Project to preserve Scottish Women’s Institute archives given funding boost ahead of Dumfries move

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A project to conserve the Scottish Women’s Institutes’ archives ahead of them being moved to Dumfries has been handed a funding boost.The SWI is working with The Crichton Trust on £15 millions plans to redevelop a former laundry building on the estate into exhibition galleries, workshops, archive rooms and the organisation’s national offices.And now The National Lottery Heritage Fund has handed the SWI a grant of £127,175 to protect and conserve its archive and collection for future generations.SWI’s national president Mary Burney, who lives in the Stewartry, said: “We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery players the nationally significant items in SWI’s care will be saved for future generations to be inspired by and the important role women have played in Scottish society will not go unnoticed.”The archive records women’s role in Scotland’s society for more than a century, illustrating their place at the heart of Scottish communities, their emerging voice and decision-making skills, and their key part in keeping Scottish crafting and cultural traditions alive.The collection was at risk of being lost forever without the funding, which will support work required to conserve thousands of items – including handicrafts, documents, photos and Royal correspondence.The SWI will also be able to train volunteers to collect a series of oral histories from current members to preserve recent history, with these being released as podcasts.The Preserving the Past to Inspire the Future heritage project is being carried out ahead of the SWI’s collection and archive being housed in a new visitor learning centre at the Crichton in 2027.