The blog for the Borthwick Institute for Archives at the University of York.
Written by Lydia Dean, YWT Project Archivist In my last blog about my project cataloguing the archive of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, I wrote about how I got started with the survey of this archive. In this instalment, I’ll be writing about my experiences in developing a structure for the archive, why it’s important and … Continue reading The Nature of the Job II: Structuring the archive of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
Written by Lydia Dean, Archivist Back in the Spring of this year, we carried out two phases of user testing on our online catalogue, Borthcat. The key results of the first phase of testing are described over on our Digital Archivist, Jen Mitcham’s, blog, as well as some of the actions we were able … Continue reading Testing the online catalogue: results of user testing
Written by Lydia Dean, Archivist Earlier this year we were gifted a very exciting archive – the archive of James Hornby, head gardener at Heslington Hall between 1870 and 1902. This small but fascinating group of records gives us some real insights into the day-to-day role of a Victorian head gardener, and well as a … Continue reading James Hornby: Heslington Hall Horticulturalist
Written by Lydia Dean, YWT Project Archivist So, I’m about halfway through the 12 months of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust archive project – and what a six months it’s been! The time is going quickly; summer was filled with continuing the survey of deposited material, drafting and re-drafting an archival structure and finishing off my … Continue reading The nature of the job: surveying the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust archive
Written by Lydia Dean, YWT Project Archivist Since April, I have been steadily working through the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s fascinating and extensive archive. I have now surveyed over half of the records that have been deposited here at the Borthwick Institute – about 84 boxes, or 570 files! – and along the way have rediscovered … Continue reading Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Operation Cleft Stick
Written by Lydia Dean, YWT Project Archivist On 2nd May 1946, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, then called Yorkshire Naturalists’ Trust, was legally incorporated. Founded in a post-war context, where the Government was keen to provide a ‘vision of a brighter Britain’1, the Trust’s first objective was “to protect places and objects of natural beauty or of … Continue reading Yorkshire Wildlife Trust: 70 years on
Written by Lydia Dean, YWT Project Archivist The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) is one of the largest Wildlife Trusts in Britain and its 97 reserves cover some of the most varied landscapes in the UK. It works to protect and conserve Yorkshire’s wild places and wildlife, with reserves including Spurn National Nature Reserve, Flamborough Cliffs, … Continue reading Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Project
Written by Lydia Dean, Archives Assistant York County Hospital was established in 1740 and until 1977, when the current hospital opened, was the main hospital in York. The hospital was originally run as a charity, supported by wealthy subscribers. It continued to be run in this way right up to the 20th century when the … Continue reading York County Hospital and World War One
Written by Lydia Dean, Archives Assistant Today is December 21st, Midwinter day and also the traditional date of the feast of St Thomas, which sees winter traditions continuing all over Britain, Europe and further afield. In York, the longest night and shortest day heralded the ancient custom of the Yule Riding and the beginning of … Continue reading Yule and Yule’s Wife
Written by Lydia Dean. Today marks the 65th anniversary of the National Health Service. During the Second World War, concerns for the sustainability of voluntary hospitals (already subsidised by the government before 1945) contributed to the proposal of a comprehensive health service, open to all members of the community and free at the point of … Continue reading ‘An end and a beginning’: York County Hospital and the NHS