The collection contains photographs relating to Birkin and Co. Ltd. The photographs are copies of high quality originals and they provide a useful record of the company's workforce and the lace industry.
None of the 12 photographs in the collection are dated. The photographs show employees at work in Birkin's factory, the company's premises, and a visit to the company by King George V and Queen Mary in 1914.
Birkin and Co. Ltd, the lace manufacturing and finishing firm, was established in 1827 by Richard Birkin, a pioneer in the lace trade responsible for several major developments in the Levers lace machine. The second world war led to closure of the firm's factories which were requisitioned for war purposes. Soon after the war, Birkin and Co. Ltd returned to business becoming one of the few remaining manufacturers in the UK producing fine gauge Levers lace for the dress and underwear trade. In 1962 Birkin Group was formed merging four family owned lace businesses including Birkin and Co. Ltd.
The collection comprises a single series of photographic copies and the dates of the photographs from which these copies were produced are unknown. The items in the collection have therefore not been arranged in any particular order.
ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers.
REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only.
COPYRIGHT: Permission to make any published use of any material from the collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this is often difficult and the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person who wishes to publish.
LANGUAGE: English
The items in this collection are photographic copies made by The University of Nottingham's Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections in 1995 following temporary loan of the original photographs for the purpose. The dates of creation given in this description are an estimation of when the original photographs were taken.
