The etiquette (and lack of it) on trains is one of The British Newspaper Archive team’s all-time favourite subjects. Truly, if discussing the behaviour of people on trains were an Olympic event, we’re confident we would stand a fair chance of winning a medal. Just why do people sit in the aisle seat, and place all their belongings in the seat by the window? Why don’t they use the luggage rack for their bags, etc? And when you politely ask, ‘Excuse …
Isabella Lucy Bird, explorer, natural historian, writer and the first woman to be elected a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society in London, died in Edinburgh on 7 October 1904 – she was 71. Included below are two, contemporary newspaper tributes that report on her remarkable life and achievements.
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We do love the quirky and erudite adverts that use famous moments from history and literature to sell some product or another. Here’s an advert for Gallaher’s pipe tobacco that employs Richard III’s horselessness in battle to advertise their product. Nottingham Evening Post – Wednesday 11 April 1928 Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19280411/060/0008
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On 6 October 1902, the final section of the Cape Town to Beira Railway was completed, with the joining up of Salisbury with Bulawayo. Here is a newspaper story published on 11 October 1902, which reports on this historic moment in building railways in Africa. Cheltenham Chronicle – Saturday 11 October 1902 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000518/19021011/145/0008
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While on a flight to Karachi on 5 October 1930, the R-101 British airship crashed at the edge of a wood near Beauvais in France, and immediately caught fire. Of the 54 passengers and crew, 46 were killed in the crash itself, while two more died later in hospital. To commemorate this sad day, here is a contemporary newspaper report of the disaster. Gloucester Citizen – Monday 06 October 1930 Image © Local World Limited. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH …
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Joseph Frank ‘Buster’ Keaton, ‘the Great Stone Face’ and a silent clown of genius, was born in Piqua, Kansas, on 4 October 1895. To celebrate the day, here is a newspaper article that reports on how ‘Buster’ came to be called ‘Buster’. Read our blog post entitled ‘Buster Keaton Almost Laughs’. Evening Telegraph – Monday 08 December 1930 Image © D.C.Thomson & Co. Ltd. Image created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19301208/025/0003
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Elias Howe, an inventor and patentor & pioneer of the sewing machine, died in Brooklyn, New York, on 3 October 1867. To commemorate the day, here is a fascinating newspaper article that reports on Howe’s death, and also considers the history and influence of sewing machines in the 19th Century. Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser – Saturday 26 October 1867 Image © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/18671026/050/0007
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The Cambridgeshire Family History Society (CFHS) is holding a Family History Fair on Saturday 26 October 2013 at Girton Glebe Primary School (CB3 0PN). Admission to the fair itself is free, with a £2 charge for the lectures that are taking place. You can find out more on the Cambridgeshire Family History Society website.
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‘Errand boy who became a millionaire’ Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, the Glasgow-born self-made man who worked himself up from errand boy to become a millionaire, died in London on 2 October 1931 – he was 81. Below is a newspaper report (published the day after his death) that offers an overview of Lipton’s amazing life and achievements. This image of Sir Lipton, shows him in the uniform of the City Lieutenancy. Discover more about Sir Lipton …