| Level | Collection |
| Reference Number (click to see whole series/group) | 15A13 |
| Title | MUSEUM PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT COLLECTION |
| Date | 19th Century - 21st Century |
| Description | The photographs were originally collected and listed by the Bank of England Museum from business areas and individuals.
The collection contains thousands of photographic prints which date from the 19th century through to the present day. Many different types of print are represented, including early salt paper prints and more recent colour prints.
The prints cover a wide range of topics. There is a large collection of images of the Bank at Threadneedle Street including images of the Soane Bank, the re-building of the Bank in the 1920s and 30s and subsequent images of Baker's new building. There are also images of the Bank's printing work at St Luke's and subsequently at Debden, and many images of the former branch banks around the country.
People and events are recorded in these images. There is a large series of staff images, with some of the earliest images in the collection being portraits of directors. Images of national events and royal visits are also found, including those of VE day and jubilee celebrations.
More unusual images in the collection include those taken during the Second World War of both activities within the Bank building at Threadneedle Street, and of staff evacuation sites in Hampshire. At these sites staff were encouraged to work on the land, which has led to unusual images of Bank staff engaging in animal husbandry and tending crops. ARP warden activity at the Bank and the underground emergency operating theatre are examples of subjects captured in photographs taken at Threadneedle Street during the Second World War.
More recent images in the collection include those of new technologies being employed at the Bank, the Bank building at New Change and staff events and celebrations.
Although many of these images are anonymous, some photographers are mentioned. Notably, images were taken by Larry Burrows of Life Magazine, the architectural photographer Frank R. Yerbury and by Humphrey and Vera Joel, who captured a large amount of images of the Bank re-building project.
These images provide an opportunity to track the changes in photographic production from the 19th century through to the present day, as well as showing a unique perspective of the Bank during this period. |
| Related Material | 15A26 - Museum Transparency and Negative Collection |
| Custodial History | Originally deposited with the Bank of England Museum, who passed the collection to the Archive in February 2014. |
| YearOpen | 2016 |
| Copyright | Copyright of photographs taken by Messrs Joel and also the London News Agency belongs to the Bank of England. See entry in G8/66 on 20 May 1942, and note in G14/178 dated 20 May 1942 titled 'Photographs' which records the details.
"From time to time, as different parts of the building have been completed, Messrs. Joel have taken photographs at the request of the architects. Between 400 and 500 of these have been mounted and are kept for reference by the Establishment Department. The copyright in all cases now belongs to the Bank and the Bank has control of the negatives. Apart from these architectural photographs the Bank has recently considered the availability of having a series of pictures taken by the Bank at work and for this purpose has been in touch with the London News Agency. A schedule of suitable subjects has been prepared and the photographers will be carrying out the work over the next few weeks. The Bank will own the copyright and retain the negatives but there will be suitable pictures to give out to the Press of scenes showing the varied activities of the Bank." (see G14/178)
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| Keyword | Photos; photographs; images; prints |
| Preservica_Universal_URL | http://boe.access.preservica.com/archive/sdb:collection|eb8c55c9-a4bc-4f83-9921-361c40ca8965/ |