Published: Thursday, 30th October, 2008 06:00
History preserved with our negatives
By Rose Harland
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The Olympic torch relay at Cemetery Junction for the London Olympics of 1948
CHRONICLE photographs of an anti-apartheid march, evacuees and VE Day parties are celebrated in a new guide to Reading Museum.
The World In Reading: Introducing The Reading Museum Collection, highlights the “large and historically important” Chronicle Collection of more than 40,000 glass plate negatives.
One of the photographs was even projected onto Wellington Arch in Hyde Park as part of the 2012 Olympic bid.
Senior archivist Matt Williams said: “The collection covers the period from 1938 to 1962. It is a good map of a really important period of change in both local and national history.
“It covers the Second World War, the end of empire, mass immigration, the changing role of women and big changes in technology. ”
An image of the Olympic flag being handed over at Reading’s Cemetery Junction before the 1948 London Olympics is one of the highlights of the collection, which also includes scenes of everyday life.
The fragile negatives can only be viewed by appointment, but many of the images are reproduced in the museum and can be seen online.
They have also been used by authors and researchers since they were donated by the Chronicle in 1980.
The guide book was funded by the Friends of Reading Museum and produced by local publisher Two Rivers Press.
Mr Williams said: ““We are really pleased with the result - it really shows off the range and quality of our collection. The collection is owned by the people of Reading and it’s for the people of Reading.”
Proceeds from the book, which is on sale for £5 in the museum shop in Blagrave Street, will help with running costs.
Images from the Reading Chronicle Collection can be seen at www.readingmuseum.co.uk
Contact Reading Museum Service on 0118 939 9800
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Gaza protest in town centre