An award from the Archives Revealed programme will help the John Innes Historic Collections plan for the future of a unique archive documenting more than a century of pioneering scientific research.
This September, the John Innes Historic Collections was awarded a competitive scoping grant from the Archives Revealed programme. Archives Revealed is the only grant programme in the United Kingdom dedicated to cataloguing and unlocking archival collections. The programme is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Pilgrim Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and The National Archives. Its goal is to ensure that significant archive collections—representing the lives and perspectives of people across the UK—are made accessible for public research and enjoyment.
The John Innes Foundation is committed to preserving and sharing the scientific heritage that has grown from John Innes’ legacy. The Foundation welcomes this latest investment in the Historic Collections, which will help safeguard more than a century of scientific history and explore new opportunities for education and public engagement.
The unique historic records in the Institute’s Archive capture over 100 years of groundbreaking research in plant science, genetics and microbiology, giving important insight into developments which have shaped our crops, growing methods, health and medicine. The archive contains research data, correspondence, public communications and photographs, as well as VHS tapes, floppy discs and other storage media. It attracts research enquiries and visitors from around the world, and is essential for helping us to understand the development and context of science in the twentieth century.
This project, The Roots of Plant Science, will fund a specialist consultant to visit and assess the archive, before preparing a report on its management, significance and potential. This will provide vital information for ensuring a safe and efficient relocation as part of the Next Generation Infrastructure project, as well as a deeper understanding of the archive’s potential to support the Foundation’s Education Programme. We hope it will also highlight any gaps in the historic record, informing the development of future collecting strategies.
This project marks significant progress towards our aims of improving collections management, supporting communications and education, and increasing the archive’s impact. It will help us preserve and promote the history of scientific knowledge in support of bioscience research, engagement and learning.
Professor Cristóbal Uauy, Director of the John Innes Centre said:
“This archive captures the stories of curiosity and collaboration that lie behind our work and underpin many of our modern discoveries. This project is a crucial step in our long-term plan for this unique resource, and we are excited to gain a deeper understanding of opportunities for sharing our heritage through public engagement and learning.”
