Our Archive is a rich resource for academics, historians and writers, researching a wide variety of topics. Biographer Ruth Ord-Hume has used The Archive in researching her new book Mr. Percy, Portrait modeller in coloured wax, published by ACC Art Books. Here, Ruth Ord-Hume describes how she used the newspapers from our collection to research her book, and to find out more about this extraordinary artist. When I set out to research the life and work of Samuel Percy I soon …
Your newspaper discoveries
We are always delighted here at the British Newspaper Archive to read all about your discoveries – whether relating to family history, sport, fashion – and to feature them here on our blog. Register now and explore The Archive This very special post comes from economic historians Joachim Voth and Bruno Caprettini, from the University of Zurich. In it, they describe how they used the British Newspaper Archive for their research into the relation between new agricultural technology and social …
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Here at the British Newspaper Archive, we love to hear about the discoveries our users have made on our site. Last week, we had the pleasure to receive a letter from Councillor Dan Kelly, from County Tyrone, detailing his experiences using the Archive. The letter is reproduced in full below. I come from the small village of Glenmornan in rural County Tyrone. Recently, I was asked for help with some local research – not being an historian, I started in …
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We are delighted this week to feature a very special blog post from the High School of Dundee, written by Niall Joss, which explores how pupils connected with the First World War through the British Newspaper Archive and a war memorial. How did the British Newspaper Archive and a war memorial inspire primary school children to connect with the First World War? With the centenary of the end of First World War just passed, how can children born in the …
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We are delighted to feature a guest post this week by Peter Manning, who used The Archive to research his new book Palace at the Palace – A History of The Crystal Palace & Its Football Club 1851-1915. My project started out as research into the Crystal Palace football teams that played at the old Crystal Palace at Sydenham, but the history that was revealed by searching the BNA’s archives was so interesting and so compelling that I ended up writing …
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It’s 1841 and Josiah Mister is on trial in Shrewsbury for attempted murder – committed at the Angel Inn in Ludlow. The victim was William Mackreth, a trader from Bristol who was in the town for the summer fair. In the early hours of the morning, he was brutally attacked by someone who’d been hiding under his bed. He managed to fight him off and his assailant escaped; a trail of blood led to Josiah’s room and he was arrested. But did …
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Paul Roberts’ book is now available to purchase! Order your copy of History Maker here. How The British Newspaper Archive played a key role in the completion of a new book about my great-great-grandfather who had 30 grandsons serving King and Country I found the picture by pure chance – on a village history website. It was of John Roberts, a man with a bushy beard and sideburns and wearing a bowler hat and a big smile. A caption below …
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Researching British army ancestors in The British Newspaper Archive As part of our military themed month, we are delighted to bring you a guest blog post by military researcher Paul Nixon. Paul is the author of the blogs Army Ancestry Research and Army Service Numbers 1881-1918. He has also recently launched a new endeavour, British Army Ancestors, a database of over 11 million men who served their monarch and country between 1850 and 1920 and a resource which enables visitors to …
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The British Newspaper Archive is proud to feature a guest blog by author Naomi Clifford. In 2016, Naomi Clifford wrote The Disappearance of Maria Glenn, a story of crime and coercion about the abduction of a sugar plantation heiress. This year, Clifford is back with a new book, Women and the Gallows 1797-1837: Unfortunate Wretches. Her research into the 131 women hanged in England and Wales involved extensive research in the British Newspaper Archive. Eliza Ross is just one name featured in the new book to be published …
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The British Newspaper Archive is excited to present a guest blog by David Cornforth. David is the author if Exeter Pubs, which offers a captivating glimpse into the history of some of Exeter’s most famous pubs. He also created the local history website Exeter Memories. When I became interested in local history a dozen years ago, I read many books, and spent much time in local archives trawling bound copies of newspapers and other documents. My interest expanded into a …