Hi Jane Would suggest to all. Copy prior to donation if possible. But as we all know. To copy huge collections for some on an individual basis can be cost prohibitive. Many professional collections stored in boxes all over the UK. And one could suggest all over the world are normal practice. Reason being, there is simply not enough museum / Library Shelf space to show all treasures at once. Would think that places like NLW would catalogue. So, when you place professionally held collections against private collections held in homes around the country / world wide. The amount of historical material National and Local out there becomes not huge, but massive. Once could suggest that even our professional institutions, at times, have to make choices as to what they accept into their existing collections and sadly pass on those, which, they consider to be lesser subjects. When this issue is considered, it can be seen that this leaves incredible amount of material still in private / individual hands. On the subject of your father's huge collection. It would be his decision and his decision alone to decide where, if anywhere, it should be placed after he has gone. After all, he built his extensive collection. As an all volunteer run organisation. Axis, from its early days, had written policy / provision, for our extensive collection of Barry historical material should we cease to exist. But it would be our committee that decides the body best placed to receive such an important collection into its keeping should that day come. Would therefore suggest to all like your father, who hold huge collections, not just for Barry, but all over the UK, to sit down and make provision for the good of heritage once they are gone. Wether professional institution or local. It is for the holding individual to choose. In the meantime, Axis being alive and well will continue promoting the history of Barry by way of World Wide Web. That way we can get as much of our local material out of its dark boxes and on show 24/7 for Barrians / Interested parties based world wide to enjoy. Please see the latest addition to Axis Historical Society - Barry Archive. A transcript of document we hold in our collection c. April 1941. Contains a complete hour by hour log of activities following an air raid on Barry in which sadly civilians lost their lives. You can find it listed under items 1-17 in our "Barry At War 1939-45". Has plenty of good information for family historians. Lots of Police names. Council officials, Wardens' etc., If anyone out there finds a relative of theirs on the document, please let me know. Same goes if you have any images of named persons. Would be great for us to be able to put names to faces. http://barryachive.zoomshare.com/ Hope my suggestions help regarding copy / donations etc. Hope you find latest addition to our archive web site useful. Kind regards Martin Chairman : Axis Historical Society Local History For Barry South Wales Reg. Charity no.1052998 martinaxis@hotmail.co.uk