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Beth Gaskell

@bethgaskell.bsky.social

1K followers 300 following 92 posts

Lead Curator, News & Moving Image at the British Library. Researcher of press history, military-media relations, and social and literary history in the long 19th century. Views all my own.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Nov 13

Thought I’d make my first post both positive and useful-so here’s a list of all of the free-to-view titles now available on the British Newspaper Archive:
blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/2024/09/19/a...

List of Free to View Pages | British Newspaper Archive

Working in partnership with the British Library, here we present a list of all newspaper pages included in our free to view newspaper collection.

blog.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 9d

Today's #MastheadMonday is the True Sun (1832-37). Founded by Patrick Grant due to his feud with Murdo Young, who he believed had swindled him out of ownership of the Sun newspaper. Charles Dickens was briefly the paper's Parliamentary reporter. www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/true-...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 16d

Today's #MastheadMonday is The Censor (1846). This pro-Free Trade newspaper, used satire as a tool to bring about reform, particularly focussing its attacks on gambling and gaming-houses. It lasted only 4 issues. Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/censo...

Masthead for The Censor; or Satirical Times. This is issue number one, Saturday, January 4th, 1846. It was priced at seven pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20d

I’m interested in all the stuff around newspaper advertising, so is opening up some new resources for me!

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20d

White searching for something else for @liamsims.bsky.social I stumbled across T.B Browne’s Provincial Newspaper Circular. It has the most wonderful illustrations of Browne’s advertising offices. The information these advertising guides & directories provide for newspaper historians is invaluable.

Image of the Newspaper File Department at T.B Browne’s Advertising Office. It shows numerous shelves piled with newspapers, and various men reading and sorting them.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 20d

Thanks Liam. I’d hoped to look at the ABC Index to the Advertising Press today, but a post-cyber attack catalogue glitch means it will be tomorrow. I’ve checked T.B Browne’s Provincial Newspaper Circular, but despite being very interesting, it’s not that! The hunt continues…

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 22d

I’ve ordered a couple of things to look at, but it would be great to see a few more pictures.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 22d

Do you have more images or reasons to suspect 1881? I’m happy to call some stuff up to look if that helps? Browne had his own advertising agency and produced a few guides and circulars. Feel free to DM with more info.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · 23d

Today’s #MastheadMonday offering is the Town & Country Daily Newspaper (1873). It ran from July-Sept, before merging into the Sun (1792-1871; 1873-76), which itself had newly emerged from a merger with the Central Press (1861-1871). Free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/town-...

Masthead for the Town and Country Daily Newspaper. It shows issue one, from Monday July 14, 1873.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Sep 1

I don’t think the colour lasted very long (as was so often the case). But would need to go back and check.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Sep 1

Today's #MastheadMonday is the British Army Despatch (1848-1856), a newspaper devoted to military news. It had a conservative stance, supporting the Duke of Wellington's military leadership and outlook. Digitised by the BL and free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/briti...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Aug 13

The Radical Act behind your local library: Celebrating 175 years of public libraries blogs.bl.uk/thenewsroom/...

The Radical Act behind your local library: Celebrating 175 years of public libraries

This post was written by Jenny Pearce, Senior Marketing Manager for LibraryOn at the British Library. 2025 sees the 175th anniversary of the Public Library Act 1850. The Act was an initial step in pro...

blogs.bl.uk

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 21

Today's #MastheadMonday is the Hackney & Kingsland Times (1862-63), which began life as the Kingsland Times & General Advertiser (1860-62), & covered local, national & international news. It is another London Local digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/kings...

Masthead for the Hackney & Kingsland Times: And North-East London Telegraph. This was issue number one in the new series, after it was renamed. It is from 19th April 1862. It was proved one penny.

