http://www.inverclyde.gov.uk/news/2013/aug/unique-world-war-one-poster-collection-go-online/
A unique collection of original WWI posters will be given a new lease of life thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £51,300.
Around 300 posters were collected by Inverclyde Council’s McLean Museum during the First World War and immediately afterwards.
Assistant Curator Vincent Gillen said: “From 1914 the secretary of the museum Thomas Thomson had the foresight to write to the High Commissions and Embassies of the countries fighting against the Germans and their allies asking for examples of posters. He was sent recruitment adverts and propaganda posters from Britain, France and Ireland as well as material from America and Canada. Some are very rare and all of them are in near perfect condition as they were sent directly to the museum and have been safely stored away ever since. It really is a unique collection and one that I am sure will be very popular when it is available online.”
The digital poster collection will be a key part of Scotland’s commemoration of next year’s centenary of the start of the Great War.
Inverclyde’s Communities Vice Convener Councillor James McColgan said: “Communities in Inverclyde like many parts of Scotland were torn apart by the events of the First World War. The country lost a generation in a little over four years and next year’s centenary commemorations give us the chance to remember the sacrifices made and how they shaped our country today.
This incredible collection shows the vast range of messages being promoted in the lead up and during the conflict from recruitment posters urging men to join up and promotional posters calling for people to help fund the fighting through war bonds. There is even a collection of rare German propaganda posters.
The artwork and message of these posters reflect a different time and by being able to make them available online we can share this fascinating glimpse into that conflict with generations to come.”
The project will digitise the collection of over 300 posters. A collection of local newspapers from that period is also set to be digitised. A blue heritage plaque will be placed at the site of the Greenock headquarters of the 1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Inverclyde was traditionally an important recruiting area for the regiment.
Colin McLean, Head of HLF Scotland, said “Saving our historic archives is important as they provide such a valuable resource for anyone wanting to explore their past. This First World War collection is bursting with images that give us clues about what life was like and how that has shaped us into what we are today.”
Workshops will be arranged and there’ll also be displays in Inverclyde’s McLean Museum in Greenock.
A play based on the letters sent back home from soldiers serving in the Battle of Gallipoli will be produced and performed in the museum and in local community centres. There will also be a leaflet produced and a special tour programme created of WWI graves.
As well as the large collection of posters, the online website will also include muster rolls and residents will also be able to upload their own memories and photographs to add to the collection.
Inverclyde Council’s McLean Museum is based in Greenock.
About the Heritage Lottery Fund
Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. To date it has invested over £500 million in Scotland’s heritage. Website: www.hlf.org.uk
HLF support:
The McLean Museum and Art Gallery was awarded a grant of £51,300 to explore the First World War from an Inverclyde perspective.
HLF supported this exciting project as it will help the local community to learn about their heritage, recording oral histories, gathering archive material and creating a play based on letters sent during the war.
Heritage walks and graveyard tours will show the impact of the war in the area, and a new digital resource will make the material available to a wide audience. Memorial panels will be erected in each project area, celebrating Inverclyde’s role in the war, and the project will culminate in an exhibition in 2014.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has a range of funding programmes available for projects interested in exploring the legacy and impact of the Great War.
A new programme First World War: Then and Now was recently launched offering grants from £3,000 – £10,000, while larger grants are available through other programmes. More information can be found at www.hlf.org.uk/firstworldwar .
The Heritage Lottery Fund recently announced the first awards under the First World War programme www.hlf.org.uk/news/Pages/FirstWorldWarCentenaryOneYearToGo.aspx