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
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
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?
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
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
An annual tradition since 2016, the 20th September is the International Day of University Sport. As we celebrate Swansea University’s centenary year, this blog will take a brief tour of 100 years of sport at the University. From the University’s foundation, sport has played a significant role in student life. In the 1920s, in February … Continue reading International Day of University Sport
Did you know that we're joining in with #ArchiveZ, organised by Archives and Records Association Scotland? Since the week beginning 5 March, we've enjoyed exploring a letter of the alphabet each week, discovering fascinating items in the collections that we hold relating to Swansea University’s history. Last week was 'Q', so have a go at our Centenary … Continue reading Swansea University Archives A-Z: Part 2
During lockdown, I have been having a virtual party! I’ve socialised with the ex-servicemen of World War Two,attended Simon and Garfunkel’s concert with the hip Folk Club in Swansea,travelled the world far and wide,climbed the peaks of the High Tatras in Slovakia, and witnessed near-death experiences climbing on the Kurdistan-Afghanistan border,visited just about every pub … Continue reading Escaping lockdown with adventures in the past!
The 19th July marks the most significant event in Swansea University’s history - the laying of the foundation stone. I therefore thought it fitting to not only explore the University’s archives and relive that date, but also share how I discovered a family connection to the University’s early years. An invitation to the Laying of … Continue reading Foundations & Family History
We're enjoying joining in with #ArchiveZ, organised by Archives and Records Association Scotland! It might have been set up to showcase Scottish Archives and their fabulous collections in the 26 week lead up to Archives and Records Association conference (now cancelled), but we thought we'd take the opportunity to share some of our archives too. … Continue reading Swansea University Archives A-Z
Richard Burton Archives 