Sources for the History of Film, Television and the Performing Arts

Domestic Records Information 121

These notes briefly describe the unpublished sources noted in the National Register of Archives (NRA), the principal relevant repositories with strong collections relating to the history of film, television and the performing arts, other useful links and a short bibliography. For sources held at The National Archives for researching the arts, broadcasting and film see the Research Guide The Arts, Broadcasting and Film: An Overview.

1. Indexes to the National Register of Archives

The indexes to the NRA are indexes to the creators of records. It is possible to search for the records of corporate bodies or the papers of families and individuals, and for groups of letters from prominent individuals which are to be found in collections other than their own. It is not possible to use the indexes to search for single letters or papers relating to a certain theme, e.g. theatrical scenery.

Users can access the indexes to the National Register of Archives online at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra. Guidelines on how to undertake searches are available on the search pages.

2. Accessions to repositories

Each year The National Archives contacts approximately 250 of the principal record repositories in the British Isles in order to discover which major and unusual accessions have been received. This information is added to the indexes to the National Register of Archives. It is also edited and used to produce thirty-three thematic digests, including one relating to the history of film, television and the performing arts. The digests are made available online and distributed for publication in a number of learned journals and newsletters. Further information is available at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/accessions/.

3. Relevant repositories

The following is a list of repositories and institutions that hold major collections relating to the history of the performing arts. Contact details of county record offices and other repositories which may hold further historical records relating to film and television can be found on the ARCHON Directory at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/archon/.

Film and television

BBC Written Archives Centre, Caversham Park, Reading RG4 8TZ

Holds material dating from the BBC's establishment in 1922. The complete collection comprises two main categories: policy, programme and contributors' files; and other related holdings. The former includes material on BBC Television's programme output and correspondence regarding contracts of production staff and performers. The latter includes TV and radio news bulletin and drama scripts, programme-as-broadcast logs, and a collection of BBC publications such as Radio Times and the BBC Year Book. The Centre also holds manuscript and other material relating to individuals connected with the BBC, notably its founder Lord Reith.

Bill Douglas Centre for the History of Cinema and Popular Culture, University of Exeter, The Old Library, Prince of Wales Road, Exeter EX4 4PX

Houses the Bill Douglas and Peter Jewell collection for the history of cinema and popular culture, and has a public museum and an academic research centre.

British Film Institute, Special Collections, 21 Stephen Street, London W1T 1LN

The single most important repository in the UK for records relating to the history of film and television. Holdings include the records of the BFI itself, a number of television companies and other organisations connected with the industry and the papers of many eminent individuals who worked in film and television.

British Film Institute, National Library, 21 Stephen Street, London W1T 1LN

The BFI National Library holds important printed sources for the history of film and television. The collections are international in scope although they relate in the main to British film and television.

East Anglian Film Archive, The Archive Centre, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2DQ

The East Anglian Film Archive (EAFA) aims to collect and preserve moving images relating to East Anglia and to provide a service of access and presentation where copyright allows. Established in 1976, it was the first regional film archive in the UK.

Imperial War Museum Film and Video Archive, All Saints Annexe, Austral Street, London SE11 4SL

The Film and Video Archive holds some 120 million feet of film and 6,500 hours of video tape.

Independent Television Commission, 33 Foley Street, London W1 7LB

The ITC, formerly the Independent Broadcasting Authority, is responsible for licensing and regulating independent television. As well as its own records the ITC retains the records of its predecessor bodies and also those of the Cable Authority. There are collections of press cuttings on broadcasting and reports on audience research, and the ITC may be able to provide advice for users seeking to locate the records of independent television companies.

Lincolnshire Film Archive, 61 Cathedral Drive, Spalding PE11 1PG

The Lincolnshire Film Archive was set up in 1986 to locate and preserve motion film showing life and work in all parts of the County (including what was South Humberside).

Media Archive for Central England, Institute of Film Studies, School of American and Canadian Studies, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD

The Media Archive for Central England (MACE) aims to collect and preserve the moving image heritage of the English Midlands, and to make its collections available to the widest range of people right across the region.

