Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum

My visit to the Imperial War Museum was focused on collecting research about the organizations involvement in the preservation of information about American servicemen. Especially those serving in England during the two World Wars. I was able to make an appointment in the research room. My goal was to view the administrative records of the museum in terms of how the organization started and where they get the material to exhibit. When I originally searched the museum library catalog I focused my attention on artifacts relating to America and American servicemen during World War I and World War II. On the day of my appointment I was fortunate enough to be in the building at the same time as the museum archivist which was a true stroke of luck as the material I wanted to view was housed by the archives and generally needs a separate appointment. The archivist took the time to listen to what I was looking for and gathered material for me. She also made suggestions for material in the library next door. While she searched for papers pertaining to my requests, I went over to the library to view the Annual Reports of the museum.

In the library I was assisted by the librarian who located the reports and found me a table to work at. In the library you are not permitted to photograph the material. It was such an amazing find in terms of my research. The annual reports I was able to view were from the inception of the organization in 1917 through 1924. It was fascinating looking through the documentation of how and why the museum was created. I took copious notes for my research purposes which was wonderful, but even more so was the understanding I gained of how much value this organization placed on representing everyone who served or aided the war efforts whether they were from The United Kingdom or not. The annual reports included names of those on the administration, departments within the museum, lists of donations and where they came from, and statistics relating to the operations of the museum. The knowledge I gained from these bound volumes was priceless in terms of getting a true sense of the goals of the museum.

Once I returned to the research room I was greeted with a cart holding several boxes of archival material. I had purchased a photography pass earlier in my visit that would allow me to photograph the documents contained in the boxes. I was given one box at a time and able to look through the material at a work station. What I found when I took out the folders of papers surprised me. Inside was the correspondence between museum staff and various individuals from organizations discussing the loan or donation of material for the museum. Some of these organizations were United States Military, Embassy personnel, and individuals with information about ancestors who participated during wartime. In some cases there were multiple copies of the same document so it was difficult to know which one, if any, were the original. Despite that confusion, the information within the correspondence was completely preserved. It was my first experience conducting research with archival material. I could not be more grateful to the staff of the IWM library and archives. I came in not knowing entirely where to start and they helped guide me to the most useful information. It was an incredible experience and helped me build confidence as a researcher.

Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park

Bletchley Park is the site of a once secret code breaking facility in England. The park became home to cypher and codebreakers during World War II. The personnel employed here helped decipher German and Japanese messages being transmitted in code, allowing the Allied Forces to intercept important communications. It is also the site of the creation of the first computer, Colossus. The park is considered the birth of the information age. The dedication and endless hours of work put in went unrecognized because this facility, for all intents and purposes, did not officially exist. The code breakers would work in their designated department, socialize in the the common areas, and travel by train back and forth from home. Everything was strictly confidential. Even those working at the park could not discuss their departments work with others working on different assignments. Secrecy was a vital part of the work being performed.

The trip to Bletchley Park felt like a truly unique experience. It has gained notoriety in the last few years after the release of the feature film "The Imitation Game". I had seen the film but was in no way prepared for the magnitude of the park. It is like it's own little city. It's hard to imagine being in such an isolated situation with the fate of a nation resting on your ability to create new technology and understand something as complex as cyphers and codes. As a student of the information profession it is humbling to study the work of such a dedicated team of individuals. Especially knowing they did not receive true recognition for the role they played in securing victory and an end to the vicious war being waged on their own soil and abroad. The innovations that were created by individuals such as Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman, and Tommy Flowers are astonishing. It was so exciting to tour the exhibits that display the work being done behind closed doors.

The technological aspect of Bletchley Park is astounding to me. When I viewed the instruments the employees were working with it was difficult to understand that what I was looking at would one day transform into the devices of our technological age. It's hard to imagine a time when there was no internet, word processing, email, or social media. To have been at the forefront of that technology, especially while working towards protecting the men and women serving during wartime is truly impressive. It takes a special kind of person to dedicate themselves to something, knowing they may never be recognized for the work they so strenuously performed. I feel so lucky to have been able to walk the grounds of the park and see the inner workings.