Since mentioning the reprint of the Parliamentary Papers earlier in the day a
thought has occurred to me. I had access to the reprints at my local (ish)
university library. i.e. Bangor, mainly while my 'other half' was doing her
degree there. It occurred to me that these libraries are an often overlooked
source of information for the amateur mining historian because they are not
'the archives'. Apart from the parliamentary Papers, including the likes of
the 'Children's Employment Commission' of 1842, and the Coal Mines Accidents
Reports, they often have good secondary sources like the 'Economic History
Review' and the 'Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society', both of which
contain relevant papers, especially those by some members of this network!!
If other universities are like Bangor you can join the library as an outside
member, for a fee. I think it was about £12. Open University students and
such like may be able to join for free. They should also have photocopying
facilities on site, so you can copy the paper and read it at home.
Richard Amies.
|