Ric! Is there any chance in the future that a similar school be held elsewhere to spread the skills and knowledge required? (Time and monies allowing).
I would LOVE to do a Researcher School in the UK - or even a Field School on a suitable wreck site in the UK. It's just a question of whether there's enough demand to make it economically feasible.
If we were to do a Researcher School, where should we do it? In the States we'll probably do it in the Washington DC area because there are research facilities there we can show people how to use (National Archives, Library of Congress, NASM Library, etc.). I would think that the best venue for a Researcher School in the UK would be London for similar reasons (access to the PRO, RAFM Hendon Library, Imperial War Museum, etc.). The problem with a London venue is the same as with DC - the cost of facilities and accommodations. We might be able to get Hendon to host it. We did a very successful "Aircraft to Artifact" joint conference with them in 1990 and attracted participants from not only the UK but the U.S. and the continent as well.
Let's have some feedback on this idea. Worth pursuing?