Sandwell Community History and Archives Service (CHAS) is the archive service for the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell in the West Midlands of England. The service is based within Smethwick Library.[1] It collects and preserves original archives and published material relating to the history of Sandwell.[2] It is a local authority archive service, run and funded by Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council.
| Sandwell Community History and Archives Service | |
|---|---|
 Smethwick Library is also the home of Sandwell Community History and Archives Service | |
 | |
| 52°29′47″N 1°58′21″W / 52.496457°N 1.972454°W | |
| Location | Smethwick Library, High Street, Smethwick, West Midlands, B66 1AA |
| Type | Public Archive |
| Established | 1992 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www.sandwell.gov.uk/archives |
History edit
Until the early 1990s each of the towns that make up Sandwell kept their own archive and local studies collections; the service was restructured to create community libraries (rather than branch libraries) in 1992. Some of the relevant material has been retained by these local libraries.[3]
Collections edit
Sandwell Archives holds archive collections created by organisations, families and businesses based in Sandwell. The service is a Diocesan record office, holding Church of England parish records for the Deanery of Warley and All Saints' Church, West Bromwich, as well as numerous non-conformist churches within Sandwell.[4]
As a Place of Deposit for Public Records Sandwell Archives also holds records of local courts, coroners and hospitals.[5] The service also holds the historical records of the former boroughs of Oldbury, Rowley Regis, Smethwick, Tipton, Warley, Wednesbury and West Bromwich.[3]
Significant business collections held by the service include; Chance Brothers, Accles & Pollock, Patent Shaft and T. W. Camm.[6]
References edit
- ^ "Sandwell Community History and Archives Service | The National Archives". Discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Visiting Sandwell Community History and Archives Service | Visit the archives service | Sandwell Council". Sandwell.gov.uk. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Sandwell Community History and Archives Service". West Midlands Archives. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Collections Development Policy 2010-2013 : Sandwell Community History and Archives Service". Cmis.sandwell.gov.uk. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
- ^ "Approved repositories and places of deposit" (PDF). National Archives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 April 2015.
- ^ "Records of T.W. Camm and its predecessor, Camm Bros, stained glass artists of Smethwick". National Archives. Retrieved 12 May 2021.