When Fire strikes

This photo, courtesy of University of Cape Town Libraries, shows the recent fire which spread down Devil's Peak mountain to devastate the Jagger Library and its precious contents. The famous Reading Room was destroyed and the Special Collections, housed in the basement, have been damaged by the water that doused the flames. Conservation experts will have to be recruited to direct the salvage operation, given the age and fragility of  the documents and film records, many of which are irreplaceable and reflect South Africa's unique history. 

Seeing the tragic pictures, I was reminded of the times I've come across caches of documents without even the kind of sprinklers, fire doors and protection that the Jagger possessed. Many are at risk - not necessarily from fire - but from a quieter threat: apart from the owner, perhaps no-one knows of their existence or has been charged with ensuring their future. 

Owner-collectors are inspired by love for their subject. When I was researching my first novel, I was referred to an elderly man who had worked for the early railways in South Africa. He had collected timetables and railway records over many years, along with other memorabilia. His home was a treasure trove. But who would take care of this collection in the future? I spoke to the staff at the Cory Library at Rhodes University and I hope that, perhaps, a student may have taken an interest in cataloguing and preserving this unique record. I found a similar situation when researching my second novel. This time the documents had been lovingly curated into a small museum, but its future was dependent on finding a sponsor/curator who would keep the collection going for the next generation to explore. 

In all these cases, the viability of the collection required the spotlight of attention - and the availability of funding to secure its future. 
So... if you happen to find yourself wandering through a tiny museum or private, informal collection, ask about its future and make a donation if you can.
Even a modest contribution could make the difference between preservation and loss.