EPPI and BOPCRIS*: What happened next?

Posted on 13 June 2016 by iholowaty

[Re-blogged from https://officialpapersuk.wordpress.com/2016/06/13/eppi-and-bopcris-what-happened-next/]

“The Hartley Library at the University of Southampton has an extensive collection of printed British official publications, known as the Ford Collection. The collection is named after the late Professor Percy Ford and his wife Dr Grace Ford who brought the initial collection, which we continue to build, to the University of Southampton in the 1950s. The Fords compiled ‘breviates’ or ‘select lists’ of official publications, in seven volumes covering the years 1833 – 1983. Their work was the impetus behind our later activities when technology and external funding enabled us to work collaboratively with other libraries in order to provide a selection of full-text digitised British official publications, free for all to use. Sadly, storage and delivery of such an immense amount of data is not without costs and we had to abandon our web services, EPPI and BOPCRIS, but we have worked to find ways to continue free access to the documents.

We are now moving the materials to Internet Archive. We have established two subsets, ‘British Parliamentary Publications’ and ‘British non-Parliamentary Publications’ . These hold previously digitised EPPI and BOPCRIS papers, with some additional non-Parliamentary publications which have been scanned by the in-house Hartley Library Digitisation Unit (LDU). In total, there are about 16,000 documents, including the full EPPI collection which comprises 13,700 documents. Other highlights include some very hard-to-find older departmental publications, e.g. a 1991 consultation on aircraft noise, https://archive.org/details/op1278555-1001 . Our current hope is to continue adding more non-Parliamentary materials from our collection, as we are aware that this is the area of least on-line provision.

We chose Internet Archive for many reasons, but here are just two. For researchers, it is now a well-known source and is free for all to use. For libraries wishing to share their open access digital collections, it offers a free and sustainable delivery mechanism.

An article with more detail has been submitted to Refer, the journal of the Information Services Group of CILIP. If you have any questions or comments, please contact the University of Southampton Library Digitisation Unit by e-mail, digitise@soton.ac.uk

* EPPI: Enhanced Parliamentary Papers on Ireland, 1801–1922 and BOPCRIS: British Official Publications Collaborative Reader Information Service

EPPI can also be accessed at: http://www.dippam.ac.uk/eppi

Joy Caisley
Law and Politics Librarian, Hartley Library, University of Southampton”

Bookmarked on HFL Diigo:

The ‘British Parliamentary Publications’ and ‘British non-Parliamentary Publications’ collections in the Internet Archive are now bookmarked on HFL Diigo.

Trial until 24 Oct: Trench Journals and Unit Magazines of the First World War

Posted on 25 September 2015 by iholowaty

Oxford users are now invited to trial Trench Journals and Unit Magazines of the First World War which is now available via OxLIP+ and SOLO.

This resource provides online access to digitised rare magazines published by service personnel of the First World War. Published by every type of military and support service unit, from every involved nation, trench journals were a means of expression through which men and women engaged in all aspects of World War I could share their thoughts and experiences.

It will be useful to those researching literature, history, war studies, cultural studies, and gender studies of the First World War period. The sources include over 1,500 periodicals, drawn from the holdings of major libraries and research collections, including the Imperial War Museums and the British Library.

While the majority of the magazines are English, the collection includes 188 French magazines, 182 German magazines, 10 Italian magazines, etc. In term of geographical spread, most Unit magazines comes from the Western Front and Great Britain, but there are some from Egypt, India, the Eastern Front, Gallipoli‎, etc.

The Illustrated War News 93 p7 May 1918 – Army Music at Kneller Hall School (Proquest: Trench Journals and Unit Magazines of the First World War)

You can search for publications by Unit names, Unit types or Unit locations. In Advanced Search you can also limit your search to types of content, such as cartoons, editorials, poem and drama, but also statistics, photographs, musical scores, etc.

Please leave feedback at History databases desiderata & trials or email isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Trial until 14 May: 19th Century British Newspapers Parts III and IV

Posted on 13 April 2015 by iholowaty

The Bodleian Libraries is now running a trial for 19th Century British Newspapers Parts III and IV [now known as British Library Newspapers, Parts III and IV] Access is via OxLIP+.

Following on from the existing subscription to 19th Century British Newspapers, this trial provides access to new content which private subscribers to the British Newspaper Archive can already access.

Parts III and IV, covering 1750-1950, further extends the range of English regional newspapers and expands the views represented in the series. Examples of new additions cover all areas of Britain and include, for instance, The Cornishman 1878-1950, Norfolk Chronicle, 1776-1867, Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette 1749-1950, Sheffield Daily Telegraph 1855-1904, etc.

Newspapers are a fascinating source material, providing both news and views and a running commentary of many aspects of our society.

Please send feedback to Isabel Holowaty or leave a comment at History databases desiderata & trials by 14 May 2015.

Catalogue of the papers of Harold Macmillan, 1889-1987 – now online

Posted on 14 February 2014 by iholowaty

You’ve never had it so good.

The catalogue of Harold Macmillan’s papers, held in Bodleian’s Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts, now online.

Previously there was only a typescript catalogue.

Please note that there are strict access conditions but they are available for research.

Undergraduates can use the Bodleian’s Special Collections but will need to register first.

> Catalogue of the papers of Harold Macmillan, 1889-1987

Overview of his papers:

A Diaries, 1915-1986

B Constituencey papers, 1924-1986

C Ministerial and Prime Ministerial papers, 1940-1963

D Political papers, 1924-1986

E General correspondence, 1912-1986

F Miscellaneous papers, arranged by subject, 1916-1987

G Speeches, 1925-1986

H Interviews and broadcasts, 1942-1985

I Memoirs and literary papers, 1918-1986

J Printed material

K Photographs, 1889-1984

L Press cuttings, 1950-1984

M Audiovisual material, 1949-1987 and n.d.

