Join us in this endeavour to establish the first purpose-built archive room on British Muslim History to house over 250,000 documents chronicling the mosque's 100 year-old history, together with other collections. It will be a first for preserving Muslim social history in Europe.

“By preserving our history, we can help young people and future generations understand the tradition of which they are part, and the responsibility that they then assume in continuing its path.” Prof. John Wolfe speaking at ELM.

Your donation will help us convert and equip a room in the basement of the Maryam Centre, adjoining the Mosque, so that it is secure and environmentally controlled, preserving documents for future generations.

A specification of an archives strong room has been prepared taking into account archival standards for factors such as humidity and mitigating against risks such as flooding and fire. This will cater for archival storage needs for the next 50 years, insha’Allah.

The strong room will have:

• shelving on rollable cabinets, on a platform 6” above the existing screed floor to reduce flooding damage
• monitoring system for humidity, humidifiers and extractors
• fire proofing and fire alarm system
• fixed shelving area for materials awaiting cataloguing and an archivists’ work area
• water drainage arrangements

Professor Humayun Ansari, Britain’s leading historian on British Muslims: “The archives of the East London Mosque are rare, rich and unique. As an element of our national heritage, they are important both for the Muslim community and society as a whole…”

The Archives catalogue is now accessible online via this link

(Please copy and paste into browser) http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb3396-elmt

Visitors and scholars will be able to consult the archives on appointment starting November 2014. The documents requested will be retrieved by trained archivist volunteers and manually brought by trolley to a supervised study area in the Maryam Centre. It is envisaged that the Visitors’ Area in the Maryam Centre will exhibit materials from the archives and also display an interactive, digital copy of the historic Minutes Book of the East London Mosque Fund. The archives strong room brings to life the vision of a mosque as a place of worship and ibadah, and also a centre of learning and scholarship.

Clem Brohier, Acting CEO of the National Archives who visited the ELM archives in January 2014: “This is a splendid achievement and The National Archives is delighted to have contributed to it. Through this project the archives of East London Mosque are being made accessible to and relevant for future generations. It is a fine example of how working together can preserve the archives that reflect the contemporary religious landscape of Britain.”

Eilís McCarthy, Project Archivist, East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre:“By cataloging and caring for these archive collections the East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre is opening up the potential for insight and understanding of not only the work of the Mosque but of the Muslim community as part of the wider story of East London.”

Bishop of London, Foreword to Religious Archives
survey, 2010: “During the past century or so the number of faiths practiced within this country has expanded enormously and this diversity has extended and strengthened interest in our religious history. Much of our national heritage is recorded in the archives of our religious institutions and communities and other related bodies.”

Tamsin Bookey, Heritage Manager at Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives: “It’s so important that the historical memory of the mosque and its communities is maintained at the heart of the institution. Fundraising for the new strongroom is essential so that the mosque’s invaluable collections are kept securely and properly onsite, in compliance with professional archival standards.”