The collection contains extremely valuable files of local newspapers, including a rare volume of “Crossgrove’s News or the Norwich Gazette” for the years 1728-32, the “Norwich Gazette” 1761-64, a long file of its successor the “Norfolk Chronicle” from 1772 with a few gaps to date, the “Norwich Mercury” 1756-60, 1771-80, and from 1802 to date, and “The Eastern Daily Press” from 1875 to date. Recent features introduced in the Local Collection are files of obituary notices of Norfolk people, extracted from various papers and mounted on large cards, and cuttings from newspapers and periodicals of items of local interest, which are mounted on uniform sheets, classified, and filed for reference.
Donations to the Local Collection have been far too numerous even to allow mention of the names of all the chief donors, but the interest of Mr. James Reeve, F.G.S., the Consulting Curator of the Castle Museum, should not pass unnoticed. He has given in recent years several scarce books and prints, including a copy of his rare monograph on “John Sell Cotman,” and a volume of etchings by the Rev. E. T. Daniell.
In order to provide a handy guide to the extensive literature
relating to Norwich, the present writer prepared an annotated and classified catalogue of the books, pamphlets, articles and maps in the Local Collection dealing with the City under its most important aspects. The catalogue, entitled “Guide to the Study of Norwich” was published in 1914, and the Norfolk and Norwich Archæological Society marked its appreciation of it by purchasing 360 copies. In 1915 a series of special annotated catalogues of literature in the Library relating to Norfolk Celebrities was commenced in the “Readers’ Guide.” The first was devoted to the collection of literature relating to Lord Nelson (comprising 218 books, 39 pamphlets, 81 articles, and 31 prints), and the second to Norfolk Artists. Both catalogues were reprinted as pamphlets for sale at sixpence each.
He also prepared a scheme of classification for the entire collection, and began classifying and cataloguing the contents in 1915, but the work has been suspended owing to the absence of his trained assistants on service. However, about 3,000 books and pamphlets have been classified and catalogued in accordance with modern bibliographical practice, and it is hoped that in due course a complete catalogue will be prepared and printed, which will not only serve as a key to unlock this vast store of local information, but will also form an extensive bibliography of Norfolk and Norwich.
NORFOLK AND NORWICH PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY.
A valuable adjunct to the Local Collection is the Norfolk and Norwich Photographic Survey Record which was inaugurated in January, 1913. Shortly after the disastrous flood in Norfolk and Norwich during August, 1912, the Committee favourably considered a report from the City Librarian on the collection of photographs of everything interesting, valuable and characteristic of Norfolk and Norwich. A conference was convened between a Sub-Committee of the Public Library Committee and representatives of the local learned and scientific societies on 13th January, 1913, and ultimately a comprehensive scheme was adopted. It is carried out by the Public Library in collaboration with the Norwich and District Photographic Society and other local scientific societies, with the following
object: “To preserve by permanent photographic process, records of antiquities, art, architecture, geology and palæontology, natural history, passing events of local or historical importance, portraits, old documents, prints, and characteristic scenery of the county of Norfolk.” The photographs contributed to the Survey become the property of the Public Library, under the care of the City Librarian, who is the Secretary and Curator of the Survey. The Public Library has undertaken the responsibility of the mounting, storage and cataloguing of the photographs. The Collection is increased by donations of prints, and the purchase of prints from money specially subscribed for the purpose.
With the view of stimulating public interest in the Photographic Survey, and of acquainting persons with the scope and methods of photographic survey work, Mr. L. Stanley Jast, who was then the Chief Librarian of the Croydon Public Libraries, and the Hon. Curator of the Surrey Photographic Survey, delivered a public lecture with lantern illustrations to a large audience at Blackfriars’ Hall on 24th January, 1913. The first exhibition of photographs illustrative of the work of the survey was arranged by the City Librarian, and was held in the new Exhibition Room at the Library during December, 1913. An illustration of the room, from a photograph taken during the exhibition, faces this page. The opening ceremony was performed by Mr. Russell J. Colman, D.L., J.P., the President of the Survey, under the presidency of the Lord Mayor of Norwich (Mr. James Porter) who was accompanied by the Lady Mayoress and the Sheriff (Mr. C. T. Coller). The collection of photographs, which commenced in May, 1913, increased at a rapid rate, and although the work of the Survey has been practically at a standstill since the beginning of the war, the collection numbers 1,847 mounted prints and 59 lantern slides. The technique of the photographs reaches a very high standard, the majority of them are platinotypes, and many are of whole-plate size. The collection will undoubtedly be of service to antiquaries, historians, architects, geologists, naturalists, photographers, artists, and all lovers of the beautiful in nature and art, and it will also be of inestimable value to posterity.