That was really just a guess. So this week I decided to actually check. And the number I got was 39,242. Though that's probably not completely accurate. Because I think I have a few duplicates in there. On the other hand, some of those documents are PDF files with multiple images. Which would add another 3,000 or so. The real number is probably at least 43,000.
Which is a shitload of material. Luckily, I've been accumlating this material for almost 20 years. And I've had the chance to process a fair proportion of it. Though I've still records that I harvested over ten years ago that I haven't touched yet.
In the early days, I'd immediately extract the information I'm interested in immediately after returning from the archive. I've since had to be more focused. Processing only the records which are relevant to projects I'm currently working on. For example, during my last visit to the Scottish Brewing Archive, I collected Lorimer & Clark records from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. I've no plans to look at them anytime soon. Records from 1880 to 1914 take precedence.
I've been contemplating recently what I'll do with all this material after my death. Or, rather, what will be done with by others. It would be a real shame if it were to be lost. Martyn Cornell's passing earlier this year has really concentrated my mind. My plan is to make all my images and spreadsheets public before I die. Assuming that I get some warning of that tragic event.
And on that happy note, I'll end.
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