National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Pictureville, Bradford BD1 1NQ

The Museum's collection includes more than three million items of historical, social and cultural value. These include the world's first negative, the earliest television footage and what is regarded as the world's first example of moving pictures - Louis Le Prince's 1888 film of Leeds Bridge.

North West Film Archive, Manchester Metropolitan University, Minshull House, 47-49 Chorlton Street, Manchester M1 3EU

The Archive cares for over 29,000 items from the pioneer days of film in the mid 1890s to video production of the present day. The work of both the professional and the amateur is collected. The North West Film Archive is interested in acquiring film or video footage featuring people, places, events and activities in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire.

Northern Region Film and Television Archive, School of Arts and Media University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, TS1 3BA

The Northern Region Film and Television Archive (NRFTA) was founded in 1998 as a consortium of four organisations which already held significant film collections in the region. These are Tyne and Wear Archives Service, Trade Films, the University of Teesside and Cumbria Archives Service. NRFTA is the public-sector moving image archive serving County Durham, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tees Valley and Tyne and Wear.

Royal Television Society, Holborn Hall, 100 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8AL

The Society retains its own records dating from its foundation in 1927 and acquires material relevant to the history and development of television.

Scottish Screen Archive, 1 Bowmont Gardens, Glasgow G12 9LR

Scottish Screen develops, encourages and promotes every aspect of film, television and new media in Scotland.

South East Film and Video Archive, University of Brighton, Grand Parade, Brighton BN2 0JY

The South East Film & Video Archive (SEFVA) is the public sector moving image archive for the South East of England. SEFVA locates, collects, preserves and promotes films, videotapes and digital material made in the four counties of Surrey, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex and the unitary authorities of Brighton & Hove and Medway.

South West Film and Television Archive, Melville Building, Royal William Yard, Stonehouse, Plymouth PL1 2RP

The South West Film and Television Archive is the official film archive for the South West of England. It is the largest regional film archive in the UK.

Drama and poetry

University of Bristol Theatre Collection, Department of Drama, Cantocks Close, Bristol BS8 1UP

The foundation Robinson Collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century playbills, has been augmented with a variety of material relating to the history of theatre in Britain. Among major collections are the Southern Collection (which includes prints, photographs and models of theatres), the papers of Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree, correspondence of William Macready and the Ernest Thesiger Collection.

British Library, Manuscript Collections, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Holds the papers of a number of dramatists and actors (including Lord Olivier) and records relating to the censorship of plays by the Lord Chamberlain prior to 1968.

The Garrick Club Library, Garrick Club, 15 Garrick Street, London WC2E 9AY

Collects material relating to British drama and the theatre, with special emphasis on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its major holdings are the Garrick Collection, consisting of material relating to David Garrick himself, and the Northcote Collection which includes the archives of Drury Lane Theatre. Non-manuscript material includes playbills and theatre programmes from the eighteenth century onwards.

Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department, Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QE

Houses the Scottish Theatre Archive, which includes the records of many theatrical companies as well as individuals' papers, programmes and scripts. The largest collection of the latter is the scripts of BBC Scotland Radio, dating from 1925. Other collections include the Citizens' Theatre Archive, the Jimmy Logan collection of theatre memorabilia and the Scottish Ballet Archive.

Raymond Mander and Joe Mitchenson Theatre Collection, Jerwood Library of the Performing Arts, Trinity College of Music, King Charles Court, Old Royal Naval College, London SE10 9JF

A collection of programmes, cuttings, photographs, designs and ephemera relating to the theatre, mostly in London, begun in the 1930s. There is also a reference library and files relating to individual actors, designers, composers, directors etc.

Poetry Library, Level 5, Royal Festival Hall, London SE1

In addition to books and periodicals, the Poetry Library has collections of press cuttings and recordings of poets performing readings of their work.

