This is an amazing resource for anyone working on their York family history, and we're pleased to say the Society is running a second weekly drop in session here at the Borthwick on the main university campus, every Friday from 10am-4pm for all your local history needs 😊 @balhnews.bsky.social

Another successful Collections Development Week in reckon!

Collections Development Week, Day 3: we've been looking at the papers of economist Robin Murray, who was known for his pioneering work in cooperative economics and social innovation. The papers cover his work with Twin Trading, and involvement with the ethical brands Divine Chocolate and CafeDirect

Day 2 of our Collections Development Week and we've been re-boxing letters from the archive of journalist, musician and broadcaster Miles Kington. He began his career at Punch magazine and later became famous for his 'Franglais' columns and books.

It's day 1 of our Collections Development Week and we've begun by re-boxing of the archive of playwright and screenwriter John Antrobus. The archive came to us in 47 cardboard and plastic crates and is now in 87 acid-free archive boxes.

‪If you want to see our Keeper of Archives @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social talking about our Galton and Simpson archive, look no further!

This year we have been running the Mentally Fit York funded project 'Stories of Mental Health from York: Past, Present and Future.' Working with two brilliant local artists, we have engaged target groups across York with archives from The Retreat. #EYAInclusion @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

#DidYouKnow over the course of 2025 we have been building Discover, our new Digital Library platform? We'll be adding to the site over the coming months, making more of our collections available wherever you are in the world! discover.york.ac.uk #EYADigital @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

This deed of King Richard III from January 1485 came to us on deposit earlier this year. It's granting Sir James Tyrell (yes, that one!) the Lieutenancy of Guines Castle in the Marches of Calais. This meant he didn't take part in the Battle of Bosworth. #EYAMedieval @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

In March we completed the conservation of an 18th-century parish register from Nevis. The register has been cleaned, repaired and digitised, and returned to Nevis in a special ceremony with dignitaries, parish representatives and the local community. youtu.be/yex_Br6t0ak?... #EYAConservation

Had an amazing day at The Retreat taking archives out to art workshops for our Mentally Fit York funded project. Our artists Stephen and Griselda have created so many beautiful responses to our mental health collections too! These will be added to the Uni Art Collection! @uoyalumni.bsky.social

I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with Hannah Priest to discuss her research. Whilst we focused on the archival sources she used, the book also goes into museum ethics and so much more!

Back from a trip up north to visit family. Also finally managed to visit Tullibardine Chapel and @leightonlibrary.bsky.social (who let me handle a 17th century book published in Aberdeen!). Would thoroughly recommend both if you're out and about in Perthshire.

It's great to finally be able to show off the work of our 2025 Archives Insight Week placement students. They were brilliant to work with. Huge thanks to our conservator Catherine for all her hard work on the installation too!

I love supporting our Undergraduate Open Days. Over the last two days we've spoken to nearly 400 people! So much fun to do and lovely to meet everyone. I might be away for a lie down now though! 😂

If you're about at the Family History Society fair in Acomb today don't miss the @uoyborthwick.bsky.social stand! I'm not there today but my brilliant colleagues Neil, Sally and Lydia are poised to answer your questions!

I had so much fun supporting @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social with this event on Wednesday morning! Looking forward to choosing some of this material for our Undergraduate Open Day display next weekend, too!

June is finally here - which means so is the new Borthwick newsletter! Read all about our latest accessions, catalogues, conservation news, and events - as well as our appeal to save the archive of comedy legends Ray Galton and Alan Simpson... www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

If all goes to plan - and let’s face it, with me it doesn’t - I should be the ‘And finally…..’ on News at Ten. Yes. Joining the ranks of the skateboarding duck. And yes, you get to see some ORIGINAL Galton and Simpson. yustart.hubbub.net/p/galtonands...

Well, I'm pleased to report Team @uoyborthwick.bsky.social completed the Great York Walk yesterday in 9hrs 45 min (incl. breaks). Very tired and sore this morning but it's worth it for the cause! A massive THANK YOU to everyone who donated to Mentally Fit York! yustart.hubbub.net/p/lauray-wal...

