Local History Centre photographic service
The photographic collections
Walsall Local History Centre holds substantial general collections of photographs both in Local Studies and Archive collections (more than 12,000 prints in the former, and around 20,000 images (largely in negative form, many glass) in the latter) dating from the early 1860's to the present day.
The vast majority of photographs are in black and white.
The Centre also holds the Jack Haddock Collection, which comprises more than 5,000 prints and colour transparencies, largely relating to local transport.
Preservation and access
It is an important aspect of the Centre's work to preserve, collect and make available wherever possible the visual heritage of the Borough, and the entire local studies photograph collection is available for viewing at the Centre on request. It is listed and indexed, and these finding aids plus a collection of bound photocopies of the collection are available for consultation in our Research Room. Many photographs within archive collections are also available through a separate index. Once selected, original images may be examined in that room, with the exception of negatives and original transparencies, which are not made available due to preservation concerns. The Jack Haddock Collection is listed separately, and photocopies of both prints and transparencies are made available as finding aids.
The photographic service
Obtaining copies from the collections
It is not possible to photocopy original images, and we do not loan out original photographs, due to preservation concerns, but it is possible, subject to copyright, to order black and white photographic copies of originals at various prices and sizes, which takes up to six weeks.
Donations, loans, copying and surveys
The centre's photograph collections have been acquired over many years, largely through a process of donation or the copying of original images loaned to us, and this process continues today. Such copying is done entirely on-site, and the Centre operates a dedicated in-house Photographic Service which is run by our professionally qualified Photographer, Stuart Williams. He also undertakes contemporary photographic surveys of historic architecture around the Borough as required when modification or development of buildings occurs, and on a regular general basis when time and budget permits.
For posterity: permanence and new media
General photography and copying is normally done in black and white, using conventional monochrome film and photographic paper processed and printed archivally, since present colour processes are not archivally permanent, and preservation of images for posterity is our main concern. The Centre is however examining current developments in digital imaging, scanning and computer storage of images, with a long-term view to making our collections available on computer and via the internet. Uncertainties about the permanence and future readability of current computer storage media mean, however, that the production of an original silver-based photographic negative by conventional means is likely to remain the imaging method of choice for some time to come, even if the resultant image is then presented and made available by digital means.
In-house facilities
The Centre’s in-house copying and darkroom facilities are operated by the Centre's Photographer. This enables the production of black and white prints from 10"x8" to 20x16" for our exhibitions, publications, web site and outreach programmes, and for sale, subject to copyright, to the general public, businesses, publishers and other departments of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council. Prices for both non-commercial and commercial use can be quoted for by contacting Walsall Local History Centre.
An appeal for photographs
Walsall Local History Centre welcomes the donation and loan for copying of photographs of local and historical interest . If you have anything locally relevant, we'd be glad to hear from you! Please contact Stuart Williams care of: localhistorycentre@walsall.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 14 October 2009