Secure the future of the Folklore Library & Archive for all

The Folklore Library and Archive is a charity based in Crediton, Devon, dedicated to collecting and preserving folklore and heritage materials that relate to our customs and traditional ways of life. Our collections include photographs, documents and publications as well as oral histories and artefacts.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that folklore reflects how we, and generations before us have interpreted and navigated the world around us. When traditions and heritage disappear, we lose valuable cultural knowledge. This is why we act quickly to save at-risk materials. For example, when the document archive of folklorist Venetia Newell was sold off in parts, we led a successful crowdfunding campaign to acquire and preserve it, hosting online talks that featured libraries, museums and archives.

Our constitutional aim is to provide free access to our collections for the benefit of the public good.

Since our registration as a charity in 2023 we have acquired a reputation for saving at-risk heritage and worked as project partner on significant national initiatives, such as the 'Folklore Without Borders' examination of equality and diversity, and the current National Folklore Survey for England. Because of this, more and more people are asking us to take their donated archives and items for future preservation.

However, we have now outgrown our small rented spaces and so the important at-risk heritage that we have saved is now at risk itself. We have an urgent need to secure fit for purpose rented space that will allow us to stage proper exhibitions, display our materials safely and provide a safe and welcoming space for research, education and enjoyment.

Successfully meeting the target of this fundraiser will allow us to put an initial 12-month plan in place on which we can build.

It’s often easy to overlook the importance of heritage, the stories, customs, and rituals that help people understand where they come from and give communities a shared identity. At The Folklore Library and Archive, we believe these are not just things of the past, but they are tools for connection, creativity, and resilience in the present.

Meeting the target of this campaign would not only help us secure a stable base for our expanding archive, but it would also allow us to protect and share newly donated materials that could otherwise be lost.

REWARDS FOR DONATIONS

Your donation in the following amounts will earn our thanks, and some special rewards:

£10 Donation - Membership of the 'Friends of the Folklore Library & Archive' for 12 months.

£20 Donation - Friends membership PLUS an archive box named in your honour.

£50+ Donation - All previous rewards PLUS a merchandise pack delivered later in the year.

£100+ Donation - All previous rewards PLUS a guided tour of our collections (travel not included).

£150+ Donation - All previous rewards PLUS lunch with members of the Folklore Library & Archive team.

Thank you for any donation you are able to make.