There are currently
two areas within the Department of Libraries and Cultural
Services where local history researchers can consult
reference material and seek advice; these are the local
studies section of Grays Library, and Thurrock Museum .There
are historical reasons for this arrangement, and in
future the two collections may be brought together under
a Heritage umbrella. The Museum Service
is responsible for the Borough Archive which consists
mainly of the official records of Thurrock Borough
Council and the earlier Thurrock Urban District Council,
and the separate councils that came together to form the
Urban District in 1936. They include, for example, Rate
Books and the minutes of Council meetings.
The Museum is
also responsible for the original bound volumes of the
Grays and Tilbury Gazette, but to avoid handling their
fragile pages, researchers will normally be expected to
consult the microfilm copies in the Grays Library.
Thurrock Museum
has a number of Ordnance Survey maps of various scales
and editions, but researchers will probably find it
easier to consult these in the library where there is
better coverage. Similarly with published local
histories, the library offers the best opportunity to
consult these, although the museum has collected
cuttings, photocopies and research notes on a wide range
of local history topics which may not be in the library;
these may be consulted by arrangement.
Family historians
and others may find it useful to consult the Thurrock
Names Index which is a manual card index compiled over
many years by museum volunteers; it contains many
references to local names in published histories, parish
documents, directories, etc. and has often proved a
useful aid to research.
Paintings,
prints, and photographs of local landscape, buildings and
personalities can be found in both the Thurrock Museum
collection and in Grays Librarys local
illustrations collection. A number of the museums
paintings and prints are on display together with many
copy photographs.
The large museum
photographic collection consists of original prints and
negatives, copy prints and negatives, and also many
colour transparencies which have mainly been taken by
museum staff since about 1974. It is sometimes possible
to arrange for photographic copies to be made of pictures
in the museum collection but this cannot always be done
easily or quickly, and there is a charge for this
service; please enquire if a photographic copy is
required.
Black and white
photocopies can be produced cheaply if the material is
suitable for photocopying. Researchers are reminded that
several books of old photographs have been published in
recent years, of which one, Thurrock in Old Picture
Postcards, is based on the museum collection. It may be
advisable to start a search by looking at these books to
see the kind of material that is available.
Finally, please
remember that the museum staff, particularly those who
have worked in this area for some time, may be able to
answer questions from their own knowledge, or be able to
guide researchers to sources. Enquiries may be made in
person, and by letter, email or phone.
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