We hold the records of many local businesses, which often had national or international impact. These collections are often over-looked and under-used as research sources. Here are our top five reasons to look past that indecipherable double entry book-keeping and give business archives a chance- 1. They’re not just for economic or business historians. It’s … Continue reading A wealth of information! Using business archives as primary sources
Author: swanseauniarchives
Sprucing up the Place: Reintroducing Nature to the Lower Swansea Valley
Archives Assistant, Stephanie Basford-Morris, reflects on a project to re-package the Lower Swansea Valley collection, during which she discovered more about the regeneration of a scarred post-industrial area of Swansea. In 2019 I re-packaged and re-numbered a collection about the Lower Swansea Valley Project (LSVP); the task would teach me about the re-introduction of nature to an area … Continue reading Sprucing up the Place: Reintroducing Nature to the Lower Swansea Valley
Decades of dedication – an archival appreciation of the nursing profession
2020 was the year when we clapped for our carers, and publicly celebrated our health heroes. The nursing profession was a big part of this, and they have continued with their incredible work and devotion throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking back in the archives, it is clear that this appreciation of nurses and the nursing … Continue reading Decades of dedication – an archival appreciation of the nursing profession
Connecting Collections: Alfred Russel Wallace and his links to Swansea
"For me, there is no more admirable character in the history of science"Sir David Attenborough Come and explore archives near and far to discover the man considered to be the father of the evolution of the species - Alfred Russel Wallace. The first visit is to the Natural History Museum, where a picture of Wallace is painted of a … Continue reading Connecting Collections: Alfred Russel Wallace and his links to Swansea
‘Blitzes and Botheration’
During World War Two, Swansea was subjected to a number of air raid attacks by the German Luftwaffe. The city was identified by the Nazis as a legitimate strategic target due to its importance as a port and docks. One of the more intense attacks was that of the Three Night’s Blitz, which took place … Continue reading ‘Blitzes and Botheration’
Industrial Landscapes
We recently re-discovered a tweet where we shared this lovely photo of pit ponies from Aberaman Colliery, enjoying some open air and freedom during miners fortnight, 1961. Aberaman Colliery: photographs of pit ponies during miners fortnight holiday, 1961. Photographer: Ron Bevan (Ref. SWCC/PHO/COL/1) It prompted this interesting reply from Dr Hilary Orange, which got us … Continue reading Industrial Landscapes
New online exhibition – Raissa Page: Life Through a Different Lens
When the Being Human Festival event organisers announced this year’s (very topical!) theme as ‘New Worlds’ we knew that the recently catalogued Raissa Page collection had a lot to offer. As a self-taught photographer Raissa Page used documentary photography to capture the lives of marginalised groups at times of social change during the 20th century. … Continue reading New online exhibition – Raissa Page: Life Through a Different Lens
How do numbers feature in, what is on the whole, an Archive full of words?
The Richard Burton Archives do have figures lurking behind the scenes: the archives themselves, such as reports, ledgers, accounts, balance sheets, wage books and other financial documents,numerical records that we create, such as the number of people who visit us, how researchers contact us and how many documents are produced. Extract from Swansea Improvements and Tramways Company … Continue reading How do numbers feature in, what is on the whole, an Archive full of words?
Remembering Aberfan
54 years ago, at 9.15am on the morning of October 21, 1966, a spoil tip collapsed onto the Welsh village of Aberfan, engulfing Pantglas Primary School and other buildings. The disaster resulted in the tragic deaths of 116 children and 28 adults. After the landslide stopped, many local residents rushed to the school and began … Continue reading Remembering Aberfan
Unexpected Company
Back in March when we were told that the Archives team, like the rest of the University, would have to work from home due to COVID-19, my immediate panicked thought was, ‘How?’ The work that I do as a part-time archives assistant is mainly invigilating the Reading Room and the Archives wouldn’t be welcoming people … Continue reading Unexpected Company