The adventures of original archives: Bringing documents from the archive into public spaces.

The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), as the official archive for Northern Ireland, has a statutory remit to provide access to the collections they hold. Over the last couple of years, Conservation have engaged in a programme of events to make original documents available throughout Ireland.

Inspired by the joint project with the National Archives, UK and the Northern Ireland Office to tour the Belfast Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, PRONI has developed it’s processes to create a safe environment for original records to be viewed. Last year, this included large events at Parliament Buildings to mark VE Day and the Battle of Britain, local library outreach and the anniversary of a primary school.

In addition, PRONI has reviewed it’s loaning-out procedures in response to increased requests for loans. This has clarified the roles of different business areas and the point at which the loan can be agreed. In 2025, PRONI loaned documents to the Ulster Museum, Ulster American Folk Park, Limavady Museum, North Down Museum and Dublin Castle where PRONI documents had an audience of over 200 000 visitors.

PRONI’s facilitation of this access to original documents is possible through active preventive conservation. The safe conditions are determined by carrying out pre-visits, condition assessments, and working to adaptable display criteria. It has resulted in improved relationships with the host organisations and wider engagement with PRONI’s preservation objectives. The events often include the addition of digital or surrogate material to support and contextualise the archival records.

The public have responded enthusiastically to the discovery that authentic original documents have been made available locally. In particular, with those who may be unfamiliar with PRONI or perceive it as Belfast-centric.

Meet the Speaker

Sarah Graham is Head of Conservation at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) and an accredited book and paper conservator. She graduated from Lincoln University and was an intern at the National Archives of Ireland and Glasgow University. Sarah went on to be a project conservator at Glasgow before moving to The London Archives to work on their Anglo-Jewish collections. She returned to Ireland in 2018 and was book conservator at Maynooth University before taking up her current role at PRONI.

 Holding Space: Collecting, Preserving and Carrying the Troubles and Beyond

The Troubles and Beyond is an evolving programme of engagement at National Museums NI, designed to address the conflict in a meaningful and thoughtful manner that supports transformative, as well as reflective, experiences. Whilst we have a shared past, we don’t always have a shared memory of the past. Events are still contested in terms of meaning, significance and responsibility. Contemporary collecting which represents multiple perspectives allows the museum to utilise the collection for discussion and debate, challenge perceptions, and contribute towards peace and reconciliation. Collecting in a post-conflict society comes with both challenges and opportunities, which we continue to navigate and learn from.   

A case study will focus on attenuating energy projectiles or ‘plastic bullets’ which have been used in the North of Ireland since 1976 resulting in the deaths of 14 people and injuring many more, including men, women and children.  As well as symbols of violence against the civilian population by security forces, these objects hold the personal stories of the people they were used against. Today the Ulster Museum is actively collecting such items to tell their stories. However, the fugitive nature of these objects’ materials makes their preservation and suitability for long term display and handling difficult. How do we preserve objects whose condition is mirrored by their history? 

Back in the gallery, the decision-making process behind keeping certain paper objects on permanent display, that would otherwise be rotated regularly for preventive measures will be discussed.  Examples include objects on current display, and future display of the NI Prison service collection.  Speakers will include reflection on their own lived experiences as children of the cease-fire, and how this influences how they connect themselves with the items they’re working on. Balancing the preservation of the objects against the preservation of memory that occurs when members of the community are expecting to see these items on display.

Meet the Speakers

Rebecca Laverty is a Curator of Modern History at National Museums NI, working with the Ulster Museum collection and covering the period 1500-present day.

Bethany Skuce is an Object Conservator at National Museums NI. She has a primary responsibility for the multidisciplinary History and Art collections of the Ulster Museum.

Harriet Gillespie is the paper conservator for National Museums N. Her remit includes wokring across art, modern history, folk and transport collections.

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This project has been funded by The Heritage Council