Project News September 2006

One year into the two year 'Images for All' project, work has already had a significant impact on the conservation and storage of the valuable collections.

Margaret Wilkes and Meg Hunter
with a map from the Cuthbert Collection Within our Early Maps collection we have a particularly stunning collection of 300 early maps bequeathed to us in 2000 by the late Perth solicitor, William Cuthbert. Thanks to the HLF grant, the maps are now stored in appropriate conditions to ensure their preservation for the future. Cataloguing of the Society's large collection of modern maps is ongoing, with the UK maps complete.

Extensive work has focused on cataloguing the Society’s own archive. Within its archive the Society holds material such as: the minutes of the inaugural meeting of the Society; portraits of Council and membership records from the initial setting up of the Centres. The archive also includes a significant collection of Society ephemera including a collection of menus from the Annual Awards Dinner, as well as advertisements and tickets for talks, all documenting the history of the society from its inception in 1884. The catalogue is now complete and can be accessed by the archives link on the left.

The Society holds an extensive collection of photographic materials and in June the project received a visit from photographic conservator, Susie Clarke, who provided training to project and office staff in handling of the Society’s photographic prints, lantern slides and other photographic materials. Susie also advised us on storage issues and selected some items for conservation.