News: History of telecommunications in the UK to be digitised in New Connections project
A digitised online version of BT’s physical archive is to be created – including almost 500,000 photographs, documents and correspondence preserved over 165 years.
Coventry University, in partnership with BT and The National Archives, has been awarded almost £745,000 by UK funding agency JISC to launch the New Connections project to digitise, catalogue and develop a searchable online archive.
The BT Archives collection details the history of Britain’s leading role in the development of telecommunications technology and its impact on society, and has been recognised by UNESCO as being of international importance.
David Hay, head of heritage for BT, said: “We are delighted to be working with Coventry University to make BT’s fascinating archives more widely available for research and enjoyment.
“New Connections is an ambitious and exciting venture that will use our combined technology and expertise to greatly enhance access, learning and preservation of the history of the world’s oldest communications company, and very much in keeping with BT’s published Heritage Policy and BT’s commitment to transform the way people work, play and connect.”
It is among 23 projects to gain funding for digitisation projects after JISC received 109 bids from UK higher education establishments.
Coventry University’s director of research and New Connections project director Professor Neil Forbes said: “This project will enable academic, heritage and digital technology specialists at Coventry University and at BT Heritage to bring their knowledge and expertise to the challenge of opening the collection for academic and public engagement and enjoyment.”
More information on the project and its progress can be found at www.coventry.ac.uk/newconnections
Learn more about BT Archives in our partner museums section.
