Aerial Reconnaissance Archive moves to Edinburgh

This might be of interest to you, from the Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry society.

“The National Archives, Keele University and the Royal Commission on the
Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) have joined forces to secure the future long-term preservation and continued development of the aerial reconnaissance archive.

This internationally important archive of Second World War Allied and German
aerial photographic imagery – latterly extended by the addition of more
recent Ministry of Defence material – has been in the care of Keele
University for some 45 years. During this time the content has expanded and
the University has begun to facilitate public access through the provision
of finding aids and the creation of a dedicated website.

However, the University has always faced the problem that the storage it is
able to provide for the Archive is not ideal and this has limited access to
it. It has therefore been agreed that Keele is not best placed to
accommodate this resource in the long term. It has been recognised that the
clarity of the details, precisely dateable information, and comprehensive
cover of this unique historical imagery, is not only a fundamental resource
for the landscape historian, archaeologist, and those researching the
natural and built environment. It is a significant, irreplaceable and
unique component of a shared European heritage.

As such, the complete archive will move to Edinburgh, where it will be in
the care of RCAHMS, which has a long track record of effective archive
management of large collections of aerial photography, and is a world leader
in the delivery of heritage information and digital imagery on-line.
RCAHMS already holds collections of Royal Air Force and Ordnance Survey
aerial imagery.

The aerial reconnaissance archive will, in the longer term, benefit from an
infrastructure already in place at RCAHMS: secure and environmentally stable
storage, preservation and collection care facilities, in-house photographic
and digital imaging expertise, extensive cataloguing capabilities, public
search facilities, remote access delivery, and promotion through established
education and outreach functions. Facilities for display and exhibition of
original materials are also planned.

To facilitate this move, the current Keele University public service
delivery will cease at the end of 2007. The move will commence in early
2008 and be completed within six months. As the whole collection has to be
moved, there will inevitably be times when it is not available. However,
all three parties will be working together to ensure that the move proceeds
as quickly as possible and that the period of disruption is kept to a
minimum.

All parties have been careful to consult experts in the field of aerial
photography, before embarking on this project. The National Archives, Keele
University and RCAHMS share a commitment to long-term preservation,
enhancing public service delivery and developing the research potential of
the aerial reconnaissance archive.

Alison Webster
Head of Strategic Development
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 4DU, UK

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

********************************************
The Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society
c/o School of Geography
University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham NG7 2RD
UK”

I apologise if it has already been posted, I couldn’t find it.