Visitor numbers to the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archives and Heritage Service have doubled in the past year, reaching 16,594 visits. The annual report highlights growing engagement with schools, the preservation of hundreds of historic items, and increased digital access to collections.
The service cares for archive and museum collections across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, providing public access to collections, learning opportunities, exhibitions, conservation work and community engagement activities.
Collections and preservation
The service received 109 new items during the year, including historic records, photographs and business archives. The Museum Service accepted 23 new objects into its collections. More than 1,200 museum objects were displayed across sites, including at the Staffordshire History Centre or on loan to other museums including the National Trust's Shugborough Estate.
Schools and learning
Schools and young people have engaged with the centres' learning programme, with 19 school visits and more than 500 pupil contacts through on-site and outreach activities.
Digital growth and community involvement
Online engagement increased by 107 per cent through improvements to websites, collection databases and online indexes.
Volunteers contributed more than 7,000 hours supporting collections care, cataloguing, public access and events. Other highlights included the Staffordshire History Festival, Staffordshire History Day, family events, community displays and five Staffordshire History Network events involving 30 heritage organisations.
Further details can be found at the Staffordshire History website.