The volunteers and student placements at the museum make the work and projects we do possible.
From supporting educational groups, adding to the visitor experience, and assisting with collections – they make continuing The Argylls story possible. Our student placements aim to give the students hand on experience in the field they are studying, and for the majority of them, they will also gain academic accreditation.
In January, we welcomed Eve to the museum from the University of Glasgow, as part of her Museum Studies Masters course. Having personal ties to the regiment, with her relatives serving with the regiment during WW1 and having been in the cadets, we were excited to take her on board. Tasked with digitising some of our photography collections, she was keen to take on the tasks of textile conservation when given the opportunity. Even though Eve has completed her placement, she now continues to volunteer in the museum – for which, we are incredibly grateful.
Words from Eve:
“Spending my placement at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum has been one of the most rewarding and professionally formative experiences of my museum studies journey thus far. Working within a small regimental museum housed in the historic setting of Stirling Castle gave me the rare opportunity to contribute meaningfully to collections care, documentation and digitisation while developing the specialist skills that underpin ethical museum practice.
Photo credit: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
My main project centred on digitising and documenting the museum’s extensive collection of photograph and scrapbook albums. Many of these albums had limited contextual information, so each day involved a combination of careful photography, detailed condition assessments and the creation of comprehensive metadata. Updating and creating MODES (the museums collections database) records allowed me to apply the SPECTRUM‑aligned procedures I had studied in class, transforming theoretical knowledge into confident, independent practice. Researching the soldiers, locations and events represented in the albums deepened the interpretive value of the records and strengthened the museum’s understanding of its own holdings.
Photo credit: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
Alongside digitisation, I gained hands‑on experience in preventive conservation. Working with uniforms and other textiles that had undergone a three‑week cold‑treatment cycle, I inspected each object for signs of pest activity and used low‑suction vacuuming to remove larvae, dust and debris. Applying principles from preventive conservation and integrated_pest_management gave me a practical understanding of how vulnerable historic materials are protected in real museum environments—especially in small institutions where resources are limited.
Photo credit: The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum
One of the most valuable aspects of the placement was the museum’s scale. With only a small team, I was able to work closely with the Rod, Caitlin and the wider team, gaining insight into multiple areas of museum practice. This level of involvement is rarely possible in larger institutions, and it allowed me to build confidence, take initiative and understand how collections care, documentation and public engagement intersect in everyday museum work.
Reflecting on my time at the Argylls, I can see how profoundly it has shaped my professional development. It strengthened my technical skills, deepened my interest in military material culture and confirmed my commitment to a future career in collections management and military heritage. Most importantly, it reminded me why this work matters: preserving stories, safeguarding objects and ensuring that the past remains accessible, meaningful and responsibly cared for.”
Written by Eve McCormick, University of Glasgow Museum Studies Placement and Collections Volunteer with excerpts from Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer