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Resources
in the Birmingham City Archives, Local Studies and History section
of the Central Library provides a wealth of information for you
to explore.
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| Image
from the book 'Making Connections' - celebrating the contribution
which black people have made to the Birmingham's history since
the eighteenth century. |
Even
prior to the arrival of the Empire Windrush in 1948, historical
sources in the Birmingham City Archives reveal, there has been a
Black presence in Birmingham since the 18th century.
Black
history in Birmingham...
There
is still a wealth of untapped historical documentation yet to be
used for researching Black history in Birmingham, including church
records, family papers, business records, medical records and school
archives.
The
Black History Collection on the 6th floor at Birmingham Central
Library is a good starting point for researching information and
material that may be hidden deep in the city's archive collections.
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| Enjoying
Birmingham Carnival |
Delve
into the archives...
Find
out how individuals and groups have played a historic part in building
a diverse city.
Explore
the vast amount of information on the diverse communities that make
up Birmingham, available on the seventh floor in the Local Studies
and History Department.
Materials
include, books, census returns, newspapers, maps, oral and video
history, photographic collections and much more...
| Black
History Book Collection... |
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| Adisa
Folarin |
Adisa
Folarin, works on the Black History Collection at Central Library.
He talks about their new collection of books and material depicting
Black international history.
I like to see a good balance of African history represented on library
book shelves. In a lot of libraries Black history is represented
by books about African slavery written by a lot of European writers.
Writers
from African, African Caribbean and African American decents are
just not being represented on the library bookshelves today.
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| Black
History books at Birmingham Central Library |
In
the Black History Collection at Birmingham Central Library you can
find books written by Black historians including African scholar,
Runoko Rashidi, who has written several books focusing on the African
presence globally and the African foundations of world civilizations.
Other
books include Black Women in Antiquity, Black Indians, Black Edwardians
and many, many, more...
People
can come to the library and trace their African history throughout
the entire world over 1000's of years. Take
a period in time, find a book and trace your history.
- Adisa
Folarin
The
photographic collections in Birmingham City Archives document the
Black communities in and around Birmingham.
The
vast collection features images by local photographers including:
Vanley
Burke - from children playing in Handsworth Park to family
celebrations and public demonstrations, for over 30 years Vanley
Burke has captured the everyday life of Britain's black community.
Read
more on Vanley Burke>> |
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| Photograph
by Vanley Burke© |
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|
Pogus
Caesar - a collection of photographs and ephemera about
his work on the Windrush project and images of Black music legends
from 1980 - 2000. His amazing career has seen him travel through
five continents and every facet of the arts.
Read
more on Pogus Caesar>> |
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| Alton
Ellis © Pogus Caesar/OOM Gallery |
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| Other
photographers featured in the collection include: |
George
Hallett, photographer: Images taken in Handsworth, 1971 - 1972.
Sue
Green, photographer: Images of Birmingham International Carnival
1993 - 2000.
Max
Kandola, photographer: 'Fashion' 2000, including many Black hairstyles,
jewellery etc...
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Black
History Collection @ Birmingham Central Library
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Get
a flavour of the Birmingham History collection found in
Birmingham Central Library with our picture gallery below.
Picture Gallery
|
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| Photograph
by Vanley Burke© |
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Visit
the Black History Collection on the sixth and seventh floor in Birmingham
Central Library or Tel: 0121 303 4217.
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Birmingham
City Archives at Birmingham Central Library includes information
and materials on the African Caribbean, Asian and African
communities in Birmingham.
