Alberta Research project at Mapperton House named as winner of ARA Archive Volunteering Award 2024
Alberta Research project at Mapperton House named as winner of ARA Archive Volunteering Award 2024
The Archives and Records Association (ARA) is pleased to announce in Volunteers’ Week 2024 that the Alberta Research Project by Mapperton House has won the national ARA Archive Volunteering Award 2024.
The award will be presented at Mapperton House on 5th June by the President of the Archives and Records Association.
The ARA Archive Volunteering Award is given each year to projects which demonstrate how archives have supported volunteers in the previous 12 months. The awards are supported by the Archives and Records Association (who also administer the awards), the UK National Archives, the National Records of Scotland, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and the Welsh Government.
The judging panel (drawn from employees of the supporting organisations) said:
“This was a well-rounded and well run virtual volunteer project and demonstrated good reflections through a detailed ‘lessons learned’ section. Plans for future developments and the use of AI and the ongoing relationship of the volunteers with the project also impressed.”
The Alberta (Sturges) Research Project (ARP) initially aimed to preserve Alberta Sturges Montagu’s, 9th Countess of Sandwich, correspondence at Mapperton House, Dorset. Its scope expanded as additional archives emerged, leading to a fundraising campaign on Buy Me a Coffee. The primary objective was to renovate Mapperton's muniment room for proper archival storage and recruit virtual volunteers to transcribe the letters.
Thirty volunteers formed teams named after White Star Line Ships to transcribe the scanned letters. The letters were categorised and organised on Google Drive. Team Leads monitored this process, maintaining a master spreadsheet tracking each letter's details and ensuring searchable text versions were created.
As the project progressed into 2023, more letters were scanned and distributed to teams. Volunteers collaborated virtually, transcribing, reviewing, and editing letters. The ARP thrives on volunteer dedication in every aspect, which will ensure the preservation and sharing of Alberta Sturges Montagu’s historical legacy.
This research project at Mapperton House delves into the extensive correspondence of Alberta Sturges Montagu, 9th Countess of Sandwich, offering a rich tapestry of history from the Gilded Age to the aftermath of World War II. As they navigate Alberta's letters, the team at Mapperton have identified various target audiences who share a common interest in UK history and significant historical events of the 20th century. From history enthusiasts to academic researchers, educators, students, local community members, tourists, heritage organisations, cultural institutions, media, and special interest groups, the project aims to provide valuable insights and primary source materials that resonate with diverse audiences.
The project's main goal is to digitally preserve and make accessible the extensive correspondence archive of Alberta Sturges Montagu, 9th Countess of Sandwich, illuminating the historical impact of Gilded Age American Heiresses on England's historic houses, society, and philanthropy. This initiative opens private and historically significant collections to a wider audience through meticulous digitisation and transcription, enriching narratives of British and American history.
Julie Montague, Mapperton House, said:
“We are thrilled to have won this award for the Alberta Research Project. This project is a completely innovative model for volunteering, leveraging technology to bring people together from around the world. Not only have we been able to tackle an enormous archiving challenge but we’ve also created life long friendships and connections. We hope our experience will inspire others to do the same.”
You can read the full case study on the project here.
Links to social media channels related to this project:
American Viscountess YouTube Live streams featuring ARP: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanViscountess/streams
American Viscountess main YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AmericanViscountess/
American Viscountess Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/americanviscountess/
Julie’s/American Viscountess Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/juliemontagu
Julie’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliemontagu/
Mapperton Live YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MappertonLive
Mapperton Live YouTube Live Streams (some featuring ARP or conservation of the archives): https://www.youtube.com/@MappertonLive/streams
Mapperton Live Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mappertonlive/about
Thumbnail image shows Julie Montagu with the Alberta Research Project exhibition in the library at Mapperton House. Image courtesy of Mapperton House.