How did @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social and I get to the night before another Great York Walk already?! Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Mentally Fit York fund so far - I really appreciate it! If you'd still like to donate there is time. Thank you! yustart.hubbub.net/p/lauray-wal....

So excited for this new @uoyborthwick.bsky.social project starting! Whilst @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social and I are on the Great York Walk on 17 May, catch @stephenleehodgkins.bsky.social and Griselda Goldsbrough on for the Walk of Alfred, and find out more about out what we're going to be up to!

Just over ONE WEEK to go before @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social and I take on another Great York Walk for Mentally Fit York! And it's going to be a warm one - eek! If you can spare anything at all there is still time to sponsor me. Please head to yustart.hubbub.net/p/lauray-wal... to donate! Thank you!

Well, it's true! The #GreatYorkWalk is back for 2025, and I have another 40km to hoof in the company of @garybrannan.bsky.social! This will be my fourth year in a row! I know times are tough, but if you can spare anything to sponsor me I'd really appreciate it! yustart.hubbub.net/p/lauray-wal...

#ICYMI I had a brilliant time chatting all things archives and local history with @drmeganekelleher.bsky.social for the latest series of the @balhnews.bsky.social podcast, Local History Matters. Catch up on the BALH website: www.balh.org.uk/podcast.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to chat all things Isabelle German with the lovely team @kickasswomenof.bsky.social! It's amazing what you can find in the archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social!

Had a lovely evening at this film screening tonight with @helenacoxcurator.bsky.social. Brilliant film and I'm really looking forward to seeing where the project goes next!

Printing was not just a job for the boys here in York. Our Rare Books Librarian Sarah Griffin talks to the Kickass Women of History podcast about the women who left their mark on the city's history (and its books).

No much wonder I was tired this morning! It was a busy old week last week!

Lovely to be at the post-offer visit day in the Spring Lane Building this morning! Really great to meet so many people and show off some original archives!! Huge thanks to my wonderful colleagues in conservation for getting the documents ready for their outing! I'll be back on 12th Feb too!

Join us for our next instalment of lectures in partnership with The Historic Towns Trust on 25 February, where Ian Roberts will be considering the history of Bradford. Find out more: ow.ly/7f8V50TOihe #WeAreLocalHistory #LocalHistoryForAll

I was delighted to be asked to run the Q&A session for our @balhnews.bsky.social event tonight. Thank you to everyone who attended for your enthusiasm and great questions. Such an interesting talk on a city I've only recently started to get to know.

So delighted to see the first surviving parish register from St Michael le Belfrey featured in this edition of the programme tonight. Yes, @uoyborthwick.bsky.social does hold the baptism entry for Guy Fawkes from 1570!

Spent a brilliant morning with @uoyborthwick.bsky.social's conservator Catherine and @uoylibrary.bsky.social's Sam in the Creativity Lab supporting a Introduction to 3D Scanning workshop for students, using artefacts from our collections. The results were brilliant!

Day trip to London yesterday with @ejgrimmer.bsky.social to see the @britishlibrary.bsky.social Medieval Women exhibition. It was absolutely fantastic! Still getting my head round everything on display. Spending today reading the accompanying book and drinking tea. The perfect Sunday.

If you want to find out more about some of our key collections relating to the history of disability but can't attend the event, you can also check out our updated Disability History research guide, available on our website: www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ho...

This week is both Explore Your Archive week and York Disability Week! To mark the occasion, we'll be showcasing some archives relating to the history of disability TOMORROW (30th Nov) in the Yorkshire Room of the University of York main library. Open to all, 10am to 3pm! 1/2

Had an interesting day away from @uoyborthwick.bsky.social today. Went to London for a bit of archives-related filming. Apparently I'll feature alongside @dranniegray.bsky.social, so that settled the nerves!! Not! 🤣

Had a fantastic day off today at Durham Cathedral! Not been since I was a kid, but so much to see! The museum highlights and cathedral tours were definitely both worth doing. Happy times!