Over the next few weeks we’ll be posting a few more articles than usual, all tied to our exhibition Leodis: 400 Years of Leeds in the Leeds Libraries Collections. The exhibition can be seen in our City Library until November 11. This week, our focus is on written diaries and memories.
Memoranda Book (c.1712-1750)
The Memoranda Book or diary was compiled by John Lucas, Master of the Leeds Charity School, and friend of both Ralph Thoresby and Thomas Wilson. Lucas used the book to note interesting occurrences, both nationally and locally – including a very early record of a Black person in Leeds (Thomas Mawson), and the first report of a game of football (‘foot-ball’) in the town. Lucas gives little of himself away in his work – there are no personal observations or remarks, nothing about his work and little of his domestic life. Rather, his diary is more properly understood as, literally, a ‘memoranda’: that is, a memory aid – a collection of jottings that could be referred to at some future date. It was acquired by Leeds Libraries in 1933.
Fire Scrapbooks (1879-1899)
These scrapbooks consist of six volumes of newspaper cuttings and handwritten notes, detailing the activities of Superintendent Henry Baker (1841-1911) and the Leeds Corporation Fire Brigade. Using these volumes, we can understand the challenges faced by the various fire brigades in Leeds and the types of fires that they regularly encountered. An additional volume is a more personal collection of items and includes records of the honours bestowed on Baker, invitations to civic events and newspaper cuttings related to his personal accomplishments. The scrapbooks were acquired by Leeds Libraries in 1948.
Covid Diary of J. Spackman (2020).
The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in 2020, affected people in different ways. Some people experienced months of self-isolation, others dealt with home schooling and furlough. Spackman created this diary to record national developments as the pandemic progressed, as well as their own personal experiences. Acquired by Leeds Libraries in 2024.
My life in the Fashion Trade [200-]
This short memoir by Molly A. Kean tells of her career in the Leeds fashion trade and is one of the more unique publications in the City Library’s collection of local biographies and autobiographies. Covering her journey from a 14-year-old working at Dixons – ‘the Hollywood Fashion Shop’ – through her modelling career, to her later work in sales for Leeds companies such as French Dressing on Bond Street, Kean’s life in the fashion trade is an engaging slice of social history. This was acquired by Leeds Libraries in 2010.
A lesser-known collection in the City Library’s local history archive is published and unpublished biographical material capturing the memories of working-class people, usually in their own words. Covering all areas of Leeds, from Aberford to Woodhouse, the collection is a unique record of a changing city over the last 100 years. Much of this material has been donated by the authors themselves, or their families. We strongly encourage new contributions.
