By Justine Aleria, University of Bristol Department of Anthropology and Archaeology work placement (2024) As an Anthropology and Archaeology student at the University of Bristol, an interest in histories of empire and colonialism comes with the t…
By Ellie Pridgeon, BECC Senior Archivist I have learnt much about British Empire & Commonwealth Collection (BECC) and its diverse and fascinating contents since joining as Senior Archivist in September 2023. Having a background History of Art mean…
Earlier this year Bristol Archives received the good news that The National Lottery Heritage Fund had awarded them £175,000 for Sounds of the South West, a new regional audio digitisation project. Archives, currently stored on outdated formats such as re…
By Frances Davies, Documentation Assistant, British Empire & Commonwealth Collection Back in 2021 we launched a new British Empire & Commonwealth Collection (BECC) online catalogue – it acts as the gateway and first-port-of-call to find out wha…
It’s wonderful when we uncover new bits of information about our collections as has happened with an artwork within the British Empire & Commonwealth Collection (BECC). Recent visitors to the museum store spotted the work and suggested it was by t…
By Mary Milton, Archives Officer, Bristol Archives Staff at Bristol Archives have made an important discovery about the case of William Critchard and Richard Arnold, two men executed in 1753 for what was then described as “the detestable crime of buggery…
By Eve Andreski, BECC Documentation Assistant A new accession to the British Empire and Commonwealth Collection (BECC) recalls a ground-breaking feat! 90 years ago today, on 3 April 1933, the first flight expedition over Everest prepared to embark. Two …
By Eve Andreski, BECC Documentation Assistant The British Empire and Commonwealth Collection (BECC) cares for many diaries and letters. These reveal the inner thoughts of people who lived through momentous events. One such person, Dr Gordon Covell, s…
By Pat Ellingham, Volunteer, British Empire & Commonwealth Collection (BECC) Around this time of year, sentiments of love and devotion waft in the air as Valentine’s Day approaches. As I sat with the latest collection I’m cataloguing as a volu…