Serious research requires a huge investment of time and resources. Specific projects have been supported by major grants from the HLF and from individuals.
For example, Elizabeth Trout and Guy Boocock have carried out months of research on hundreds of documents and images in our collections to provide us with two fascinating and detailed historical narratives.
FRANK GREGORY (1917 – 1998) A MILLING HERO
Elizabeth produced a 25,000 word biography of Frank, widely regarded as one of the foremost authorities on mills and milling that the UK has known. At his funeral his daughter’s eulogy stated: “For Frank there was never too much that you could know about mills and milling. He never finished searching and never lost his inquisitiveness right up to his death.”
With this work Elizabeth established herself as a professional genealogist in the mill world and shortly thereafter was appointed as the Mills Archive Information Manager. The full biography is here.
HOLMAN BROS., MILLWRIGHTS OF CANTERBURY: A HISTORY
From 2012 to 2014 Guy and his team of co-workers pulled together an extensive history of this important Canterbury millwrighting firm. Starting with the collection donated by the Holman family, he extended the research to a variety of external sources to complete the story, detailing the family and business history over 150 years.
Initially started by the late Geoff Holman, the work was published in full online here. The project overview pays tribute to the eight contributiors to this impressive work.
The team also presented a bound summary to the family, who had funded the project, a copy of which can be found in our library.
These projects, releasing hidden information and creating an accessible history, can only be carried out with financial support for the researchers.
£5000 would support, for example a PhD student for several months to complete and publish such a study.
PLEASE CONSIDER A DONATION TO OUR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FUND