Special year for Angus and Dundee Roots Festival
This year's Angus and Dundee Roots Festival is set to include a special celebration, as Angus Archives marks its 21st birthday.
The Tayroots website.
- By Geraldine McKelvie
- Published in the Courier : 30.08.10
- Published online : 30.08.10 @ 07.54pm
The idea of an Angus-wide archive was born in 1989, when Fiona Scharlau was appointed to the new post of Angus archivist.
Her collection of valuable historical documentation relating to the county had become too big for her office at Montrose Library.
Eventually Fiona — now the local authority's senior archivist — moved into the current premises, at Restenneth Priory, Forfar.
She said there had been many exciting developments over the last 21 years — not least the introduction of an advanced IT system that allows all records to be accessed far more easily.
She said, "For example, with the 100th anniversary of the Forfar Baths fast approaching, I've had a few requests for information about the swimming pool's early days.
"Not so long ago, this would have involved spending days going through our collections but now the information is available at the touch of a button."
A special party to mark the milestone will be held at Restenneth Priory on Monday, September 27. For the occasion, staff will be selecting 21 of their favourite items from the archives.
This is expected to include books written by monks who were resident in Arbroath Abbey before the Reformation.
The Angus and Dundee Roots Festival runs from September 23 to 27. For more information, visit www.tayroots.com
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