The record and memorabilia in school archives management in Pietermaritzburg schools, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

School heritage consists of documents, artefacts and other items such as art work and textiles. Managing these collections in schools is problematic as this heritage is not prioritised and schools are under-resourced. Against this background, this study is concerned with the management of archives and museum collections in selected public and private schools in Pietermaritzburg (PMB), KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. The findings revealed a plethora of issues. Retirees, mostly volunteer mothers, are experienced and self-trained stewards. The surveyed schools are managing both the artefacts and documents and these cannot be divorced from each other as they both tell a story about particular events pertaining to the school’s history. The use of timelines is an innovative idea to appeal to users, as this is eye-catching and part of advocacy, which is interactive within a specific community. A significant trend that emerged is the neglect of archives, which resonates with scholarship on records and archives management in both private and public spaces.