Newsletter of 06/02/2004 - Midlands Historical Data

Newsletter of 06/02/2004

This news is sent to you by Midlands Historical Data http://www.midlandshistoricaldata.org

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Midlands Historical Data News : 06/02/2004

More about this project
- New FREE finding aid released today - Text database
- Web-site modifications
Latest CD Releases
- Complete run of Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack

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1. More about our project
It is some time since we released our last newsletter. The main reason for this is that we have been working on a major new enhancement, a text database which in effect allows you to do a "look up" in any of the books we have available on this site. More on that below. We have also scanned a number of books, including a complete run of Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack covering the period 1885 - 1917. Exciting times.

New finding aid - text database
You should have noticed that all of our CD's are searchable by keyword. The way this is done is by using optical character recognition software to "read" the scanned images of the books, and convert them into computer readable text, which can then be searched. A few months ago we found some software, originally developed in Russia for use on Cyrillic script, which gave much better results than anything we had previously tried. The level of accuracy delivered, whilst not 100%, is good enough to facilitate a meaningful search. So, we reprocessed all 85,000 pages of all of the books we have scanned so far, put the resulting text onto our web-site, and developed a search engine to help you find a name, a place or for that matter any other keyword.

Today we are releasing this finding aid. We are making no charge for its use, but do ask you to register before using it. To access it, either follow the "Text Database" link on the home page, or enter our web-site, and then press the "Text Database" button at the top of the screen. We hope it will help you in your research, and also help identify which of the books on CD which we offer for sale are most appropriate for you.

We would really appreciate feedback on this new finding aid. We hope you are as excited as we are about its potential as we scan even more titles from the Midlands Region.

New releases
Amongst the new releases in this newsletter are a number of early guides to Birmingham, and a run of Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack. The guides to Birmingham paint an interesting picture of Birmingham in the 19th Century, and with the new finding aid you may find things in them of real value to your research. Mark & Moody's Almanacks provide information on Stourbridge and the surrounding area for the period 1885-1917. There are sections on the local institutions, local clubs and societies - and also a directory for the area. The thirty three volumes we have scanned rperesent the entire collection at Stourbridge library, and were one of the main reasons we started this project. Early in 2003, the Archivist at Dudley Archives told me that our project that would solve the problem of how to give access to these much sought after directories to her customers at Dudley Archives, when there was only the one set available 10 miles away at Stourbridge Library

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2. Latest CD releases

To order any of these, please click the link (if it has arrived in your mailbox), or visit our web-site, where these titles are now available.

Directories

Slater's classified Directory of the Manufacturing District (c. 1853)

Precisely when this directory was compiled is not clear, but it has been tentatively dated to 1853. Slater was an agent of Pigot, and appears to have taken over Pigot's business by this time, and the style and content of this directory reflects that. It covers the area around Birmingham - including the Potteries - without actually covering Birmingham itself. A very useful directory for the period. Kindly loaned to the project by Stourbridge Library.

Poll book for Western Division of Staffordshire (1868)

Poll book for the Western Division of Staffordshire for 1868. Includes the names and addresses of voters, and even records which way they voted. No secret ballot then. It covers Abbots Bromley District, Bilston, Brewood, Cannock, Eccleshall, Gnosall, Kingswinford, Kinver, Penkridge, Penn, Rowley Regis, Rugeley, Sedgley, Stafford, Stone, Tettenhall, Wednesfield, Weston-upon-Trent, Wolverhampton. Kindly lent to the project from the private collection of Martin Harrison.

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1885 - 1917) - Compendium set

A compendium set containing copies of all of the thirty-three (yes thirty-three) almanacks currently available which cover Stourbridge and the surrounbding area- all at a very special price of less than £1 per volume. From its beginning, the almanack included a directory of "Residents, Tradesmen & Merchants", and much local information. Kindly loaned to the project by Stourbridge Library and Dudley Archives & Local History Service..

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1885 - 90)

Mark & Moody produced a series of these local almanacks from about 1880 to 1917. They cover Stourbridge and the surrounding area, including Brieley Hill, Kingswinford, Pensnett, Amblecote and Wordsley - and further afield to Clent, Churchill, Blakedown and Belbroughton. Describes each area and its institutions, and has a list of residents and traders. An invaluable local guide. Kindly loaned to the project by Stourbridge Library and Dudley Archives & Local History Service.
This is a valuable local resource - and excellent value ... six years on one CD. However, if you would prefer to buy only one annual almanack at the lower price of £10 (£11.75 inc VAT), then please follow this link.

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1891 - 95)

Another set of five of Mark & Moody's excellent local Almanacks. Iinvaluable local guides and dirtectories. Kindly loaned to the project by by Stourbridge Library.
This is a valuable local resource - and excellent value ... five years on one CD. However, if you would prefer to buy only one annual almanack at the lower price of £10 (£11.75 inc VAT), then please follow this link.

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1896 - 1900)

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1901 - 1905)

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1906 - 1910)

Mark & Moody's Stourbridge Almanack (1911-17)

Another set of seven Mark & Moody's excellent local Almanacks. Iinvaluable local guides and dirtectories. Kindly loaned to the project by by Stourbridge Library and Dudley Archives & Local History Service. This is a valuable local resource - and excellent value ... seven years on one CD. However, if you would prefer to buy only one annual almanack at the lower price of £10 (£11.75 inc VAT), then please follow this link.

Books

Bisset's Magnificent Guide of Birmingham (1808)

An unusual and very early illustrated directory of Birmingham. Contains over 50 engravings which illustrate the various market sectors in the Birmingham economy, with the names of the leading manufacturers in each section. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Drake's Picture of Birmingham (1825)

Drake produced this book after the style of William Hutton, in that he covers the history of the city, describes its situation, and then describes the city street by street in a series of "rambles" around the town. Nicely illustrated with a number of engravings. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Allen's Pictorial Guide of Birmingham (1849)

Another early guide to the city of Birmingham, with a nice map of the town centre. Has a description of the "Situation" of Birmingham, and chapters on public buildings, religious establishments, principal showrooms and manufactories, ad also of the suburbs. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Birmingham : A handbook for Residents & Visitors (c. 1881)

John Langford produced this handbook as a guide for both residents and visitors. It covers the history of Birmingham, and has comprehensive sections on the municipality, public buildings, places of worship, education, and charities. It also describes the suburbs around Birmingham, and the manufacturing activity in the area. . Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

A Handbook of Birmingham (1886)

This handbook appears to have been compiled as a guide of the city for an annual meeting of the British Association held in Birmingham in 1886. The British Association was a scientific society, and the contents of the handbook reflect this. After a very thorough description of Birmingham and its public and private institutions, there follows sections on the Geology, Zoology and Botany of the area. Kindly loaned to the project by the Birmingham and Midland Institute.

Church Records

Parish Magazine for Solihull (1880 - 1882)

It appears that the Parish magazines for Solihull started publication in 1880, and that the monthly magazines in this volume are for the first htree years of publication. The magazines are interesting because they record baptisms, marriages and burials - and also because they list subscribers to various parish charities. Some historical articles are included, and of course the calendar of parish activities for each month. A fascinating insight into village life in the period. Kindly loaned to the project from the private collection of Martin Harrison.

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