh ideas into the Heritage Centre.