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Events at the Record Office

The Record Office organises and hosts a number of events throughout the year on a variety of topics.

LADYBIRD AT THE RECORD OFFICE : Well loved tales event

The Local Studies Library at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland has an extensive collection of Ladybird books, and we are holding a publicity event on Thursday 18th March 2010, between 6-9 pm to illustrate the gems within the library collection.  Over 10,000 items have been generously donated direct from the publishers, nearly 1,500 have already been catalogued (and you can find these on the Leicestershire & Rutland library service on-line catalogue – try a search for ‘L094’ as a classification/shelf number to see what we have available to view).
We have some rare items we are going to showcase on the night: the ‘Sunbird series’ ‘Out of town’, and ‘Alphabet Book’, both signed by their authors; ‘Keyword series’ flashcards, and books by our own local authors, including the highlight of the night – a talk by Kathie Layfield, who will be bringing some of her original artwork. Don’t miss out on a chance to see the strange and unusual material we have here, and have a wonderful opportunity to indulge in the nostalgia of those ‘well-loved tales’ from your childhood too.
There are still some places available!  Please do contact the Record Office on (0116) 257 1080 or email : recordoffice@leics.gov.uk  if you are interested in attending, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

"Talkin 'bout our Generations" Record Office Open Day
Saturday 7th November 11 am - 3 pm

On Saturday 7th November the Record Office held an Open Day.  The theme of the day was the 1960s - a decade of great change locally, nationally and, of course, musically, which it is hoped will convey the message that archives can inform us of our recent as well as our distant past. Visitors were able to find out about the 1960s in Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland through our local studies and archive collections and also had the opportunity to bring in some of their own documents and photographs from that era to show us.
It was an opportunity for people to find out more about the work and resources of the Office through an informal programme of events and entertainments.  There were tours of the searchrooms and strongrooms, a demonstration of conservation techniques, family history advice, exhibitions, displays and live music was performed throughout the day by Leicestershire group "Stranded in the Sixties". 'Talkin 'bout our Generations' was opened by local author, Lynda Page, who was on hand to sign books and answer questions.  Lynda's most recent novel, 'No Way Out', is set in the Leicester of the 1960s. Staff were also on hand to answer questions on family and local history of all eras.
We had hula hoops and table skittles for the children and the refreshments had a 1960s twist to them, with chips and mushy peas and cheese & pineapple on sticks being served, along with sweets and crisps from the time, all washed down with Ginger Beer and Dandelion & Burdock.
Over 200 people came through the door and both visitors and staff enjoyed the day. Below is a selection of pictures from the event.
Record Office Open Day Lynda Page Alderman M Jones & his wife
Visitors gathering for the start
of the Open Day
Local author Lynda Page
opening the event
Alderman & Mrs M Jones in front
of the Leicester Slums exhibition
Alderman & Mrs Jones dancing Stranded in the Sixties Band Lynda Page signing her books
Alderman & Mrs Jones starting the event off with some impressive dancing
Local group "Stranded in the Sixties" performing with Jenny on tambourine
Many visitors wanted to speak
to Lynda Page
Tour on Open Day Children at Open Day Open Day Car
There were tours of the searchrooms,
strongrooms and conservation area
Children's activities included table
skittles and hula-hooping
Classic cars and scooters from the
'60s joined us on the day
Open Day Food Open Day Food
Margaret & Liz at the Open Day
Staff preparing the food area
Chips & Mushy Peas, Cheese & Pineapple and '60s crisps & sweets were all available
Several staff wore outfits they wore
in the '60s. Here is Margaret & Liz
Denise & John at Open Day
Victoria & Jenny at Open Day
Sherry at Open Day
Denise and John
Victoria and Jenny
Sherry
Jan at Open Day
Di at Open Day
Chris at Open Day
Jan
Di
Chris
Jeanette & Joyce at Open Day
Chris, Clive & Adam at Open Day
Mike at Open Day
Jeanette and Joyce
Chris, Clive and Adam
Mike before taking his place
at the keyboard

The Kulturkampf Newsletters, 1936-1939

On Wednesday 18 November 2009 at 6-8 pm there was a presentation to the Record Office of 23 original newsletters published by Samuel Walker and Sons, printers of Hinckley and a book launch "Confronting the Nazi War on Christianity : The Kulturkampf Newsletters, 1936-1939".
The Kulturkampf Newsletters, which have never appeared in English since the 1930s, were produced by German Catholic exiles in France.  They scrupulously document the tensions between various strands of Nazi policy and the nature of the policy eventually adoped : this was to reduce the Churches' influence in all areas of public life through the use of every available means, yet without provoking the difficulties - diplomatic as well as domestic - which an openly declared war of extermination might have caused.
The company,  Samuel Walker's, Printers and Publishers Ltd, was founded by Samuel Walker, c.1900 when he was just 23. He had been a pupil at Hinckley Grammar School and had worked as a journalist on the Hinckley Times. Samuel's brother, Fred, joined the Dominican Order and became a priest. This helped the company forge links with the Dominicans and other orders. A large proportion of the work they did was for the Church, especially for missionary orders, like the White Fathers, who are in Africa and other far off places. The company folded in 1997.

An Introduction to Family History Workshop

If you are just starting your family history or thinking of starting, you will find this workshop very useful.  You will be shown how to start, what to look for and where to look for it.
The next workshop will be on : 9th March 2010
Time : 10 am – 12 noon
Cost : £10 (payable in advance)
To be held at The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicester LE18 2AH.
To book your place, please ring : 0116 257 1080 or email : recordoffice@leics.gov.uk

The Next Step - Family History Workshop

Have you reached a point in your family history research where you are wondering "Where do I go from here?"  The Record Office is running this workshop to help you find out about other records such as Poor Law, Quarter Sessions, printed sources and others to help you to continue in your search.
Time : 10 am – 12 noon
Cost : £10 (payable in advance)
To be held at The Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland, Long Street, Wigston Magna, Leicester LE18 2AH.
To find out when the next workshop is and to book your place, please ring : 0116 257 1080 or email : recordoffice@leics.gov.uk

Legacy of Partition image

further information

Contact: The Record Office
Telephone: 0116 2571080
Fax: 0116 2571120
E-mail: recordoffice@leics.gov.uk
Last Updated:
16 March 2010
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