Tuesday 28 January 2014

Big thanks – Peace Musuem and Bradford YMCA



To the Peace Museum for agreeing to support my book Great War Britain: Bradford to be published by the History Press in 2014. The Peace Museum said they were “Delighted to be associated, with something that looks at women & the home front” 

The book will be full of short case studies and snippets of information which can be dipped in and out of. It provides an alternative angle on existing stories of life at home in Bradford during WW1 and introduces lots of previously unknown stories. The book will provide a balanced view from ordinary people for example in the Raising the Troops chapter there will be a story of a man keen to enlist at the outbreak of war next to the story of one of the first Bradford conscientious objectors to be court marshalled. I hope it will be engaging and informative and will be able to be used in schools as well as by adults.

I have already worked with the Peace Museum on their project Choices: Then and Now and hope to work more with them in the future.

Big thanks and congratulation to the Bradford YMCA for successfully getting HLF funding for a Tea Hut project. I am looking forward to working with them to engage and inspire young people to learn and research more about life during WW1.

Monday 6 January 2014

Happy New Year – New Library facilities



Apologies for the delay in posting the pictures of the New Bradford Local Studies Library but as expect the run up to Christmas with a young family was hectic but fun!

Opening day Monday 9th November




Waiting guests see inside for the first time...




 And the West Yorkshire Archive Service are just through some doors in a light and airy room












Later in the afternoon the first talk was held in the Library....



The following day I had arranged a small tweetup for those on twitter interested in local history or genealogy we had a quick lunch then, took part in the flashmob read and then visited the library.



Soon the index’s started to reappear in the local studies library...















As did the digital microfilm scanner – well worth a try if you get a chance there will soon be 2 machines...



And a new piece of kit a large scanner for books / maps etc



If you happened to be passing the City Library you might have spotted me giving a talk to school children on the Bradford Sweet Poisoning of 1858 in the new children's Library
 
All the feedback was positive and we congratulate Sue Caton and all her staff and FOBALS (Friends of Bradford Archives and Local Studies) for making it a success.