Author | Lightnews

Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Oct 6

It’s #WorldArchitectureDay so seemed a good time to share architect Sydney Smirke’s report to #britishmuseum Trustees in 1856 where he discusses the advice he received from Michael Faraday on lightning conductors & gilding for the Round Reading Room. #archives #architecture #faraday

Smirke report to the British Museum Trustees, 1856

Building the Round Reading Room, 1855. Photo by William Lake Price

Iron Library, surrounding the Round Reading Room, 1950s.

Smirke design for the Round Reading Room windows with gilding.

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Sep 21

From 2007-12 the British Museum collaborated with Kew Gardens to create beautiful garden exhibitions in the forecourt. Themes including North American, Indian, Chinese & African planting may provide some inspiration for the new visitor welcome experience works. #britishmuseum #archives #kewgardens

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Sep 19

That’s interesting! Makes sense that it was discussed by the Office of Works too. The discussion seems to have gone on for a while before it became clear it wasn’t possible without an alteration to the BM Act. Thanks for sharing that!

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Sep 19

In 1912 the British Museum began discussing the offer of Stonehenge as a gift for the nation from the estate of John Jacob Astor. Here is Charles Hercules Read corresponding with Sir Edmund Antrobus (then owner) & the BM’s Trustees on the matter. #britishmuseum #archives #stonehenge

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Jul 25

The British Museum archive holds original archival records of the founding of the Derby China Works in the mid-18th C. Here is one of the beautiful pattern books & a notebook listing painters who were employed to decorate porcelain, including Angelica Kauffman. #BritishMuseum #archive #derbychina

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Jul 24

I love these two photographs of the King’s Library with proposed designs for new lighting drawn on them from the 1950s. Originally built in the 1820s - big glass chandeliers might have been a step too far! #BritishMuseum #archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Jun 28

This scrapbook was put together by John Thurnam (b.1810), psychiatrist & archaeologist, who had a particular interest in standing stones. It includes these lovely drawings, sketches & articles on Stonehenge. #britishmuseum #archive #stonehenge #exploreyourarchive #archaeology

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Jun 25

This directive was issued by the British Museum Director in 1939, bemoaning the summer attire of staff. I wonder what the staff made of it…! #britishmuseum #londonsummer #archive #eya

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Jun 2

Happy 90th birthday to Sir Norman Foster, architect of the British Museum’s Great Court! #britishmuseum #archive #sirnormanfoster #architecture #exploreyourarchive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 31

Just found another letter from Charles Darwin that I didn’t know we had in the British Museum archive - this one is to zoologist John Edward Gray & appears to be about barnacles (& Gray’s management of the collection)! #britishmuseum #archive #charlesdarwin #exploreyourarchive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 15

This lovely little drawing was sent to us in the post recently - there was a short note with it from someone called Alan but no further details so I can’t write to say thank you. It’s of the Museum’s 1st home, Montagu House & dates from 1800. Thank you Alan! #britishmuseum #archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 8

Happy 99th Birthday to former British Museum trustee, Sir David Attenborough, born on this day in 1926. Here he is at the Museum in the 1980s with the future King Charles III! #SirDavidAttenborough #BritishMuseum #Archive #otd

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 7

The British Museum was badly damaged in air raids WWII & it took some time to reopen after the cessation of hostilities. Although the Museum was closed to the public when Victory in Europe was announced, staff who wanted to celebrate weren’t forgotten. #VEDay80 #britishmuseum #archive #EYA #WWII

Treasury circular announcing arrangements for staff on the announcement for VE Day, 1945

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 1

My dad’s family originally came from Shilbottle….!

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Reposted by Francesca Hillier

Dr Amara Thornton @amalexathorn.bsky.social · May 1

Great blog on women at the British Museum. @beyondnotables.bsky.social has a (very!) long list of women associated in some way w/ the Museum between 1870-1950, including women lecturing at the Museum (many w/ explicit permission of Trustees), women using the Reading Room, & women donors

Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 1

If you’re interested in how women have visited, worked in or impacted the British Museum, here’s a handy blog!: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/first-w...
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive

The first women at the British Museum

From the suffragettes to the first women employees, discover the women who led the way at the British Museum.

www.britishmuseum.org

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · May 1

If you’re interested in how women have visited, worked in or impacted the British Museum, here’s a handy blog!: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/first-w...
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive

The first women at the British Museum

From the suffragettes to the first women employees, discover the women who led the way at the British Museum.

www.britishmuseum.org

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 30

Without our important archive we wouldn’t know of our history, buildings, collection or foundational links to the British Library & the Natural History Museum, or that there was a philosopher’s stone in the Hans Sloane collection! #Archive30 #WhyArchives #BritishMuseum #BL_London #NHM_London

Sir Hans Sloane manuscript catalogue page

Gatehouse on Great Russell Street, British Museum Montagu House, 1841

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 29

The British Museum archive is vast, varied & complex - it is vital to telling the story of the world’s 1st public museum, with the history of its collections, buildings, visitors & much, much more. #Archive30 #ArchiveCollection #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 28

The British Museum’s iconic building is known throughout the world but it’s had its fair share of upheaval & change. From the ‘new’ building in the 19th C, WWII damage, Great Court building & the Round Reading Room, it’s a special very place. #Archive30 #ArchivesBuildings #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 27

Mould outbreaks are every archives’ nightmare. This one came out of nowhere in a monitored store & developed very quickly - a big job to get it all professionally cleaned & then moved to a new store. #Archive30 #ArchiveNightmares #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 25

The Trustees of the British Museum agreed to the design for the Museum seal in 1755. Here is a plaster cast of it, with a description written on the back & a paper impression from 1760. #Archive30 #ArchiveObject #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 25

One of the plans for the new British Museum extension in the 1890s included a BM Avenue, to lead from the North Entrance & covering the area now occupied by Senate House. The new King Edward Building was built, but not the avenue. #Archive30 #SomethingNew #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 24

This crate of papers deposited by Montague Guest in 1906 from the British Museum archive is the most popular item with the archive team right now & we can’t wait to get started on it! #Archive30 #PopularItem #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 23

We are always keen to share the British Museum’s unique archival collections with local community groups & others interested in the Museum’s history & collections. Here are some images from recent archive tours and events. #Archive30 #CommunityArchives #BritishMuseum #Archive

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Francesca Hillier @frannabel2010.bsky.social · Apr 22

In light of the actions by suffragists in London in 1914, British Museum Trustees needed to keep a close eye on women visiting the Museum. Extra police were brought in women & were required to be accompanied by others who could vouch for their characters. #Archive30 #ArchiveAction #BritishMuseum

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