A nationwide campaign revealing the hidden history of Britain has announced a barrage of talks, exhibitions and workshops for aviation fans after being launched by heritage body the National Council on Archives.
The Take Flight theme is aiming to build on the symbolic status of 2009 – which marks 90 years since the first non-stop transatlantic flight, 40 years since the moon landing, 75 years of UK airmail and the 25th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic’s first air voyage to New York, among other landmarks – to unearth archives from economic and industrial history.
The campaign coincides with the 75th anniversary of airmail. © Royal Mail Group Ltd (2009). The British Postal Museum and Archive
NCA Chairman Geoff Pick said Take Flight was "an imaginative theme open to wide interpretation."
"As well as commemorating industrial, innovative and scientific developments across the country, we are especially celebrating local links with aviation, the flight of people around the world and flights of fancy," he added.
© MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) 2009
They'll be doing this through a diverse, county-crossing programme exploring themes including Basque refugee children in Carshalton, records of the textile industry in Georgian Norwich and the story of a female flyer from Tunbridge Wells who used her dog as a co-pilot.
Wings for Victory, Wigan (1943), is an example of the fundraising targets towns and villages were given to aid plane production capabilities during the war. archiveawareness.com/ pictures
Originally founded in a bid to improve awareness of archives in museums, galleries and libraries, the sixth year of the Archive Awareness Campaign has been centrally organised and funded by the NCA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and The National Archives.
Most of the events currently planned take place this month, but the programme continues in December and more could be added in 2010. Visit the campaign online for full details.
