MUSEUM OF ENGLISH RURAL LIFE

Description

The Museum acts as the national information centre for rural and agricultural history. Film has been collected on a random basis, usually as part of larger archive collections. About half of the 1,000 original film reels are from the Ministry of Agriculture, the rest being primarily from agricultural engineering firms such as Ransomes, International Harvester and Ford New Holland. The earliest films are from the 1920s and show John Fowler ploughing engines at work, but the majority of material is from the post-1945 period. With the exception of the MAFF films, almost all items are listed, and catalogue records are available online for several collections. Particular subject strengths are tractors, harvesting machinery, dairying,agrochemicals and agricultural aviation. As well as advertisements, there are training films and general interest newsreels.

Website

http://www.ruralhistory.org

Keywords

Advertising films; Massey Ferguson tractors; Rural life; Training films; Tractors, agricultural machinery; Agrochemicals; Chemicals, agricultural; Dairying; Harvesters, agricultural machinery; Ploughing engines

Access

Access available. Tues-Fri 10.00-4.30, by appointment. Access for disabled.

Facilities

Steenbeck, VCR and audio facilities on site.

Charges

Charges for research for broadcast productions. Charges for facilities and handling. A price list is available upon request. Reprographic or other search and consultation fees.

Copyright

In most cases copyright is held by the Rural History Centre - or subject to a special agreement. Copyright advice available.

Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings

Sound

Small collection of oral history recordings. Sound recordings/some films on Library OLIB Catalogue.

Still Images

Photograph stills library of over one million items, documenting agricultural history and rural life since c.1850. The bulk of the collection is post-1914. Collected as part of total resources - books, archives, objects - of the Rural History Centre.

Video/Film

Video: 100 reels/cassettes. Information on the history of the countryside and its economic and social activities.Documentary.
Video components: VHS Video.
Film: Approximately 1,000 cans, chiefly technical subjects; government information and commercial production film; uncatalogued at present. Documentary.
Film components: 16mm, positive film, negative film.

Catalogues

Card catalogue

Available, indexed.

Additional Information

Notes

Card, handlist, some photographs are also on the online catalogue.

Conservation policy

To stabilise material, to store for as long as possible in containers, to copy fragile or degraded material. Fund-raising for new building.

Main Contact

Name

Dr. J H Brown

Job title

Archivist

Telephone

0118 378 8660

Fax

0118 378 5632

Email

merl@rdg.ac.uk

Address

University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
RG1 5EX

Alternate Contact

Name

B. Holden

Job title

Assistant Photo Librarian