London Metropolitan Archive - June events

Some forthcoming events at London Metropolitan Archives:

The Londoners - portrait of a working city, c1447-1980
Exhibition runs until 5 July 2017

Hundreds of thousands of faces - images of born Londoners and more transient visitors - are preserved forever in our collections.
Winners, losers, the famous or the forgotten, countless Londoners have been recorded as they went about their work in the capital.
From studied portraits to casual snapshots, from 15th century drawings to recent colour photographs, the archive brings them all together and presents them as the history of our capital city.

Free - during normal LMA opening hours.

The Londoners: Exhibition Tour with the Curator

Join us for a tour of our current exhibition of images of Londoners. Encounter artists and aldermen, loungers and labourers, at home, in the street, or in the studio.

Free - drop in sessions will be running on the following dates:

Thursday 8 June, 6 - 6.30 pm.
Tuesday 13 June, 1 - 1.20 pm.
Thursday 22 June, 1 - 1.20 pm.


A visit to Conservation
Thursday 22 June, 2 - 3 pm.

Meet members of the Conservation team and find out about the essential work which preserves our records for future generations.

Free - booking essential.


Deciphering Old Handwriting (Advanced)
Thursday 15 June, 5.30 - 7 pm.

This practical session gives expert help in reading different types of handwriting from the 16th and 17th centuries. You will practice with copy documents from LMA's collections and get tips for deciphering early historical writing. Some experience of reading historical documents is required.

£8 - booking essential. See https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deciphering-old-handwriting-advanced-tickets-32619444637


Making the most of your trip to LMA

Every month, we run a selection of training sessions for LMA users to enhance your research. Whether you're new to archives or a seasoned visitor, you may still find these sessions useful!

We run sessions most months on the following topics:

• Getting started at LMA
• Handling documents
• Family History starter sessions
• Understanding old handwriting

LGBTQ History Club
Wednesday 7 June, 6 - 7.30 pm.

A regular monthly meeting to explore lesbian, gay, trans, bisexual and queer histories.

Keep up to date with the programme here: www.facebook.com/lgbthistory.


Photography and Film in the Archives Group
Tuesday 20 June, 5.30 - 7.30 pm.

Join us for a monthly series of talks, document viewings and discussions about photographic archives, collections and histories.

Free - drop in session.


More details on the above, plus further events, are outlined at http://mailchi.mp/cityoflondon/may-events-at-london-metropolitan-archives-812969

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course commences Sept 11th 2017 - details at https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102.
For details on my Scottish & Irish genealogy guide books, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html.
For my genealogy research service, please visit http://www.ScotlandsGreatestStory.co.uk.

Photography trial at NLS Maps Reading Room

The National Library of Scotland (www.nls.uk) is running a self-service photography trial at its Maps Reading Room in Edinburgh. The service is available between 09.30 (10.00 on Wednesdays) and 16.45, Mondays to Fridays.

For further details visit http://www.nls.uk/using-the-library/reading-rooms/maps/photography

Chris

For details on my genealogy guide books, including A Decade of Irish Centenaries: Researching Ireland 1912-1923, Discover Scottish Church Records (2nd edition), Discover Irish Land Records and Down and Out in Scotland: Researching Ancestral Crisis, please visit http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html. My Pinterest account is at https://www.pinterest.com/chrismpaton/.

The Andrew Paterson Collection - new Inverness resource and magazine

I've just heard from Adrian Harvey of Northmedia that a website dedicated to Inverness based portrait photographer Andrew Paterson (and later his son Hector G. N. Paterson), whose studio was in operation from 1895-1980, has been launched online at www.patersoncollection.co.uk. The first studio set up by Paterson was at 32 Church Street in Inverness, and the site details the photographer's and firm's history, his experiments in silent movie making, the Camerons’ Comforts Fund established in the First World War for the provision of parcels to the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders, and more.

In addition to background information on Paterson's career, there is also a free to read 52 page long digital magazine, Paterson's Inverness Portraits. The images in the magazine are simply stunning. The publication is accessible from the site's home page.

