Dorset History Centre projects: Thomas Hardy Archive project

Thomas Hardy’s archives consist of 150 boxes of material held at Dorset History Centre (DHC). These include such jewels as the manuscripts of The Mayor of Casterbridge and Under the Greenwood Tree along with thousands of other items created by Hardy or those he knew – including 4,000 letters. DHC, supported by its charitable arm Dorset Archives Trust wishes to make this hugely important collection available to the wider community. Important stakeholders include Dorset Museum, the Thomas Hardy Society, the National Trust and the University of Exeter.

We have calculated that we require an 18-month contract for the Project Archivist in order to complete the cataloguing of the Hardy archive. 

The Project Archivist will work alongside DHC’s professional services team of 3 Archivists, the Conservator and the Community Engagement Officer. There will be regular engagement with stakeholders and funders to update on progress and ensure that the project timetable is maintained. Volunteers are an essential part of the project plan. We hope to be able to bring in one or more of the former honorary curators from Dorset Museum. 

We have clear, recent evidence of a strong interest in Hardy and the subjects he evoked – the 2022 Wessex Museums Partnership’s 5-site Hardy exhibitions which drew heavily on archival content attracted nearly 30,000 people and a further 7,000 digital visitors. DHC fields many enquiries about Hardy, but at present we sometimes struggle to establish whether there are relevant items with the archive.

The creation of a full online catalogue will meet a key demand from the worldwide community of Hardy readers, researchers and academics and provide the key access point for anyone newly attracted to the author. However, we can do much more to encourage and inspire use both in physical and digital form across the arts, heritage and academic sectors and for the content to be deployed to stimulate creative and novel responses to Hardy, his life and work. 

Bringing together stakeholders in the early stages of this project will enable DHC to nurture collaboration between Hardy enthusiasts of all types and levels. We propose to hold a hybrid event attended by representatives of academia, our local communities, arts and heritage partners, Dorset writers and specific demographics. Taking a facilitator role, we will encourage all parties to enjoy some well-presented examples of Hardy’s work and bring their imaginations and needs to the task of suggesting ways to use the materials with their own interest groups. 

The project will be a departure point for many, varied approaches to enjoying and understanding Hardy and his legacy as well as encouraging visitors to Dorset to come and spend time (and money) in the county.