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Adapting and learning in a tough year: Highland Archive Centre's Lorna Steele reflects on 2020


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Lorna Steele, Community Engagement Officer
Lorna Steele, Community Engagement Officer

THE start of a new year is a good time to take stock and reflect on the months just past.

2020 did not turn out how any of us imagined and for the Highland Archive Centre this was no different. At the start of the year we had a full programme of events, displays, talks and school visits planned, but it wasn’t long before we had to change tack and adapt. We are really pleased with the outcome – we have developed new programmes and connected with so many people across the world.

February saw the first set of Family History for Beginners classes. These were followed by Archives for Beginners, but we were only two classes in when we had to close. We are really pleased we have now moved these classes online and Anne Fraser has completed two sets of Family History classes via Zoom.

Keep an eye on our website, social media pages and here for dates and information on how to book future classes.

Learn with Lorna has become an extremely popular live talk every Thursday morning at 11am on our Facebook pages.

Hosted by community engagement officer Lorna Steele, the first programme aired on Thursday, April 2, focusing on the importance of diaries and the stories they can contain.

Initially the talks were aimed at children who were suddenly studying at home, but they soon gained a dedicated following of adult viewers – many tuning in each week from overseas.

So far there have been 40 talks in the series (all of which are still available to view on the Highland Archive Service Facebook pages and High Life Highland’s YouTube channel) on subjects including the Jacobites, tales from the asylum, the Clearances and small island communities.

Each year the Highland Archive Centre likes to take part in the annual Doors Open event, inviting members of the public into the building for a look behind the scenes.

Obviously that was one of the plans that had to be cancelled in its usual format but we were able to take part in a virtual Doors Open Day instead. Over the weekend of September 5 and 6, interviews with various members of staff from the four offices that make up the Highland Archive Service were broadcast on our Facebook pages.

It had a great response and provided a glimpse into the different occupations and skillsets that make up the team. The interviews are still available to view on our Facebook pages and Youtube channel.

The team have also been looking ahead to 2021 and we are excited to announce a year of themed social media posts, talks and events. These will incorporate material and collections held across the four offices covering the whole of the Highlands. Keep an eye on our social media channels, website and these articles for more information!

Highland Archive Centre is due to reopen on Monday, January 18. Visits to the centre are by appointment only. Bookings can be made for Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. To make a booking or to enquire about remote archive or family history research please contact us at archives@highlifehighland.com or on 01379 781130.


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