Elizabeth Bartram, Director: My journey of discovery began over coffee and biscuits at the dining table of Dr. Peter J. Musgrove. It was a chilly December afternoon in 2022 and our Archivist Nathanael and I had been invited to speak with Peter about his personal archive and the potential of the Trust to provide a home for it. This was quite a privilege and a rare opportunity; often we receive collections after someone has passed away, or collection donations predate the start of a team member’s appointment at the Trust. Whereas in this case, we have gotten to know the individual well and can even turn to him for further explanation regarding his collection as we progressively preserve, catalogue, digitise and open up access to his archive and library.
My first conversation with Peter goes back some ten years. I met Peter at a Trust garden party where he impressed upon me the importance of archiving the application of wind for electricity generation. Peter saw it as a natural extension of the Trust’s remit to protect, preserve and promote the history of milling and the associated traditional power sources. This is just one example of his ability to foresee future needs. His career in wind energy is another. Also, his efforts to retain documents and photographs, which evidence the developments – along with the highs and lows – of the transition of the UK (and in some cases further afield) to renewable energy.
That first conversation stuck with me, and in late 2022 we found ourselves in a position to reengage in the discussion. Fast forward a year or so, and we received this important collection. This collection encapsulates Peter’s own journey into wind energy, his successful career and his 2010 publication of the book, ‘Wind Power’, which unusually covers the whole story, from ancient times and up to modern times. His collection also preserves the origins and early activities of a range of significant institutions, associations and companies, such as the British Wind Energy Association, founded in 1978 by four people, including Peter who became its first chairman.
At the same time, I was studying a Masters course in Archives & Records Management, and one of my modules required me to catalogue a collection. I didn’t hesitate to select Peter’s collection, and it has been a privilege to catalogue his collection and open up public access. It has at times been a daunting task, but always enlightening and enjoyable. It has expanded and enhanced my own view of the world, of recent history and the difference that an individual can make locally, nationally and globally. His collection is now available to explore on our catalogue.
Just some of Peter’s collection: His own library on the history and modern uses of wind power for electricity generation, including many rare and out-of-print titles, and the Proceedings of all past British Wind Energy Association conferences. The British Wind Energy Association is now known as RenewableUK.
Peter has remained helpful and willing to pass on his knowledge and share his experiences. He worked with two University of Reading students to record an interview about his career, which we have archived, and remains on hand to answer any technical questions we might have. This ensures that we can describe his records accurately and in a way that helps researchers to find and understand the contents of his collection.
Peter’s book, ‘Wind Power’, has also been invaluable in researching the history of wind energy as part of a European project to develop an interactive map showcasing the story of wind energy across Europe and across time periods.
We are now embarking on cataloguing parts of his collection to item level and digitising some of the most significant records. New work experience volunteer Rebecca has got off to a great start and is progressively cataloguing and digitising some of Peter’s photographs. Rebecca is seeking to pursue a career in archiving and has taken to our renewable energy history records like a duck to water (or should that be a bird to wind?). I know that she plans to contact Peter soon to ask him about some of the details of photographed wind turbine machinery. Rebecca has also been brilliant at working on developing our interactive European wind energy map.