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, 18-22 Chenies Street, London WC1E 7EX

Retains its own archives which constitute an important source for the history and development of British theatre.

Royal National Theatre, National Theatre Archive, Salisbury House, Kennington Park, 1-3 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DE

Established in 1993, thirty years after the first performance took place at the Old Vic, its holdings include the company records, prompt scripts, production and press photographs and press cuttings.

Theatre Museum, 1E Tavistock Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7PA

The Gabrielle Enthoven Theatre Collection forms the basis of the Theatre Museum's holdings, which constitute a major archive relating to the history of theatre, ballet, pantomime and circus in Britain from the early eighteenth century. The British Theatre Museum Association Collection has extensive coverage of London theatre dating from the eighteenth century. Non-manuscript material includes designs for Gilbert and Sullivan operas, circus photographs and the Arts Council Collection of modern theatre designs.

Music

British Library, Music Collections, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Has extensive holdings of published sheet music and collections of papers of important composers and musicians.

British Music Information Centre, 10 Stratford Place, London W1C 1BA

Founded in 1967, the BMIC is a member of the International Association of Music Information Centres. It is a public library, covering twentieth century British classical music, holding reference works, press cuttings, reviews, articles and sound recordings.

Britten-Pears Library, The Red House, Golf Lane, Aldeburgh IP15 5PZ

Established in 1973, the library holds the papers of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears in addition to the records of the English Opera Group. Also has manuscripts of other composers and proofs of published material.

Birmingham City Archives, Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ

The library houses the British Organ Archive, which includes the records of many organ-building firms collected by the British Institute of Organ Studies.

Elgar Birthplace Museum, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, Worcester WR2 6RH

The Museum cares for the manuscript collections of Sir Edward Elgar, together with a sound archive of his music and sheet music.

Glyndebourne Festival Opera Archive, Glyndebourne BN8 5UU

The archive holds the records of Glyndebourne Festival Opera (founded 1934) and its touring company. It also collects material relating to the singers who have worked there and has an oral history project to record interviews with singers, conductors and members of administrative staff.

Institute of Popular Music, Roxby Building, Liverpool L69 3BX

The Centre exists to provide information and advice on popular music and to coordinate and encourage research.

National Sound Archive, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB

Opened in 1955 and became a department of the British Library in 1983. It houses a vast collection of published recordings on disc, tape, CD, video and other formats, as well as many unpublished recordings, ranging from wildlife noises to parliamentary debates. The collections include music and recordings of poetry and drama. Recordings of BBC, ITV and C4 television programmes and BBC radio broadcasts are made. The only public access to the BBC sound library is via the NSA. The NSA also maintains a reference library.

Royal Opera House Archives, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9DD

The collections of playbills, programmes, photographs, correspondence, designs and administrative files concentrate on performances given at the House, the individuals who took part in them and performances by the company elsewhere. There is relatively little material for the period before 1850.

Royal Academy of Music Library, Marylebone Road, London NW1 5HT

The Library houses the records of the Academy, dating from its foundation in 1822, together with collections of early printed music, early recorded sound and manuscripts of past pupils and teachers of the Academy, including Sir Henry Wood.

Royal Northern College of Music, Archives RNCM, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9RD

The Library holds records of its predecessor bodies, the Royal Manchester College of Music and the Northern School of Music, together with collections of private papers, early printed works and historic musical instruments.

Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BS

The extensive holdings of this institution include records of the college and manuscripts of those connected with it, a museum of historical instruments, the most comprehensive collection of portraits of British composers and musicians, a reference library and large collections of opera designs and concert programmes.

Scottish Music Centre, 1 Bowmont Gardens, Glasgow G12 9LR

Founded as the Scottish Music Archive in 1969, the Centre is a member of the International Association of Music Information Centres. Its holdings include manuscripts and scores of many Scottish composers, together with recordings of performances of classical, jazz, folk and popular music. Resources include a comprehensive database with information and contact details on artists, composers, promoters, venues, festivals, services, recording, agents etc, an on-line events diary, historical information on Scottish music, a sound archive representing over 30 years of recordings and a reference library with over 10,000 scores, song and tune collections.

Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY

The library of the English Folk Dance and Song Society holds the archives of the Society and its predecessor bodies the English Folk Dance Society and the Folk Song Society, together with field recordings and research papers of many British collectors of folk songs. There is a published catalogue of the collections.

Museum of Welsh Life, St Fagans, Cardiff CF5 6XB

Holds the records of the Welsh Folk Song Society.

Dance

English National Ballet Archives, Markova House, 39 Jays Mews, London SW7 2ES

Set up in 1975 to maintain the records of the English National Ballet. It collects material relating to the history of ballets in the company's repertoire and dancers who have performed with the company.

Rambert Dance Company Archives, 94 Chiswick High Road, London W4 1SH

Archive set up in 1982 to document the work of Britain's oldest dance company, established in 1926, and the works created for the Company.

Laban, Library and Archive, Laban, Creekside, London SE8 3DZ

Educational organisation with library and archive of material relating to dance.

Glasgow University Library, Special Collections Department, Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QE

Holds the records of the Scottish Ballet.

National Resource Centre for Dance, Surrey University, Guildford GU2 5XH

Houses the records of many dance associations and societies, as well as collections of dance companies and individual collectors' papers.

4. Useful links

Access to Archives (A2A) (www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a)

A2A aims to create a virtual national archives catalogue, bringing together a critical mass of information about the rich national archival heritage and making that information available globally from one source via the World Wide Web. The records are held in geographically dispersed archives offices in England.

Applause South West (www.applausesw.org.uk/)

Applause South West contains an online Archive which explores the history of theatre in South West England over the last 300 years. It features images, film, text and audio taken from Plymouth Library's theatre collection. A database links all this material to details of theatres, shows and over 1600 performers. In addition, there is a detailed Show Production section looking at the work involved in the run-up to two shows at the Theatre Royal.

Archives Hub (www.archiveshub.ac.uk/)

The Archives Hub provides a single point of access to descriptions of archives held in UK universities and colleges. At present these are primarily at collection-level, although where possible they are linked to complete catalogue descriptions. The Archives Hub forms one part of the UK's National Archives Network, alongside related networking projects.

Archives in London and the M25 area (AIM25) (www.aim25.ac.uk/index.stm)

AIM25 is a major project to provide electronic access to collection level descriptions of the archives of over fifty higher education institutions and learned societies within the greater London area.

Backstage (backstage.ilrt.bris.ac.uk/backstage/)

Backstage is a cross sectoral project which aims to provide a comprehensive point of reference for those seeking information about performing arts collections in the UK. It will convert existing catalogues into electronic format, create a national database of collection level descriptions for relevant collections and produce an online version of the Directory of Performing Arts Resources.

British Library, Newspaper Library (www.bl.uk/catalogues/newspapers.html)

The most important repository for national and provincial newspapers and thus an invaluable source for copies of reviews, commentaries and articles on film, television, music and the performing arts. Copies of the popular music newspapers Melody Maker and NME are held.

Cecilia: mapping the UK music resource (www.cecilia-uk.org/)

This project, which is a joint initiative involving Ensemble, the Music Libraries Trust and the United Kingdom branch of the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives, and Documentation Centres (IAML(UK)) will create a web-based collection level map of music resources in UK libraries, archives and specialist music institutions.

Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) (www.scan.org.uk/)

The Scottish Archive Network was established to create an electronic network and search room linking the catalogues of nearly 50 Scottish archives; to provide a range of additional electronic services including a Knowledge Base of Frequently Asked Questions on Scottish history, together with exhibitions, publications, discussion groups, all of which will enhance and encourage the use of Scottish archives; to create a computerised index to the wills of Scots from 1500 to 1875, and to link this to digital images of the wills, thus opening up a vast historical resource.

5. Bibliography

(ri2210) Last updated: 5 October 2005 | © Crown Copyright 2002