Learning on ScreenIMAGES OF EMPIRE
Tailor at work in Simla. From a film of Simla, India, taken in 1931 by Major General William Clavering Hartgill CB, OBE, MC. (photo courtesy of British Empire and Commonwealth Museum)- Description
- The Moving Image Collection consists of 16mm, 9.5mm, and standard and super 8mm cinefilm and currently contains over 1000 titles, comprising over 450 hours of cinefilm footage dating from the early 1920s onwards. The films reflect the life of indigenous people, colonial settlers and government officials within the British Empire and Commonwealth.
Amateur filmmakers in Africa and the Indian sub-continent shot the majority of the films held. They include footage of industrial and commercial activities, agriculture and forestry, momentous political events and conflicts, sporting and ceremonial occasions, people at work and leisure, holiday and travel footage, and family footage. In addition the collection contains government produced information and travel films from different countries, commercial documentary and news film, and television material. - Website
- http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk/archive.htm
- Keywords
- History; Africa; Oral History; Amateur films; British Empire; British Raj; Central Africa; Central African Film Unit; Colonial affairs; East Africa; Commonwealth; India; Independence, India; Independence movements, colonial affairs; Nigeria; Northern Nigerian Information Service; Raj, The; West Africa
- Access
- By arrangement only.
- Access for outsiders
- DVD, miniDV, BETA, VHS viewing copies available to outside researchers on site
- Facilities
- 16mm and 35mm Steenbecks, Low Band Umatic, DVD and VHS viewing facilities available on premises.
- Charges
- Charges for research and viewing. Price list available on request.
- Copyright
- Copyright held to large part of collection. Information on request.
Moving Image, Audio and Related Documentation Holdings
- Books
- approx 35,000 books, incl 25,000 books from the Commonwealth Institute Collection of Commonwealth Literature. Also a large collection of Acts, Command Papers & other Parliamentary Papers.
- Datasets
- Related material on the Museum’s Accessions and Oral History Catalogues.
- Equipment
- A small collection of cameras and projection equipment
- Journals
- Large collections of pamphlets and journals, particularly relating to mid twentieth century Africa.
- Manuscripts
- approx 20,000 paper archives including diaries, letters, other personal papers and company accounts.
- Masters
- Over 450 hours of 16mm, 9.5mm, standard & super 8mm film of 16mm and 8mm film.
- Music
- Commonwealth Institute collection of music from the British Commonwealth. Also a large collection of military & brass band music.
- Sound
- Over 1,000 oral history audiocassettes.
- Still Images
- approx 500,000 photographic images. Also approx one and a half million b&w images from the Ordnance Survey Air Photo Collection.
- Video/Film
- 550 VHS viewing cassettes, some DVDs and mini DVs. We are currently researching and digitising a broad selection of films from this unique collection. We expect to launch a fully functional website offering high resolution downloads in 2006. In the meantime, research requests should be directed to the contact details listed above.
Catalogues
- Related website
- www.imagesofempire.com
www.empiremuseum.co.uk
Additional Information
- Conservation policy
- To restore and preserve film master material and to create submasters and viewing copies.
Main Contact
- Name
- Mrs. Anna Motrescu
- Job title
- Film Research Consultant
- Department
- Images of Empire
- Telephone
- 0117 925 4980, Ext 217 or 0117 929 3851
- Fax
- 0117 9254983
- anna.motrescu@empiremuseum.co.uk
- Address
- BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH MUSEUM
Clock Tower Yard
Temple Meads
Bristol
BS1 6QH
Alternate Contact
- Name
- Mr. Adam Teasdale
- Job title
- Images of Empire Project Manager
- Telephone
- 0117 929 3851
- Fax
- 0117 929 3852
- info@imagesofempire.com
Record Stats
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