Limmud Needs You!
We are creating an archive that documents the 44-year history of Limmud. From its earliest conceptions as an adult-education conference, into a globally recognised pioneer of cross-communal Jewish learning, Limmud has positively impacted the lives of those who have participated over those 44 years. We are now seeking to develop the archive as a permanent record of Limmud’s achievements and the cultural phenomenon that it has become.
By making our records accessible and open, we are supporting Limmud in preserving a history that is valued, celebrated and shared.
However, our records are incomplete. There are many gaps, which is why we need your help. If you’ve played a part in Limmud’s story, either as an organiser, a volunteer, or a participant, then you might have material that could contribute to the archive and help tell the Limmud story to future generations.
What We Need
We’re looking to add records to the archive that relate directly to the organisation of, and participation in, Limmud activities across its history. Examples of records that could be considered for inclusion in the archive include session material (e.g. presentation slides, videos, audio, papers and objects/recordings relating to performances and exhibition). Evidence of participation in Limmud activities could also include notes, feedback and correspondence relating to the development and delivery of the activities.
Known Gaps in the Archive
Festival Programmes
We don’t have programmes for Limmud 1984, 1988 and 1989. It’s highly likely that copies of the programmes from these years are amongst papers held by those that attended.
Governance and Financial Records
Other records, including financial reports and files from the 1980s and 1990s are scarce, along with Annual Reports and Reviews for the same period. Agendas and Minutes of board meetings are also scarce. If you served as a board member, or participated significantly in Limmud during this time, then you may have material the archive is missing.
Is My Stuff Important?
You might have papers and other records in your files, or in a box in the attic. How do you know if they contain records that could fill gaps in the Limmud archive? It all depends on how and why you have those records. Here are a few examples…
Example 1: Limmud Presenter
If you’ve participated in a Limmud activity, either as an organiser, or as a presenter, then any records you’ve held on to relating to that activity could be important to include in the archive. Content you created as a presenter, such as slides, or even recordings and photographs of your presentation, could be of interest to future researchers.
Example 2: Limmud Volunteer
If you’ve been involved in organising a Limmud event, then any documents that you have kept relating to that event might be of value as part of the archive. Meeting agendas and notes, records such as correspondence with contributors and feedback from attendees, can all contain information worthy of preservation as part of the archive.
Example 3: Limmud Trustee/Exec Member or Lay Leader
If you’ve participated in Limmud, either as a Trustee, Chair or as a member of staff, you may have documents that might help us fill gaps in the archive. Not all records relating to activities have been kept. You may have copies of official documents, such as meeting minutes, reports and annual returns, as well as other more personal records, such as correspondence, that could be worthy of long-term preservation.
Digital Records
Some of the documents you may have could be in digital form, such as pdfs, spreadsheets and other formats. These may be worthy of preservation in the archive. Other digital documents may be less relevant, including emails. Emails should only be considered if they contain evidence of significant transactions relating to core activities or events in Limmud’s past.
Photographs
You may have photographs (prints or digital) of past Limmud events. These can be very informative and could have a place in the archive. It is really important to be able to identify when, where and why the photographs were taken and what they are of. If you can’t identify the people or the events depicted in the photograph, then they are unlikely to be included in the archive.
Get in Touch
If you think you could help by contributing records to the archive, then please get in touch.
Limmud currently has a professional archivist working to create the first catalogue of the archive and to ensure that the records held are packaged, stored and documented to ensure their long-term preservation. Martin Devereux has been a qualified archivist since 2005 and has worked in archives, libraries and museums for over 25 years, including The Royal Society, Guildhall Library and The Postal Museum. If you think you have records that could be part of the archive, then please contact Martin via email (martin@limmud.org).