Dorset Archives Trust, in conjunction with the Thomas Hardy Society, have announced a series of three fascinating lectures examining different aspects of Hardy’s life and work, all referencing elements of his archival legacy.
Dorchester, Hardy’s Casterbridge, is home to the world’s largest Thomas Hardy archive. It is inscribed by UNESCO in its Memory of the World as a collection of international significance – Dorset History Centre holds 150 boxes of the author’s records, ranging from the original manuscript of The Mayor of Casterbridge through poetry, correspondence, photographs and much more. The challenge is to make the entire collection accessible; currently it is not visible to the outside world due to the lack of a digital catalogue.
Dorset Archives Trust is working hard to raise funds for an archivist to lead an 18-month project, producing a detailed catalogue of the author’s extensive archive. It will then be made freely available to all online, encouraging engagement with Hardy’s life and works through the personal letters, photographs, notes and work he left behind.
The first lecture is on Thursday 9th March 7pm: Thomas Hardy and Charles Darwin: Lives in Letters with Prof. Angelique Richardson and Dr Paul White.
- You can find details of all three lectures here – all are via Zoom, and cost £10 each, or £25 for the series of three.
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