Staffordshire’s Archives and Heritage launch LGBTQ+ History Project

Staff from Staffordshire County Council Archives and Heritage Service took part in Stafford’s first-ever Pride event where they introduced their new ‘Pride in Our Past’ LGBTQ+ Community History Project.

The ‘Pride in Our Past’ history project will champion diversity and inclusion; documenting lived experiences and expanding LGBTQ+ representation across their collections. It also aims to preserve LGBTQ+ histories for current and future generations to enjoy and learn from.

From left to right: Louise Jutton (library staff), Dawn Jutton (Staffordshire Poet Laureate), and Ben Cunliffe (archives and heritage staff). 

COLLECTIVE, which is part of the ‘Pride in Our Past Project’, will be responsible for collecting and sharing LGBTQ+ histories; bringing together ephemera items “that speak to the histories of LGBTQ+ communities across Staffordshire, preserving these vital stories for now and the future,” explains a press release from the Staffordshire History Centre.

Items of interest include: posters, pins/badges, letters, clothing, photographs, or anything with a link to LGBTQ+ past or present.

For anyone who has questions about donations, items they would like to donate or the archiving process, they can contact hannah.grangesales@staffordshire.gov.uk.

The team who joined the pride parade on Saturday 10th August with their mini float also took the opportunity to spread the message that everyone is welcome at the soon-to-be-open Staffordshire History Centre. The new Staffordshire History Centre, on Eastgate Street in Stafford is due to open later this year.

The project will incorporate Staffordshire Record Office and the heritage building that formerly housed the William Salt Library. A four-storey extension will allow for 50 more years of archives storage, while a modern exhibition space will give visitors the chance to explore the collections. Both the LGBTQ+ project and the history centre are being funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund which has provided £4,858,699 towards the new centre.

Victoria Wilson, Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for Communities and Culture said: “We’re determined to make our service as inclusive as possible and as part of the Staffordshire History Centre project, we’ll be working closely with communities to diversify our archive and museum collections and create new content for the History Centre when it opens later this year. “The project and our new history centre are being funded by the Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players and we’re extremely grateful for the funding.”