Passing on our Heritage - Milling

Extract from ongoing research compiled by A.H. Burgess.

The dictionary includes in its description of "Heritage", the following:

"That which comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion."
"The culture, traditions and national assets preserved from one generation to another."
The majority of us own something, which can be, sometimes if only loosely, classified as a "Heritage item". Therefore, it is "our" duty to ensure that such items are "passed on" when we no longer have use for them. Whilst most public attention is drawn to buildings which are "Heritage Listed", and artefacts that are suitable for museums and libraries, there are many other items which must be either sold or passed to individuals or organisations when they are no longer required by us.

Very few of us own heritage buildings, however, some are employed in management positions in companies who do own / rent such premises. Such people, have a "duty of care" to involve themselves in ensuring that heritage buildings / structures, and historical documents including photographs are not damaged / lost.

In respect of the Milling Industry, we need to look at the following aspects:

Machinery: When old machines are to be scrapped, I believe we should first establish if any of this type / model is still in existence or has already been "preserved". If not, can you make any arrangements with your management to retain this machine? Unfortunately, in recent years, many companies have gone out of business or amalgamated into larger groups, and as a result much has already been lost. This is a most difficult area, mainly because most milling machines are large and heavy. However, a minimum requirement in this aspect should be to make available to others a number of photographs of a machine plus some technical descriptions, drawings etc.
Photographs: Many mills have kept old photographs, but often these are "hidden / forgotten", also many individuals have such material at home, but also not readily accessible. And some of us, whose father was also a Miller, he may have passed down photographs to members of your family.

What is of utmost importance is the preservation of all photographs, which show some aspect of milling. Unfortunately, few old photographs have the date or other information on the back, and we should always try to correct this major omission. Approximate dates are better than no date.

Documents and similar items: A varied selection of single copies of such material is very useful to future historians, and should be treated in the same manner as Photographs, above.
Much of this material has to be treated as confidential for considerable periods, and permission may be required from the previous owner or his successors before any can be included in displays, or disclosed even to historical organisations. The laws of copyright are also complicated in that you are responsible to ensure that nobody still "owns the copyright" to articles etc.

We know that many have collected such material as "bag tickets" and even brand name bags. Some of this type of material may have a "value" at "collectibles" type sales / auctions, before disposal, please carefully record and even photograph them and make available to historians.

Photographs and old documents: can be copied for storage and also for distribution to others. The advances in computer technology have now made it possible, at reasonable cost, to copy onto Zip high capacity drives or better still onto CD’s. If you don’t have a CD writer, there are now many companies who can offer this service, as unless you have an ongoing need for a CD writer; this is the way to go. A word of warning, large photographs take a massive amount of memory, and therefore it is only practical to reduce all photos to postcard size before storing to memory.
It is unfortunate that this industry does not have a dedicated historical and archive storage organisation that could preserved our history. Therefore, we as individuals need to ensure that suitable and important documents, photographs and hopefully even old machines are "passed on" in such a way as to "be available" to future generations. Without an ongoing commitment in this area, such excellent books as "Clocking on, with Murdoch McLeod, would never have been written.

How do we preserve "our heritage" for future generations?

Carefully, list every item that you currently hold, with its location. Make available to a "preservation’ group.

Clearly mark photo albums, archive boxes etc. with details of contents.

Companies / Organisations: Any company, which has traded for many years, has in time generated a tremendous amount of documents and similar material, and often-successive managers have destroyed much of these in the past. Accounts for taxation purposes are generally destroyed after the statutory period; however; much of this material is of limited interest to historians.
What do historians look for during their research!

Minutes of Board Meetings, which usually give brief details of major events, plus changes to the Board of Directors.

Names of staff, with periods of service and job.

Photographs, a sufficient number of each say 10-year periods or when major changes have taken place.

A selection of paperwork, over the years, including letterheads, forms, sales literature, tickets etc.

Major events such as significant management changes, accidents, fires, and changes to buildings and machinery.

Lists, with basic details, of major contracts executed, including sales to government departments, overseas etc.

How can the above be achieved!

Appoint a staff member, essentially one who has an interest in this aspect, and preferably with some occasional assistance / guidance from a historian / researcher.

Maintain and inventory of all items to be preserved.

Make available suitable storage, ensuring free from damp, vermin etc.

Write guidelines to managers and staff, who can advise the location of documents etc. under their control; and who can then consign items from time to time to catalogue and storage. Example: when changing any documentation, procedures, leaflets, ensure that an examples of the superseded and the new are preserved.

Ensure, by documentation, that all material collected will be maintained by your successors, or if the business is "wound up" or the site no longer used; that a suitable receiver is nominated and aware of the situation.

Note: if you consider establishing a "historical" Web Site, it will not survive without annual service payments.

Private individuals: Make list available to any suitable preservation organisation, with exact transfer instructions in the event of your death. It is desirable to include your instructions either in your Will, or an attached codicil. Consider also, your wife, relatives or others are very often unlikely to realise the "historical value" of such material, and so it "goes in the bin", and "gone forever".
Remember, "today’s trash is tomorrow’s treasure".

If you are interested in this subject, please contact A.H. Burgess through the Australian Technical Millers Association, NSW Division. ware@bigpond.com