The Phelps Collection: Slides

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 418 Phelps/2
  • Dates of Creation
      Late 19th-early 20th century

Scope and Content

Mostly taken by Phelps in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with purchased slide sets by nineteenth century suppliers including Francis Frith, George Washington Wilson and J.T. Chapman. The slides are contained in c. 60 wooden boxes, with between 50 and 100 slides in each box. In total there are between 3,000 and 6,000 lantern slides, and c. 2,600 glass negatives. Phelps's slides depict images of local and world history, and the purchased sets mainly show international travel destinations. Around 20 boxes of slides focus on material of local interest, including canals, industrial development, architecture, family portraiture, city views and images of street life. A number of slides show images from books, paintings, prints etc.