Our July Meeting was an outing to Canterbury Cathedral Archives and Library complimenting the talk about the holdings at CCA that Cressida Williams gave to our June Meeting.
We were met in the Archives search room by Cressida Williams, City and Cathedral Archivist, and members of Canterbury Branch who volunteer help and advice for family researchers at CCA. After a short introduction we were free to look at the special display Cressida and her staff had made for us showing examples of documents useful in family research. We then started our own research.
After elevenses we returned to our research before Daniel Korachi-Alaoui, Archives and Library Assistant, led us on a visit to the Cathedral's Howley-Harrison Library. This is not an area normally open to the public any book held within it’s walls are brought to the search room for researchers to read.
Daniel gave us a very enthusiastic account of the books and other items stored in the library. We were shown his favourite book which was a late medieval work about fireworks and firework displays with recipes to make them. He talked about the safety of the books today in case of fire and in WWII. During the war many of the most precious were kept in the crypt with scaffolding over them to support any falling masonry. People thought the then Dean was being overly cautious but a direct hit on the search room proved him right. Daniel then showed a burnt book and how its cover had protected the pages within.
A lovely sunny day and an interesting one.
Next Meeting
Wednesday 12th September 2018 - Speaker to be advised