The project ties into the already established Scottish Highlander Photo Archive, which has also been upgraded, and which can be accessed at www.scottishhighlanderphotoarchive.co.uk. I recently discovered a possible photo on this site which may be of my grandfather, but there's a still a bit of work to do at my end to try to firm this up.

A brilliant resource for the Capital of the Highlands.

(With thanks to Adrian Harvey)

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My Scottish land and church records ebooks are available at http://www.gen-ebooks.com/unlock-the-past.html, whilst my next Pharos Scottish course, Scottish Research Online, starts Sep 4th - see http://pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Photography - archives need to move with the times

An article in Thursday's edition of the Guardian entitled The cost of historical research: why archives need to move with the times was of particular interest to me, as it flags up something that was addressed at a recent archive conference in Scotland, by both historians and from a genie POV by yours truly. Written by Northampton based Nell Darby, a doctoral research student in history, the article flags up the inconsistent policy of many archives across England in charging variable rates for the right to copy documents in an archive with a digital camera. The full article is at www.guardian.co.uk/higher-education-network/blog/2013/may/23/history-research-costs-archive-fees.

At present, national institutes such as The National Archives at Kew and the National Records of Scotland will allow free photography, so long as you don't use a flash. The point I raised in my talk was that this ability to do so can beneficially transform how genealogists work. The NRS in Edinburgh is a 5 hour round trip for me from the west of Scotland, and in the past I have often had to make repeated visits to the archive to consult documents for clients. The copying charges for documents were ludicrous - not to mention the travel costs. Thankfully that has now changed. To give an idea how dramatic a difference that can make, when I wrote a book last year about the murder of an ancestor, I previously had made several trips to Edinburgh to consult the precognition papers for the trial, and had still only managed to get about two thirds of the material transcribed. In one afternoon, following the introduction of permission to photograph material at the NRS, I was able to photograph the entire lot, including the material I had already transcribed, and was able to successfully complete the book without going bankrupt from travel costs! It made an enormous difference.

At TNA at Kew I was recently able to photograph an entire service history not yet available online for a WW1 ancestor - no questions asked! I also cited a client job where I was able to successfully take some 200 photographic images at the NRS of a range of 17th and 18th century estate papers, letters of horning, sequestration papers, and more, all written in Secretary Hand (the Devil's attempt to improve the style of old handwriting!), which needed to be forensically transcribed. Some of the documents were quite fragile, with one actually referred to the archivist as I was seriously worried about its condition. Being able to image the documents meant only one visit to the facility, less wear and tear on the material, and the ability to work on it at home for the client to extract the story I was pursuing. Such an ability means less costs for the client (travel mainly), and offers an ability to genealogists who don't live in Edinburgh (or London) to be more competitive, and productive. The national repositories may be based in London or Edinburgh, but they are there to serve the whole country/countries, not just the locals who can get there easily.

In Darby's article she points out that many institutions use photographic passes income as a way to plug the gaps in their funding. But she cites a horrendous inequality - in the piece she cites a charge of £25 at North Yorkshire to gain a photography pass, but only £3 at North Devon. TNA and the NRS don't charge at all. Whether a facility should charge or not is certainly an issue - but equally important is the issue about being allowed to photograph images in the first place. One other issue cited at NRS, is that some materials held there are held on behalf of private individuals, and permission is not given to photograph them. That's fair enough, though obviously if permission is granted by the relevant owner, I would hope this could be waived (I've not had to do this yet, as the need has not arisen, so not sure if this is possible).

So yes, archives do need to move with the times. The national repositories are leading the way - to everyone else, come on now, please let us photograph documents at your facilities as well. If we have to pay, fair enough - but as with academic historians, we're not a cash cow, so be gentle! But please do move with the times.

Chris

My new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, is now available from Pen and Sword. My next Pharos Scottish course, Scotland 1750-1850: Beyond the Old Parish Registers, starts May 15th - see http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/scotland-1750-1850-beyond-oprs-starts.html. Time to smash a few brick walls...!

