The histories of Yorkshire folk great and small will be brought to life when North Yorkshire County Record Office throws open its doors to the public as part of the national Museums at Night festival.
The Archives at Dusk event offers a rare opportunity to see behind the scenes and discover the amazing historic records of North Yorkshire housed within the Record Office. This will be the seventh year the Record Office has taken part in Museums at Night, which aims to inspire new visitors to discover the fascinating heritage on their doorstep.
This year, Archives at Dusk will showcase the lives of the many varied Yorkshire folk whose personal histories are held in the archives. From artists to alum miners, coastguards to conscripts, there will be someone of interest to everyone.
To bring the archive to life, the Richmond Georgian Theatre will tell the story of Samuel Butler, impresario and founder of theatres throughout the North. Scarborough Museums will recreate the Scarborough Pageant of 1912 through an exhibition, replica costumes and life-size cut-outs.
There will be an opportunity for visitors to try their hand at self-portraiture with local artist Wendi New, snap a silhouette selfie or be transported into a historic photograph.
Margaret Boustead, Head of Archives and Records Management, said: “Archives at Dusk is a creative event and a highlight of the Record Office year, a light-hearted, interactive evening.
“This year we’ll be showcasing the many individuals our customers have researched over the years, telling their life stories and showing the documentary evidence used to piece these together.”
Archives at Dusk will take place on Thursday, 18 May, from 6pm to 8.30pm at North Yorkshire County Record Office in Malpas Road, Northallerton, DL7 8TB. Admission is free and includes light refreshments. Booking is not necessary and free parking is available on site and nearby.
For further information, visit the website, www.northyorks.gov.uk/archives, or call 01609 777585. Keep up to date with County Record Office news on Twitter, @nyccarchives.