Joint collections statement
Mission statement
Staffordshire Archives and Heritage includes the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service and the County Museum Service. It also looks after the William Salt Library for the charity that runs it.
The Staffordshire Archives and Heritage's job is to find, collect, and keep important archives and museum items about the lives and work of people in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. It also cares for the archives of the Diocese of Lichfield. This helps protect history and supports the national network of archives and museums.
Our vision
We want to help people discover the stories and history of Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, and beyond.
Our mission
We connect people to the memories of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent by sharing the collections we look after now and for the future.
Why this statement matters
This statement explains what we collect and why for the Archive Service, the William Salt Library, and the County Museum Service. It also shows what is most important for “Active Collecting.”
The Staffordshire History Centre project gives us a chance to collect in a more planned way and work with others. This will help us make sure our collections include many different voices and show life in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, past and present.
Each service has its own policy for collecting to meet different needs.
Archives
The Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service looks after old records about life in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Its job is to find, collect, and keep these records safe, so people can use them now and in the future.
- Staffordshire Record Office collects records about the County of Staffordshire.
- Stoke-on-Trent City Archives collects records and local history about the City of Stoke-on-Trent.
There are plans and policies that explain what we collect and why.
William Salt Library
The William Salt Library is a charity. Its goal is to help people learn by keeping books, letters, pictures, and other items about Staffordshire. The library has its own policy about what it collects.
County Museum Service
The Museum Service is part of Staffordshire County Council. It looks after objects about Staffordshire’s history, including farming, schools, shops, transport, childhood, clothes, health, hobbies, and more. It also has an art collection. The museum has a policy that explains what it collects.
Active Collecting
Each service has its own collecting priorities, but they also work together to collect things about:
- Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Eastern European communities in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Oral history (people’s stories)
- Different parts of Staffordshire (East, North, and South)
- Big events that affect people’s lives, like COVID-19 (2020) and the war in Ukraine (2022)
The services will work with others to find and collect these items.
