News Archive

Museum seeks volunteers for unique conservation project – University of Reading

The Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading seeks volunteers to help in the conservation and packaging of a unique collection of over 130,000 glass negatives, as part of a new Project funded by the National Lottery. The negatives, which derive from the press collections of the 'Farmer and Stockbreeder' and 'Farmers Weekly' magazines, feature rare images of farm labour, agricultural shows, events and personalities from the English countryside over the past century The collection includes images of life and work in the countryside during World War 2. Says Caroline Gould, Project Manager: 'Help from new volunteers, to join our existing and much-valued team, would be invaluable in preserving these important collections for future generations. You could be involved in removing the negatives from their old packaging or placing the glass plate negatives in new enclosures. The project conservator will always be on hand throughout each session to help, and full training will given on all aspects, such as the correct way to handle these delicate and vulnerable items'. Success in obtaining Lottery- funding for the glass negatives project comes as construction work is about to begin on a new state-of-the-art building for the Museum in Redlands Road. Also funded by the Lottery, the new £10 million building will feature improved storage facilities for the Museum's internationally-important collections, including the glass negatives, as well as archives, books and artefacts relating to the English countryside over the past 200 years. If you would be interested in taking part in the Glass Negatives Project, or would like to receive further information, please call the Museum on 0118 378 8660, e-mail c.l.gould@reading.ac.uk or write to Caroline Gould, Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 229, Reading RG6 6AG. The Museum is located on Whiteknights Campus at the University of Reading, close to the main University entrance on Shinfield Road (A327). Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10am – 1pm and 2 – 4.30pm. Admission is £1, (OAPs 75p, children and students free). Visit the website on www.ruralhistory.org. ENDS For further details, please contact Sue Rayner or Carol Derham on 0118 931 8004/5 Fax 0118 931 8924; e-mail s.j.rayner@reading.ac.uk c.a.derham@reading.ac.uk