By Rebecca Keddie
As part of my MA in Archives and Record Management, I got the opportunity to spend two weeks on placement at Lambeth Palace Library. Having spent the last six months learning archival theory, and becoming familiar with best practice guidance, I was keen to put that theory into practice, and gain some real world experience.
I was tasked with cataloguing a sub-series of the Carey Papers. These are the papers of George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury 1991-2002 and the associated cataloguing project is one of the biggest ongoing projects at the library. The subseries I was given were the papers relating to the Ecumenical visits the Archbishop undertook in 1995, and my job was to create a record for each file on CALM, the library’s cataloguing software. CALM was new to me, and it took a little while to get to grips with the software, but by the end of the two weeks it had become second nature, and I felt like a complete CALM professional! To catalogue the collection I had to assign each file an order number and title, before filling in details such as the location, date, and description. Finally, I had to repackage the files, removing them from their original folders and boxes, and placing them instead in archival quality alternatives.
Producing the description was the trickiest part of the task. The volume of material meant that it was not possible to read and describe each item in detail, and summarising the contents in a way that would be helpful to future researchers could be quite challenging. I also found myself getting absorbed by the stories of the records. The accumulated correspondence, itineraries, briefing notes, and draft speeches, all provided a fascinating insight into the operations of the Archbishop’s office. It was compelling to see an Ecumenical visit grow from a letter of invitation, into a meticulously scheduled trip. As all the Archbishop’s papers are closed for at least thirty years after their creation, it will not be until 2026 that the files I worked on will be accessible via the public catalogue. However, it is exciting to think that a future researcher may benefit in a small way from my work on this placement.
I learnt a lot about the cataloguing process from my time at the library, as well as gaining an appreciation for the level of administrative work it takes to organise an Ecumenical visit! However, beyond my assigned task, I was also able to spend time learning about the many wonderful goings on at Lambeth Palace Library. I am extremely grateful to all the staff who took time out of their day to show me around the library and palace grounds, and talk to me about their work. During the two weeks I was able to: join a library tour; sneak a peek at some of the library’s treasures; visit the Collections Care studio to hear about the amazing work of the conservators; and say hello to Mishka, the palace cat! Furthermore, because my placement coincided with the King’s coronation, I was lucky enough to see the Coronation Bible arrive at the library. All in all, I had a fantastic two weeks, and I am very grateful to everyone at Lambeth Palace Library for the opportunity, and for being so welcoming and friendly.
A Monument of Fame 