The collection contains photographs relating to Birkin and Co. Ltd. The photographs are copies ofhigh quality originals and they provide a useful record of the company's workforce and the laceindustry.
None of the 12 photographs in the collection are dated. The photographs show employees at work inBirkin's factory, the company's premises, and a visit to the company by King George V and Queen Maryin 1914.
Birkin and Co. Ltd, the lace manufacturing and finishing firm, was established in 1827 by RichardBirkin, a pioneer in the lace trade responsible for several major developments in the Levers lacemachine. The second world war led to closure of the firm's factories which were requisitioned forwar purposes. Soon after the war, Birkin and Co. Ltd returned to business becoming one of the fewremaining manufacturers in the UK producing fine gauge Levers lace for the dress and underweartrade. In 1962 Birkin Group was formed merging four family owned lace businesses including Birkinand Co. Ltd.
The collection comprises a single series of photographic copies and the dates of the photographsfrom which these copies were produced are unknown. The items in the collection have therefore notbeen arranged in any particular order.
ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.
REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposesonly.
COPYRIGHT: Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must besought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and SpecialCollections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk).The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this is often difficult andthe responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person whowishes to publish.
LANGUAGE: English
The items in this collection are photographic copies made by The University of Nottingham'sDepartment of Manuscripts and Special Collections in 1995 following temporary loan of the originalphotographs for the purpose. The dates of creation given in this description are an estimation ofwhen the original photographs were taken.
