This week we hear from Librarian Louise Birch, who will be sharing a very special Christmas Carol from the Local and Family History Department. “Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the Library not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse” “The stockings were hung by the counter with care, in hopes that…
People of Leeds #15: Buffalo Bill’s Wild West
This week, we hear from the Central Library’s Helen Skilbeck, who talks us through a fascinating and very-valuable Playbill. This article is #15 in our People of Leeds series – short biographies of lesser-known contributors to Leeds’ past. Leeds Libraries collection of playbills can be viewed online but one that has not yet been digitised is…
Armley and the Domesday Book
On the Secret Library this week we hear from Local and Family History’s Josh Flint who will be delving into Thomas Wilson’s Transcription of the Yorkshire Domesday Book, 1748, and explore what the Domesday Book can tell us about Armley and the people who lived there in the 11th Century. This is part of a…
I am the merry-go-round horse dragging up the earth beneath me. Part 1
This week on the Secret Library we hear from Dr Charlotte Cullen. Charlotte, who is an artist, researcher, serf member and lecturer in Fine Art at York St John University, has been working with the Leeds Central Library Collections during lockdown with a focus on Armley to create newly inspired artwork. This project has been…
A Garden Through Time: Headingley Zoological and Botanical Gardens
This week on the Secret Library we hear from local artist Matthew Bellwood, who talks us through a fascinating interactive local history walk, which we were very honoured to contribute resources to, primarily from Leodis, our archive of historical Leeds images… A lost landmark of Leeds has been brought back to life in A Garden…
Hard workers, not burdens: Disabled and Deaf mill workers in Yorkshire
This week we hear from artist Gill Crawshaw, who has been delving into the Central Library archives to uncover the hidden history of disability and West Yorkshire’s textile heritage. The article is published to mark the start of UK Disability History Month, which began on November 18. A few years ago, I became interested in…
People of Leeds #14: Norma Hutchinson
In the final of three special articles to mark our Unfinished Business exhibition focusing on Women in our collections, we present resources exploring the life of Trade Unionist and local Councillor, Norma Hutchinson. This article is #14 in our People of Leeds series – mini biographies of lesser-known contributors to Leeds’ rich heritage. Biographical details for Norma Hutchinson – the…
People of Leeds #13: Gertrude Paul
In the second of three special articles to mark our Unfinished Business exhibition focusing on Women in our collections, we reproduce a piece about Gertrude Paul, educator and activist. The document below was produced and written by Dawn Murray for Leeds City Council, based on research by the Leeds Civic Trust. This article is #13 in our People of…
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