Related resource:

Macmillan Cabinet Papers 1957-63 [Oxford subscription]

Macmillan Online offers direct access to documents from the highest level of Government during the Macmillan Administration. Topics covered include the Berlin Crisis, 1958-1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962, the Commonwealth Immigration Act, 1962, and the Profumo Scandal, June 1963. With some 30,000 images of original documents, taken from CAB 128 and CAB 129 as well as selected files from PREM 11 and CAB 124, this project is as important a source for world history as it is for British politics.

Trial until 12 October: Daily Mail Historical Archive, 1896-2004

Posted on 13 September 2013 by iholowaty

Oxford users are now invited to trial Daily Mail Historical Archive, 1896-2004.

The Daily Mail is a well-known British daily tabloid which was first published on 4 May 1896 by Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, later Lord Northcliffe, and his brother Harold, later Lord Rothermere. This resource provides access to more than 100 years of this publication, which boasts a circulation now of over 2 million.

It can be viewed in full digital facsimile form, with copious advertisements, news stories and images that capture 20th century culture and society.

Let us know what you think!

Comments can be left on the History databases desiderata site or sent to isabel.holowaty@bodleian.ox.ac.uk by 12 October when the trial ends.

Newspapers, newspapers, newspapers

The online historical archive of the Daily Mirror, another tabloid, is already available to Oxford users.

Check what other historical newspapers are available online in Oxford.

Newly bookmarked: Richard Heaton’s Index to Digitalised British and Irish Newspapers Online Beta

Posted on 27 August 2013 by iholowaty

This beta site, last updated on 25 August 2013, looks very useful indeed to those working with 19th and 20th century British and Irish newspaper sources. It has now been bookmarked on HFL Delicious along with many other newspaper resources.

Richard Heaton’s Index to Digitalised British and Irish Newspapers Online (Beta)

The website is a list of all the titles in all of the Digitalised Online British and Irish Newspapers that Richard Heaton, a researcher, is aware of and which, he says “may be a helpful guide to identify whether a title is available online and, if so, what dates could be available and where you can locate it based on the data provided by the various sites (see link below). The Lists are split England (excluding London), London (which splits between Local newspapers and National Titles), Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man. They are sorted by County and then Town except London (which being a very large file) which I have chosen to sort by title (which means titles from the 17th Century could be next to those for the 20th Century).”

Local London newspapers, from Richard Heaton’s Index to British and Irish newspapers.

Ancestry.com freely available in Oxford Central Library & British Library

Posted on 13 March 2013 by iholowaty

If any Oxford historians would like free access to Ancestry.com, then you might like to know that the Oxford Central Library, nr Westgate Centre, provides access to Ancestry Library Edition – as does the British Library.

The Family and Local History section on the top level of the Central Library has 4-5 PCs where you can access Ancestry Library Edition. Please note that you can’t open an Ancestry personal account for the purposes of creating family trees. You can print from a PC or save to memory stick.

Ancestry.com is particularly useful for family and genealogical research, esp. British, North American and Australian. You can trace a family tree using the largest site online including the UK Census from 1841; birth, marriage and death records; parish and probate records. Here is a listing topics and sources:

Birth, Marriage & Death
Birth, Baptism & Christening
Marriage & Divorce
Death, Burial, Cemetery & Obituaries

Census & Voter Lists
UK Census Collection
U.S. Federal Census Collection
Canadian Census Collection

Immigration & Travel
Passenger Lists
Citizenship & Naturalization Records
Border Crossings & Passports

Military
Draft, Enlistment and Service
Casualties
Soldier, Veteran & Prisoner Rolls & Lists

Schools, Directories & Church Histories
City & Area Directories
Professional & Organizational Directories
Church Histories & Records

Tax, Criminal, Land & Wills
Land Records
Tax Lists
Court, Governmental & Criminal Records

Other useful resources

FamilySearch

Top 100 Most Popular Genealogy Websites

Medieval English Genealogy

Familiennamenbuch der Schweiz

Genealogische Datenbank Familie Beuss

and more from HFL Delicious: census websites, genealogy websites. If you want to make suggestions of other genealogy or census websites for bookmarking, please email Isabel Holowaty.

New: Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003

Posted on 22 April 2010 by iholowaty

We are pleased to announce that Oxford University users now have access to the Illustrated London News Historical Archive 1842-2003.

This resource providers researchers with access to 150 years of British social history, fashion, theatre, media, literature, advertising, graphic design and politics, as well as those interested in genealogy. With its debut in 14 May 1842, the ILN became the world’s first fully illustrated weekly newspaper, marking a revolution in journalism and news reporting. The publication presented a vivid picture of British and world events – including news of war, disaster, ceremonies, the arts and science – with coverage in the first issue ranging from the Great Fire of Hamburg to Queen Victoria’s fancy dress ball at Buckingham Palace.

Each page has been digitally reproduced in full colour and every article and caption is full-text searchable with hit-term highlighting and links to corresponding illustrations. Facsimiles of articles and illustrations can be viewed, printed and saved either individually or in the context of the page in which they appear. Wherever possible, Special Numbers covering special events such as coronations or royal funerals have been included.

The popularity of the ILN attracted great artists and draughtsmen to cover wars, royal events, scientific invention, and exploration. In 1855 it launched the world’s first colour supplement. Over the years the publication played host to many distinguished writers.

Access is via Databases A-Z and SOLO. Use SSO for remote access.

A demonstration of the ILN will take place on Thurs. 29 April, 12:30-13:30, Lecture Theatre, History Faculty, George Street. Simply turn. All are welcome!

PS: A review of the ILN is available online.

Bodleian History Faculty Library at Oxford

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Tag Archives: Great Britain