Very much looking forward to chairing this event with Deborah and Amy @yorklibraries.bsky.social tomorrow as part of @yorkfestofideas.bsky.social! FREE tickets are still available, so hopefully we'll see as many of you there as possible! @visityork.bsky.social @yorkarchive.bsky.social

York Festival of Ideas@yorkfestofideas.bsky.social · 5mo ago

What should children eat and why? Discover how childhood and food have shaped each other through history – and still do – with writers Deborah Albon and Amy Palmer. First Helpings: A history of children and food - 30 May #YorkIdeas https://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2026/calendar/first-helpings/

So pleased I finally managed to pop in past @govanstones.bsky.social yesterday to see them in real life. Well worth a visit! And by sheer coincidence I had just caught up with @mattlewishistory.bsky.social's Gone Medieval podcast on the siege of Dumbarton on the way up on the train on Sunday!

This time tomorrow another 20 mile Great York Walk will be over for #TeamBorthwick. THANK YOU to everyone who has donated so far - it makes a massive difference to Mentally Fit York and the work it can do. If you'd like to donate there is still time: universityofyork.enthuse.com/pf/laura-yeo...

The Great York Walk 2026

Sponsor me to take on The Great York Walk to help transform the state of mental health in York and beyond.I NEED YOUR HELP! Again...!For the fifth year in a row, I'm taking on The Great York Walk, a 2

universityofyork.enthuse.com

Although our archive reading room is closed over the Easter weekend, why not explore our newly launched collections - we’d love to hear what you find! www.ancestry.co.uk/search/colle...

Two new collections added by #Ancestry, which may help with #FamilyHistory, #LocalHistory & #OnePlaceStudies in (and beyond) #Yorkshire: ● Prerogative & Exchequer Court of York Wills, 1389-1858 ● Yorkshire, Bishops’ Transcripts of Baptism, Marriage & Burial Registers, 1558-1912 #OnePlaceWednesday

It's true! This has been a long time in the planning, so I'm delighted everything is now live for people anywhere in the world to access. Remember many local libraries in the UK offer free Ancestry access as well!

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Today we've launched our digitised Probate Registers and Bishops' Transcripts collections onto Ancestry. Together that's 16 million records covering 1389-1858 - these can be accessed via a subscription to Ancestry or for free here at the Borthwick! www.ancestry.co.uk/search/colle...

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

York and District Family History Society@yorkfhs.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Our new purpose built family and local history research base at Explore York library on Museum Street. Open Mondays 10-4pm - fantastic resource for us and you! @federationfhs.bsky.social @balhnews.bsky.social @oneplacestudies.bsky.social @wgawest.bsky.social

Another successful Collections Development Week in reckon!

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Now we've shared the official highlights of our Collections Development Week, it's time for the unofficial ones, starting with the moment Keeper of Archives Gary Brannan found a (pristine) pair of paper underpants in one of our recent additions.

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!

York Festival of Ideas@yorkfestofideas.bsky.social · 10mo ago

Enjoy the first of our Winter Warmers as we celebrate the comedic genius of Ray Galton and Alan Simpson - the legendary writing duo behind Hancock’s Half Hour and Steptoe and Son. Discover how these comedy icons reshaped British humour. https://ow.ly/UGuC50Xxn0g

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

The Figtree Register Project: Conservation and Community

YouTube video by Borthwick Institute for Archives

youtu.be

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!

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · last yr.

New Podcast Alert!! Out of the Archive Box, our Borthwick podcast, is BACK! Join Access & Digital Engagement Archivist @Lauray-archives.bsky.social as she chats to Hannah Priest, author of 'Unburied: The True Story of Hannah Beswick, the Manchester Mummy' about her research! buff.ly/HHS9V4o.

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!

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · last yr.

If you're in the Burton Library @uoylibrary.bsky.social, don't miss our new student-curated archives exhibition! The cases include copies of items from the Rowntree & Co archive curated by our Archives Insight Week students back in June. We had so much fun working with them on this project!

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! 😂

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · last yr.

We're back at University of York Open Days with an archives display in our searchroom @uoylibrary.bsky.social! Pop in and see us on the first floor of the Burton Library to find out more about our amazing collections and how we support teaching and learning. We'll be here between 10am and 3pm!

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!

Family History Federation@federationfhs.bsky.social · last yr.

York Family History Society are celebrating 50 years with a Golden Anniversary Fair! Saturday 28th June 2025 in Acomb, York. www.familyhistoryfederation.com/york-family-...

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!

Borthwick Institute for Archives@uoyborthwick.bsky.social · last yr.

#ICYMI An interview with our very own @gbrannanarchive.bsky.social featured on BBC Breakfast this morning, following a visit by the cast of The Last Laugh to see our Eric Morecambe archives on Wednesday. Thanks to Tom Ingall from BBC Look North for the report! 1/2

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...

‘Innit Marvellous?’: The Galton and Simpson Archive project

Saving Hancock, Steptoe, and more

yustart.hubbub.net

Gary Brannan@garybrannan.bsky.social · last yr.

Apologies to everyone watching ITV in Yorkshire whose dinners I am about to spoil this evening; and advance apologies to the nation for later on.

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!

Stephen Lee Hodgkins@stephenleehodgkins.bsky.social · last yr.

In 1877 at The Retreat, York, Alfred Smith writes a diary. He notes many things, including his walks around York. To celebrate Alfred, and to explore his diary some more, we are retracing one of his walks. @uoyborthwick.bsky.social @lauray-archives.bsky.social @garybrannan.bsky.social

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...