Working with the Robertsons and the Reillys

Posted on by Fay Curtis.

by Ella Roper, Bristol Archives volunteer

Image of Volunteer Ella Roper, sat a desk with her head looking down at a book.

While volunteering at the archives, working on the British Empire and Commonwealth material, I have had access to a myriad of handwritten sources within the collections I have been cataloguing.

I have worked through two collections during my time here; one by the name of Robertson and the other Reilly. The Robertson collection consisted of predominately radio transcripts during the 1930’s and 1940’s in Malaya and Singapore, while Eric Robertson and his wife Peggy worked there as radio directors and talk show hosts.

The transcripts included several short series on teaching history to children and useful tips on how to make your home more secure against enemy fire in the event of a bombing raid by the Japanese. This collection offered an insight into an era of military history which is widely taught but from the perspective of a country that many may not have heard about or know much detail.

Cataloguing these documents entailed reading through each script and creating a description for each one.  This makes an easier pathway for someone to find the details they are looking for in the future. Also included in this collection was a personal photo album using pictures Robertson took while serving with the Malayan Forestry department in 1940-41. The photos show the lives of Malayan locals as well as the work of the Forestry Department at that time.

Old fashioned image of a bald man, with a large mustache and dressed in military uniform.

The second collection I worked on was relating to the Reilly family, and documents the lives of seven siblings and their children throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Most of the male members of the family served in the Army in India.

Unlike Robertson, the documents within this collection are all handwritten letters sent from the brothers abroad updating their sisters who were still in England.

While more difficult to read I found this collection more interesting due to its very personal nature; the letters included everything from updates on the war, commentary on the weather and recommendations on where toOld fashioned image of a young lady, with her hair in a bun, looking off into the distance.  get the best afternoon tea and political commentary on the exchange rate.

Along with the letters, there is a photo album and loose photos that show most members of the Reilly family. It was great to put names to faces, and to create a brief family tree out of the sources to make them easier to understand.

The archive itself is highly interesting to explore due to the varied documents that are stored here. With some being paper stored in boxes, others are large bound volumes that take up sections of the shelves on their own. The artefacts from the former British Empire and Commonwealth Museum are also fascinating to look at.

There is always someone to help if there are any issues with the volunteering work. The Archivists are all highly approachable and knowledgeable with the various collections stored here. Volunteering here has opened new excitement each day and I have always looked forward to coming in and seeing new collections.

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If you’re interested in the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection, we have many more related blogs.

Image reference:
  • Featured Image: 1999-115-2-3 Letter referring to the Reillys’ wedding
  • Ella Roper
  • 1999-115-1-2-8 Lt Col Rawdon Reilly
  • 1999-115-1-2-9 Louisa Reilly, first wife of Lt Col Rawdon Reilly

 

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