Projects

Following professional advice on conservation techniques from Local Record Offices and major museums as far away as America, Australia and the British Museum a grant request to the Lottery Heritage Fund was successful.  Specialized scanning equipment and materials were obtained and an initial inventory of the negatives was started and the training of volunteers commenced.

The negatives were digitally scanned at high resolution and archive copies of the original scans written to DVD's in uncompressed TIF format.  Copies of the scans are photographically enhanced, stored in a specialised database and printed in a format suitable for detailed description. Large prints will be made, mounted and exhibited at various venues during the next few years.  The full database and prints can be examined at The Magic Attic. Prints can be purchased at a cost of £1.50 each.

Windows into the Past

A few examples of glass plates scanned and added to our archives

“Windows into the Past” was a major project to scan, preserve and exhibit a large number of glass negatives.

Approximately 7000 negatives from the archives of the Burton Mail were donated to the Attic in August 2005.  An initial examination showed that they ranged in dates from the 1890’s until 1980, many of the earlier ones being of significant historical importance from the renowned photographer Richard Keene of Burton.  The glass plate negatives contain a unique pictorial record of the industrial and social history of the area over the last 110 years.

Examining a glass plate before it is scanned