Janet I. Sykes photographic collection

The slides are mostly taken by Mrs Sykes, but there are also commercial slides within the collection. They comprise images of Scottish and international topography and folk culture, including architecture, gardens and churches. In addition to Scotland, countries covered include: Austria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta and Switzerland.

Mrs Janet (Bunny) Inglis Sykes, (ne Hutchinson) was born on 3 July 1911. She graduated MA from the University of St Andrews in 1932. She taught and lectured on English, History and Music in schools and colleges for thirty years, and travelled extensively in Europe recording her experiences on film. In her later years she concentrated on the delivery of fully illustrated talks on Scots history, architecture, gardens and crafts to post-graduate summer schools, specialist clubs and societies. She lectured for the Scottish Arts Council until the 1980s.

There are collections of clothes made and embroidered by her in the Royal Museum of Scotland and in Kelvingrove Museum, Glasgow. She mounted successful exhibitions of textiles, embroidery and lace. She collected antique furniture and porcelain for many years and was a professional member of the Society of Scottish Women Artists. She was a long-time member of the Scottish Rock Garden Club. Colour prints from some of her slides are held in public and private collections at home and abroad.

The photographic collections are currently the subject of a major digitisation project. It is the intention to have the entire archive captured in electronic form, and available (with sophisticated searching facilities) on line via the web. A full version of the software can be accessed in the Library and researchers are welcome to visit the library to use it but it is important that appointments are made in advance. Access to original photographic material may be restricted.

Gifted to the University of St Andrews by the creator.

Description compiled by Rachel Hart, Archives Hub Project Archivist.

Unlisted.

Two drawers of slides relating to Scotland have been digitised.

Copies of images held in the photographic collection (with the exception of any photographs which are held either without copyright or under other restrictions imposed by the donor or photographer) can be ordered. Photographs thus provided for purely personal or research purposes are not subject to any fee beyond the photographic costs (for which a scale of charges is available). Prior written permission must be obtained before any further reproduction is undertaken of images supplied, for commercial or non-commercial purposes. Reproduction fees may be charged.

True photographic reprints of most images can be provided, or computer-generated prints of an increasing proportion of the collection at low, medium or high resolution. Given the fragility of the original material our preference is to provide computer prints where possible. We can also provide transparencies and a range of electronic formats.

Louise Annand and Janet Sykes: Paintings and Photographs, exhibition catalogue from Crawford Arts Centre, St Andrews, 1985; A World of Textiles of Embroideries, exhibition catalogue from Pier Arts Centre, Stromness, Orkney.