History & Archives

History & Archives

The Library Volunteer Group works with the Society Librarian to care and collate the Society's library collections including books, journals, images, maps and archival material.

The Group meet most Thursday mornings in the library housed in the Maidstone Museum, Kent. Members can access the open shelves at any time the Museum is open while non-members can use the library by arrangement. Please email the Archivist to arrange a suitable time. Please note that library staff are volunteers and cannot be available on all days but we do aim to be as helpful as possible. Please also note we are not a lending library.

Our material is mostly held on open shelves and locked cupboards within the library but some of the archival material is held in deposit at the Kent History and Library Centre. It can be accessed on their premises.

Group News

Intellectual property and the transition period

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/intellectual-property-and-the-transition-period?utm_source=835fddd9-4d92-4990-af80-db20ad19bf63&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=daily

New books in the Library

1. Medieval adaption, settlement and economy of a coastal wetland: the evidence from around Lydd, Romney Marsh, Kent. 2008. Luke Barber and Greg Priestley-Bell.

2. TRAC 2002: Proceedings of the Twelfth Annual Theoretical Roman Archaeology Conference: Canterbury 2002. 2003. Gillian Carr (ed.)

How will a no-deal Brexit affect Library collections?

The Government has recently published advice on how copyright laws will change in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Click here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-to-copyright-law-in-the-event-of-no-deal/changes-to-copyright-law-in-the-event-of-no-deal

New acquisitions

Two new titles have come into the library:

"Culture and society at Lullingstone Roman villa" by Caroline K. Mackenzie and
"William Lambarde's reading, revision and reception: the life cycles of the Perambulation of Kent" by Frederic Clark et. al.

These will out on display for a few weeks, for easy access, before being shelved.

The history and topographical survey of the County of Kent

British History Online provides access to the 12 volumes in the series titled ‘The history and topographical survey of the County of Kent‘. The volumes, originally published by W. Bristow in 1797, are by Edward Hasted and include a general account of the history, topography and natural history of Kent.

Thames Gateway reports

Reports on the Greater Thames Estuary can be accessed online for free.

The Greater Thames Estuary Historic Environment Research Framework

Authors: Essex County Council, Historic Environment Branch

Surveys of the South East

Surveys covering South East England can be accessed online for free.

South East Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Phase 1: Desk Based Assessment

Authors: Thorogood, S., Hamel, A., Lambert, V. and Bicket, A.

Historic farmsteads of the South East

Reports covering farmsteads of South East England can be accessed online for free. See below for details:

South East Farmsteads Character Statement

Author: Lake, J.

News about 'Archaeologia Aeliana' journal

We've just had news from the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne. Their journal 'Archaeologia Aeliana' is now available online for free.

Please go to the Archaepology Data Service website - https://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/library/browse/series.xhtml?recordId=1001112 - to access.

Digital Public Library of America

The Digital Public Library of America brings together the riches of America’s libraries, archives, and museums, and makes them freely available to the world. On January 6, 2016, The New York Public Library enhanced access to all public domain items in Digital Collections so that everyone has the freedom to enjoy and reuse these materials in almost limitless ways.