British Studies: Day 14

As I have mentioned several blogs earlier, we have attended the V&A.  While I did not get to attend the David Bowie exhibit, I did today get to see the Beatrix Potter archive at the Blythe House.  It is a storage facility of the Victoria and Albert and as such is quite old- it use to be a post office and savings bank.  By the 1970s it was computerized and taken for storage and increasingly they wanted to increase their reserves.  The V&A originally kicked off around 1837 when schools studied design and the subject became large, thus the British Archive formed with a collection valued around 52 pounds.  In 1851, there was a great exhibition and the public was allowed to attend.  In 1851, a South Kensington branch began and then the suite we were at today.  It really started because of ambitious curators who were acquiring a wider selection of material- sculpture, paintings- and by the 1860s-1870s they became "one capacious handbag."  Textiles, wood, metal, illustrations, and more.  The archive and registry holds records of management roles, staff records and documents, freedom info, data protection legislation, and in the old schools of archive they were taught records with management practice.  So IT, records, database, and collaboration.  Nowadays, they face challenges such as print/electronic records, as was decreed the thing to do and thus more print has ensued, and the cataloging of the archive online.  Record retention is something archives has in their veins and the online catalog allowed the public to see what is available even before it is properly cataloged.  We were show a few books, including a 19th Century registrar with a request from Queen Victoria for a stain glass repair, as well as correspondence of William Morris's tapestries.

Peter Rabbit Illustration.

Alexia , an archivist of arts and design, talked to us about the importance of design to the collection.  They were set up in 1978 and with a lack of records of design and new design courses being offered with people needing research, they began collecting British-based artists & designs, making sure not to step on other cultures designs.  So they have clothing, furniture, textile, and other styles handy.  the collection does not, however, include fine art or architecture.  They aim for 5-15 items a year to collect, with 2 staff members to do so, and mainly do this from donation or gifts.  There are 400 individual archives, which can be seen in print and the online catalog- interestingly enough they are in a consortium.  Alexia showed us an interesting fashion designer of the 1920s named Lucile, the prints were lovely, and another example of fashion from the 1950s where they predicted 1980s trends, which included knitwear.

Francis talked to us about Beatrix Potter, as she is a specialist of children's literature and has her MLIS.  There are 100,000 Potter items.  The 1920s man collection came from a husband and wife team, Enid and Leslie Linder(of whom Andrew Whiltshire talked extensively about his family's connection and the importance of these two to the Beatrix Potter codex, a written piece that Leslie translated and crafted the history of the famous author) and how the collection changed houses a few times before settling.  Since the Linder's play a large part in the collection, there are a few of their books and personal effects here as well.  Parts of the collection are on long term loan, such as the Peter Rabbit Letters(from the states).  The most impressive was a 1901 copy of Peter Rabbit.  Growing up with the stories, it was great to listen to an in-depth history of their finding.  There was also an interesting Alice in Wonderland adaptation/reimagining and over 2000 botanical studies, such as butterflies beneath microscopes.  Andrew Whiltshire was able to shed light on the interest of the Linders on Beatrix Potter, often draw by the wife and the overall works being purchased quickly(they had plenty of money to do it), and thus his theory was that their work on the gathering of the collection and the codex inspired works such as The Tale of Beatrix potter by Margaret Lane, Letter to Children from Beatrix Potter by Judy Taylor, Tales of Beatrix Potter ballet, and Miss Potter starring Ewan McGreggor.


Then this evening I spoke on behalf of the class.  I hope to post my speech soon, but as it is almost 11:20, I will need some sleep before Cardiff tomorrow.

British Studies: Day 13

Today's post will be a brief but studious one.  In the morning, we ventured to Middle Temple Library(which isn't far away from a DaVinci Code scene) and met Ms. Slattery.  This library is known as one of four Inns of Court.  There is Middle, Inner, Lincoln, and Gray, all of which work together to accomplish their needs and collections.  Each have their own special subject- Middle focuses on Law with a specialization for American law.  In 1641 they received a donation of books that started the library from a Robert Ashley, whom the building is named after.  We received a small history of how law libraries of the Inns began, around the 19th century there was a surge in law publishing and by 1861 the library was built, however nearby ones went through bombs but thanks to a Sir Edward(the last name I missed) their concrete was reinforced for protection.  They have a displays of arms, a display of armor, a display of the Molyneux globes, and several royal rooms- including the smoking room or Prince's room, and the Queen's room.  The Queen's room and Princes room are both elegant in their own fashion, the first brighter than the second but the second with comfier chairs.  The library doesn't throw books out unless they are not under their jurisdiction, in which case they are deselected and offered/sold elsewhere.  On the 3rd floor there was a US law collection, here no food or drink is allowed(unlike the first floor) and it holds an association with the Carnegies.  I am getting the idea that this guy liked libraries and had a lot of money.  Either way, his son studied at Middle and eventually took his learning home.  On this floor one would find classrooms, American textbooks, West Law US subscriptions, and financial records.  The classrooms are called advocacy suites and hold pros and cons- pro, more people, and con, people cannot always access their materials since the suites are lined inside and out with the books.  Thus being shut inside for a period of time. 