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Reposted by Beth Gaskell

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Jul 18

(If you're a UK based historian, or just History-curious, and don't know about the IHR, you are missing a treat). Over 50 fortnightly seminars (most also available online) during the academic year, and much more. Visit the Institute and its library if you're in London. And it's free. 2/2

Institute of Historical Research

The Institute of Historical Research is the UK's national centre for history

www.history.ac.uk

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 15

They were actually great once I got to speak to someone-but their setup at the airport was absolutely chaotic. I’ve made it home, but have now fully succumbed to the lurgy I was fighting. Hope your journey was a lot more straightforward.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 14

Pierce Egan's Life in London & Sporting Guide (1824-27) is today's #MastheadMonday. Egan, who was publisher, editor & proprietor was an established journalist & sports writer, who wrote particularly about boxing. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/pierc...

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 14

This, so much! I find it hard to recommend working in the heritage sector, despite loving it, because it’s nearly impossible to afford to live while doing it!

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 13

There was a lot of confusion about transit visas. So in the end they moved me onto another flight which is later but direct. So spending a strange day in the airport 🤣
All the AA flights seem to be delayed today. I hope you make it home without too much difficulty.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 13

2 hours to check in for a for a flight with #americanairlines at O’Hare. Booked via #britishairways but that just means the online and kiosk check in doesn’t work and then you’re out into the queue of doom! This is the biggest shambles!

@americanair.bsky.social
@americanairsupport.bsky.social

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 7

Changes of title were common during this period, & often indicated mergers (this was a merger between The Correspondent & The Public Cause),or changes of management. All titles have been digitised together by the BL & are free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/publi...

Public Cause in British Newspaper Archive

Explore and read 832 pages of Public Cause on the British Newspaper Archive, 5 years of history, local and international news stories, different and free sample issues to view everyday

www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jul 7

Following on from last week’s #MastheadMonday, today we have the Correspondent & Public Cause. This was the 2nd title used by the Public Cause, followed by The Public Cause,or Westminster Reformer, & The Public Cause & General Correspondent. 1/2

Newspaper masthead for The Correspondent and Public Cause. This is issue number one, for 5th October 1814, and was priced at eight pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jun 30

It’s #MastheadMonday again. Today we feature the Public Cause (1811-1816), a which had a reformist and often anti-monarchy agenda. At times it expressed support for Napoleon; & regularly reprinted Byron’s poetry. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/publi...

Masthead of The Public Cause. Its subtitle was “The cause for which Hampden bled in the Field, and Sidney died in the Scaffold!” This was issue number three for Wednesday, October 16th 1811, and was priced at nine and a half pence.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jun 24

Excited to see my article ‘Esprit de Corps: Regimental Journals and Belonging’ published in JEPS!

Andrew Hobbs @drewhobbs.bsky.social · Feb 24

New issue of Journal of European Periodicals out! And it's open access openjournals.ugent.be/jeps/

Journal of European Periodical Studies

openjournals.ugent.be

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jun 23

It’s #MastheadMonday & today’s title is the Nonconformist Elector (1847). This short-lived newspaper was launched with the sole aim of forwarding the prospects of nonconformist candidates in the 1847 election. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/nonco...

Masthead for the Nonconformist Elector. This is issue number one, Friday 9th July 1847, and is priced at 3 pence.

Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jun 16

It’s #MastheadMonday again! Today we have the Greenwich Free Press (1855-1865), one of the London Locals we digitised as part of @BL_MadeDigital. It is packed full of great local stories, as well as national and international news. Free to view here: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/borou...

Masthead for The Borough of Greenwich Free Press: And Kent and Surrey Commercial Advertiser. This is issue number one, Saturday August 4th, 1855. It was priced at three and a half pence.

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Beth Gaskell @bethgaskell.bsky.social · Jun 9

Today’s #MastheadMonday is the short-lived Aurora Borealis (1821). London based, it devoted lots of space to Scottish news, which proved unpopular with its readers. It merged with the Observer of the Times in 1822. Digitised by the BL & free-to-view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/auror...

Masthead for the Aurora Borealis. This is issue one, Sunday March 25th 1821, priced at eight and a half pence.

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