The Dickson, Archer and Thorp project would be incomplete without its dedicated team of volunteers. Our volunteers come together from across Northumberland to list, digitise and research the collection. They are connected by their love of history and their passionate belief that these documents should be publicly available.
When asked what they most loved about volunteering for the project they said:
“The earliest documents I have handled were dated 1712. To be the first person to have handled these papers in over 300 years is wonderful”
“I feel like I’m actually doing something important and I’m learning about life over a hundred years ago, in the county of my birth. It brings me closer to my ancestors”
“You never know what you will find in a box. There are stories in each bundle of papers. It creates a real connection with the past”
“Being able to access historical documents and contribute to making them public, also meeting new people”
“I am learning so much, not only from the collection but from the people I have met, both staff and volunteers”
The project has seen new friendships grow, skills develop and history revealed.