Author: Richard Burton Archives

Collections Care in the Archives – preserving the then for the now and for the future

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Archives are often portrayed as being held in ‘dusty’ conditions, such as dark, dingy basements - but this is actually something that are deliberately avoided! Archive services are very conscious of the conditions required to ensure the long-term preservation of collections, and aspire to have state of the art facilities with latest technology. 'The Archives … Continue reading Collections Care in the Archives – preserving the then for the now and for the future

‘Take me as you find me … I am not ashamed of being myself’

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This month for LGBT+ History Month, we are pleased to launch the newly catalogued Amy Dillwyn Collection (ref. DC6). Amy Dillwyn (1845-1935) was a pioneering female industrialist, novelist, social justice campaigner, and, according to Professor Kirsti Bohata, ‘a queer writer of international significance’’.   Photograph of Amy Dillwyn and dog from the papers of David Painting, … Continue reading ‘Take me as you find me … I am not ashamed of being myself’

Landscape, environment and archives – History Day 2021

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This year's theme is environmental history so, along with other archives, museums and libraries participating in this year's History Day on 4 November, we're discovering how our collections can be used to research the impact of industry on nature, landscape, climate change and much more. The Lower Swansea Valley Project In the 1960s an innovative … Continue reading Landscape, environment and archives – History Day 2021

Back to School: Archives & Adult Learning

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Archives Assistant Stephanie Basford-Morris reflects on her experience of going ‘back to school’ as an adult with a distance learning MA Archives Administration course, and highlights material giving an insight into adult learning over the decades in the Richard Burton Archive collections. Do you remember the particular joy of buying new stationary for back to school?  This childhood … Continue reading Back to School: Archives & Adult Learning

Premieres and the red carpet in the Richard Burton Collection

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The #ExploreYourArchive theme for this month is firsts, so we’re going to look at our namesake, Richard Burton, and some of his premieres a.k.a. first or opening nights!  Some thoughts about first nights, stage and screen, are found in his diaries which form part of the Richard Burton Collection-   ‘We went to London for the opening … Continue reading Premieres and the red carpet in the Richard Burton Collection

Daily Life Records in the Archives

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Lifelogging and bloggers who record their daily events are not just a twenty-first century phenomena. Archives Assistant Sarah Thompson explores examples from our Archive collections to look at ways in which people have been recording their daily life throughout the centuries. One of the earliest examples of daily life in the local area was discovered … Continue reading Daily Life Records in the Archives

The land of song- music in the South Wales Coalfield

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Music played an important part of cultural and community life in the South Wales Coalfield. Brass bands, choirs, jazz bands and operatic societies were formed to raise money and spirits. Talents were showcased at local or National Eisteddfodau and miners' galas. Choirs and Operatic Societies The Ystalyfera and District Choral Society at the Royal Jubilee … Continue reading The land of song- music in the South Wales Coalfield