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Cambridge City Archives Project

Melissa McGreechanMelissa.McGreechan@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

14 Nov 2011

Title Page

Project Origin and Funding

Expense of Cataloguing Archivist paid by donation from the Cambridgeshire Family History Society

Expenses of conservation materials and storage met by Cambridgeshire Archives

The research importance of the collection

The relationship between the University and town The town’s pre-eminence in the region Biographical research into significant figures involved in University

and town life, for example Florence Keynes, John Mortlock, Robert Sayle

Family history: an ancestor’s involvement in public life, a mention in burgess lists or electoral registers, in rate books as owner or occupier, in accounts of the Corn Exchange as stall holders

Research into social policy, public health and housing The built heritage and environment, including plans and drawings

of significant corporation buildings, deeds of public buildings and private houses. Records of the streets, river and railways are fundamental sources, not just for transport history, but for their contribution to the shaping of this vitally important and nationally-influential modern city.

Aims of the ProjectCatalogue

To catalogue the archives of Cambridge City Council including absorbed authorities

To barcode and locate every item in the collectionConservation

To clean and repackage the collection To work with our conservator to isolate items in the collection in need of

immediate conservationPromoting access and Community involvement

To work with volunteers from the CFHS and other organisations to formulate projects of interest to Family and local historians to promote access to information held within the records

To arrange displays, talks and attend outreach activities at landmarks throughout the project to spread the news of progress on the collection to the wider community

Catalogue CB/1- Records of the Unreformed Corporation CB/2- Records of the Municipal Corporation 1835-1974 CB/3- Cambridge City Council CB/4-Cambridge Improvement Commissioners CB/5-Civil parish records (Overseers for 13 ancient parishes

of Cambridge) CB/6-Overseers records for the parishes of Cambridge and

Cambridge Without Records of Chesterton Urban District Council Records of Trumpington Parish Council Records of Cherryhinton Parish Council CB/Q Quarter Sessions CB/Co Records of the Borough Coroner Cambridge Municipal Charities Conservators of the River Cam City Education records from the County Council archive

Photos taken of condition of storage at the start of the project

Progress with the Catalogue

Over 18,500 items in CALM just over 15,000 are available to see on the public access side of the catalogue

University and Colleges

Records of decisions and negotiations between members of the Corporation, Improvement Commissioners and University and individual colleges relating to legislation, the provision of utilities such as new roads, or a sewerage system for the town, the Corporation’s influence within College walls and the Universities responsibilities over its students outside the college walls.

Colleges major property owners in the town – negotiations over compulsory purchases, eg. New Road from Mill Road to the Station Cb/4/9/23. Jesus College, Corpus Christi College, Caius College

Disputes over valuations and setting of rates, eg CB/2/TR/2/5 Lands Tribunal case Kings, Downing, Churchill and Newnham Colleges versus Cambridge City Council

Plans relating to public works such as road widening, building, eg CB/2/SE/1/Roll 48/19 Plan showing angle of vision from bus, looking on to Emmanuel College swimming pool

Public access to CALM

Web addresshttp://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure

/archives/catalogue/default.htmClick Search CALM for a free text search

facilityClick Browse catalogue for an A-Z list of

all catalogued collections CB prefix for Cambridge City

Volunteers

Volunteer listing projects22 volunteers from CFHS, NADFAS and

interested individuals during course of project Up to 12 current volunteers coming in

concurrently1680 hours given to project to date contributing

over 5000 new catalogue entriesApprox 20 hrs each week – equivalent of part

time role

Example of Piece level descriptions from entries in Corporation leasebook - done in excel for import into CALM

A small number of my volunteers do not work directly onto a computer. This template from is completed by some and then either typed up by out data entry clerk or sent out to CFHS volunteers who work from home.

CFHS transcription projects

Transcription of a selection of entries from Parish rate books, including name of occupier, owner and location

CFHS transcription projects

Transcription of name, address and regiment details from the roll of honour card index

Cambridge Borough Quarter Session index

Cambridge Borough Quarter Sessions index

Conservation

Cleaning and repackaging

[375 new boxes, 450 volumes ind wrapped, 40 ind boxes made]

A conservation priority given to each item as part of the cataloguing process

Conservator’s attention for items at risk

Promoting access and community involvement

Project display at public events Articles for CFHS journal, and CALH

journal Website:

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/archives/projects/cambridgeproject/

TalksEnquiries

Cherry Hinton Local History Fair

Articles

Enquiries

Search room work Enquiries following publication of articles

in CFHS Researchers working on Folk Museum,

Covent Garden, Housing policy 1930-1950

ProductionsDate Requests No of items No of

researchers

2006 70 101 29

2007 66 117 22

2008 46 64 21

2009 143 212 33

2010 213 285 43

2011 200 350 40