Using Wordle for Archives

Yes, I know I'm coming slightly late to the party but I've just discovered the fun of using Wordle for Archive Collections - it's great!  At lunchtime today I've been experimenting with entering the text from a number of small film collections (such as the example below).  This means that you get an overview of the main subjects, places and names which appear in these films.  I haven't worked out yet if there's a way to stop a word from appearing more than once so if anyone knows if there is a way to do this then please let me know.  As well as being eye-catching and nice to look at I think Wordle could be very useful, for highlighting the places or subjects which are discussed, or in the case of film archives shown, in a particular collection.  It could also give a general overview of the content of an entire archive, a filmmaker, a particular project - anything you want to highlight from your collections really... it's also quite an enjoyable way to while away a hour or so!

The examples below are from the text of my cataloguing for four films by Antony Clover, an amateur filmmaker from Portsmouth.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!  I was thinking of writing a list of New year's resolutions but decided against this when I realised I hadn't done half the ones I set out last year.  2010 was a very busy year with lots of happy times, and some sad too.  Here's to a year of new and happy experiences in 2011.

I don't have the TCM television channel but if I did I'd be tuning in on Sunday 11th January (it said Sunday 11th on their website but have just checked an online TV Guide and it is actually on Saturday 15th January at 1.10pm and again at 5am) as they will be screening Lindsay Anderson's The Whales of August (1987).  This film is available on DVD but has never had a UK release so it can be difficult and pricey to get hold of.   It is one of my favourite Lindsay Anderson films so this is as much of an excuse as I need to post a lovely photo of Lindsay Anderson with the wonderful Lillian Gish.

Lindsay Anderson and Lillian Gish on set of The Whales of August, LA/1/11/4/2
© Lindsay Anderson Collection, University of Stirling Archives