The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) welcomes The Postal Museum this new year, as they become Associate Members of the Coalition.
The Postal Museum, located in London, reveals five centuries of British social and communications history as seen through the eyes of its iconic postal service. The museum cares for the records generated by Royal Mail and Post Office Limited in the UK. These records constitute the business archive of the Post Office since 1637 and hold the status of Public Records under the Public Records Act 1967. The Postal Museum is also developing an archive of records generated by the museum itself. With this remit, The Postal Museum is currently working to develop capacity to transfer and preserve these records in a digital format.
“Joining the DPC demonstrates The Postal Museum’s ongoing commitment to look after our collections in an increasingly digital world, explains Helen Dafter, The Postal Museum’s Archivist with responsibility for Digital Preservation. “Our aim is to collect and preserve material which enables us to explore stories around communication, and to inspire everyone to make richer and more meaningful connections in their lives.”
Chair of the DPC Board and Head of Data Division for STFC, Juan Bicarregui was delighted that The Postal Museum had joined the Coalition, saying:
“As a museum and business archive holding public records, we look forward to learning from The Postal Museum’s particular case study for new ways of working. And, as museums are increasingly generating and acquiring more digital content, digital preservation has become business critical for collections and records management. We are very excited to work with The Postal Museum in this shared mission to safeguard our digital legacy.”
The not-for-profit DPC is an international advocate for digital preservation, helping members around the world to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services through community engagement, targeted advocacy work, training and workforce development, capacity building, good practice and standards, and through good management and governance. Its vision is a secure digital legacy.
About The Postal Museum
The Postal Museum is supported by Royal Mail and Post Office Limited.
The Postal Museum reveals five centuries of British social and communications history as seen through the eyes of its iconic postal service. Alongside permanent exhibition galleries and a temporary exhibition space, Mail Rail, London’s secret Post Office Underground Railway, was opened to the public for the first time in its 100-year history in 2017, including a subterranean ride through some of the original tunnels.
As an independent museum and educational charity, the museum relies on ticketed income and receives no government funding. Donations to support the museum during these uncertain times are encouraged via www.postalmuseum.org/donate
Address: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DA
Website: postalmuseum.org
Newsletter: Sign up at postalmuseum.org/newsletter