2025 - November and December - page 17
Image details
| Issue number | 404 |
|---|---|
| ISSN | 2632-7171 |
| Publication date | 1st November 2025 |
| Transcription |
Features magazine A collection of badges, pins and other branded objects. Reproduced with permission of West Sussex Record Office Phase 1: HIV records in archive repositories The first phase of the project was a survey of HIV records in archive repositories and was conducted between January and May 2023. Information was found through a combination of searching online catalogues, historical literature and online resources. It was also received from archive services directly through a questionnaire circulated on relevant listservs and email correspondence. This phase of the project revealed some interesting and encouraging information, showing that there is a large volume of HIV and AIDS archive material held across the UK heritage sector. The survey found 2,270 archive records, held in 120 heritage services, and collections continue to be deposited. Between 2009 and 2020, 41 collections were recorded on The UK National Archives accession register. Of the archive institutions surveyed, 75% said that they were interested in acquiring more. However, what was found in the survey is likely to be the tip of the iceberg as the survey determined that there was more material held in UK archives which is currently uncatalogued, often due to concerns about Data Protection and other sensitivities. The results from this first phase showed that some areas are particularly strong in terms of subject matter or representing certain groups, such as white gay men or the national response during the AIDS crisis years in the late 1980s. Other demographic groups were less represented, such as black and Asian communities, the trans community and women. Surprisingly there were fewer records than anticipated for other historically affected communities, such as IV drug users and people living with blood disorders. Phase 2: HIV records in private hands The second phase of the project involved identifying and contacting private individuals and organisations, who potentially held relevant records. This was 17 |