Borthwick Institute for Archives Photography Trial

From Beryl Evans at the Federation of Family History Societies (www.ffhs.org.uk) and Jackie Depelle (@JackieDepelle on Twitter):

Borthwick Institute for Archives Photography Trial

Starting on Monday 4 March 2013, visitors to the microfilm room should be aware that we will be starting a trial for permits allowing photography of microfilm entries. The trial will be lasting for one month and will be free of charge its duration - feedback from this service will be gratefully received. Please speak to a member of staff if you would be interested in taking part in this trial.

Please note that this permit is seperate from our existing Self-Service Photography permits which allow photography of original archival items in the searchroom only.

For more information visit www.york.ac.uk/library/borthwick/about-us/news/

(With thanks to Beryl and Jackie)

Chris

Pre-order my new book, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet, through Pen and Sword (30 April 2013), or purchase early at Who Do You Think You Are Live 2013 in London. For my other genealogy books, please visit  http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html; whilst for my online Scottish based genealogy courses please visit the Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd site.

Forthcoming City of London events

From City of London events:

Our History – Ourselves

A day of workshops and talks around researching, collecting, conserving, writing and communicating Lesbian and Gay personal, local and community histories. Peter Daniels’ fourth creative writing workshop, Modern Times, also takes place on this day.

This conference will be held at London Metropolitan Archives on Saturday 8 December from 10 am to 4.30 pm is £10. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.

(Purchasing a ticket for this event will give a 20% discount on the 10th anniversary LGBT History and Archives conference which will take place at Guildhall on 16 February 2013)


Focus on Family History at LMA

Starting your family history? Come along to this workshop and learn how to get the most out of digitised family history sources, including our records on Ancestry.co.uk.

This workshop is aimed at beginners.

This event held at London Metropolitan Archives on Wednesday 12 December from 2 to 3 pm is FREE. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.


Photographs and Family History

What do photographs reveal about the history of individuals and local areas? How can you date photographs? How can you use photographs to illustrate your own family history? Plus some tips on looking after your photographs.

This event held at London Metropolitan Archiveson Monday 17 December from 2 to 4.30 pm is £8. Booking essential – call 020 7332 3851.


Visitor information for events is available at www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/visiting-the-city/archives-and-city-history/london-metropolitan-archives/visitor-information/Pages/default.aspx

Chris

Having a Christmas present crisis?! Check out my range of genealogy books at http://britishgenes.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-books.html - perfect for the family historian's Christmas stocking...!

Historical Cities website

I've been asked by Stephen Hall to give a plug to a site called Historical Cities at www.visithistoriccities.com which has old photographs for various cities plotted onto a Google map. The places featured include Edinburgh, Linlithgow, London, New York and San Francisco.

In Stephen's own words you can do the following:

View archive photos of Edinburgh
View contemporary street views of Edinburgh
View researched information on the history of Edinburgh
View filtered content based on years (1800s, 1900-1919 etc)

All content is sourced, specifically photos are resourced from places such as Capital Collections, RCAHMS (for which licenses are applied from both) and individuals or groups (from whom requests for usage are made).

This may be of interest to kids in discovering the social and structural changes that have evolved in Edinburgh.

Worth a look!

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)

Autograph (ABP) Photography Roadshow in Glasgow

Street Level Photoworks (http://streetlevelphotoworks.org) in Glasgow's Trongate is hosting a family history based photographic workshop on Saturday 20th October, from 12pm-3pm, as part of a project being organised by London based arts organisation Autograph.

The organisers are searching for photographic material relating to the Black and Asian experience of life in Britain for inclusion within its Archive & Research Centre's online image bank, designed to capture a 'missing chapter' of diverse British photographic history. The event is being organised as part of Black History Month, and booking must be made by next Friday 19th.

For further details visit http://streetlevelphotoworks.org/programme/talksandevents/autographroadshow/abproadshow.html or http://opportunities.creativescotland.com/view.aspx?id=555882be-f032-490f-af6c-9c45aa12646e.

Chris

Scottish Research Online - 5 weeks online Pharos course, £45.99, taught by Chris Paton from 26 SEP 2012 - see www.pharostutors.com
New book: It's Perthshire 1866 - there's been a murder... www.thehistorypress.co.uk/products/The-Mount-Stewart-Murder.aspx (from June 12th 2012)