Dozens upon dozens of law-related books!

There is no classification system here, most of the items are, however, in subject booklets that are readily available.  There is an online catalog for online objects only, though it cannot collect online, and an ILL can be done through any of the four Inns to another.  Slattery began as a rare books librarian at Middle and is now the senior librarian, though she began as a librarian of the Canadian Government.  There were all sorts of fun British law terms, like a bencher, and it held many fascinating   items and locals- such as the Judgement of Soloman painting which was collected due to an argument of law, and Middle Temple Hall which had double banner beam roof, oak structures, a head table with planks floated down the Thames, and all sorts of activities are done there.  Speaking of events, the first performance of Twelfth Night was done there(see masks, plays, balls, and revels) as well as the 3rd Harry Potter release and in the Princes room a scene from Bridget Jones Diary(see Colin Firth) and other shows.

For lunch, we attended the Old Bank of England, where Sweeney Todd was pointed out to be a real man that operated around there.  Somehow, I ate a meat pie, but really tentatively and not much.  My classmates and I played some witty games and had a real get together.  Just before this, it was decided that I was to speak on behalf of our class at the Symposium tomorrow.  So while I met my personal goal(to speak there with an awesome idea) I am going to spend the hours travel crafting an outline for a five minute chat so I don't sound daft.  By afternoon, I went to the Westminster Reference Library where I saw their collection, asked a few details about it, and gathered some information of further places to contact and further my research, such as the University of Minnesota and the Portsmouth Library.

Tonight, I am headed to Camden once more, with LH, K, & AG.  Something about Macbeth and funny dressed men.  Oh nightlife of England, how strange you are!

British Studies: Day 10

We had another sunny morning today.  I am not complaining, in fact I am laughing because Maine has all the rain at the moment.  I bought sunscreen last week and have been okay since.  It makes iced coffee, cider, and fresh fruit all the more enjoyable.

The Royal Geological Society is to be considered one of the highlights of the trip.  While our discussion took place in one room(their main library), the gentleman who talked to us today was so knowledgeable it was unreal.  He brought us on a travel expedition from South America to the Antarctic as he went around the table to the objects and pictures placed there.  Expeditions, until the 19th century, were mainly about traveling.  In the early days of their foundation, the Royal Geo. Society created a journal that contained much of the discoveries made.  Founded in 1830, their collections hold some 2 million items- 1 million of which is comprised of maps, some part are picture collections.  They are considered to be the largest in Europe of British history exploration and have an atlas as old as 1490.  They also have lantern slides from lectures.  Of their book library, there are 25,000 items; 150,000 are books and 100,000 "other".  They have an archives section(100,000) with "meters of boxes" covering the history of society.   Their Everest Collection, which contains trip plans and various papers, is from a 1904 expedition.  Their collection of objects total some 1500 items, and periodical collections with 1500 items digitized from requests fulfilled.  They have 2000 item for India alone.  Our tour guide is their principal librarian, whom is in charge of duties such as cataloging, artifact care, artifact loans, giving talks, and reading room aspects.  As far as loans go, the items are chipped and when loans to museums or library exhibits there are discussions had about how to treat the items.  For example, Edinburgh just borrowed an item that they wanted to freeze to kill pests but the RGS decided that would damage their item and it was not to be done.  Climate control and storage are just as important here as previous visits.  The collection comes from donations and the founders of the RGS.  Other parts of the collection come from great grandchildren and family members of those on expedition for the RGS.  Nowadays, the RGS is short on shelf space.  They maximize their space, organizing not by classification scheme but shelf number.  Their concern is storage, preservation, and accessibility.  They use MARC21 and the catalogue is readily available online.  Technically they use two, with one more detailed in another location.  They have a team of 8, one head director, one library manager, and the 6 of the reading room.

  The second half of our visit, our tour guide gave us an awesome story-by-story encounter of the items on the table.  I have many of them jotted in notes, but it is one of those "you have to be there " talks, but my favourite story was a combination of the voyages sent out and the hat/hood of Ed. Shakleton that was gifted to a close friend and later came back to the society.  That and the nifty mini sextant that was not only or a pocket but also had ivory toggles so your skin wouldn't stick to it.

By after noon, K, LH, K2, & myself went to Camden town.  My goal here was to see The World's End pub and have a pint.  This was easy to do since it was right at the subway resurface.  I also bought a tank-top- or what they called a vest.  It's a little punkier than I am use to but its wonderful.  I had Chinese food and walked through the "stables", eying many a shop and seeing all sorts of sights. It's a spunky town and I wouldn't be opposed to returning if there is time in the final week(next week is Scotland).

UPDATE:  I finally met Daniel Radcliffe tonight and had the opportunity to tell him he is building a great body of work(as an actor).  As well as to laugh about his height- some people out back said they were short and he said he knew what it was like, to never apologize for it.  He is a sweet heart really.  I also have photo proof with JL, whom was my crowd-attendee!


 Anyways, it's off to bed for this one!  While tomorrow might be slower, I have to carefully pack for a week's long voyage and pack things to be left behind.  Wish me luck!