iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 22h

The bundle can be found in the Raymond Burton Archive (RBU/2/3/10/3) - despite its name this is NOT the archive of menswear shop founder Raymond Burton, but rather all the fascinating archival records he bought over the years and generously deposited at the Borthwick :)

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 22h

The addresses extol the virtues of the law and the responsibilities of jurors, as well as setting out the various categories of crimes. 'The Law is the King's best strength and the subject's greatest Liberty," he wrote in 1671. "He would become weak by forsaking it, we miserable by neglecting it'.

A list of handwritten charges which might be brought against someone, written by Gibson around 1700.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 22h

'Now our ancient Laws have a resurrection from their neare 20 years sleepe and silence', Gibson wrote in 1661, referring to the recent restoration of the monarchy after the English Civil War and Commonwealth. The addresses fill some 250 pages in total, sometimes including corrections & revisions.

Page of neatly written text by John Gibson.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 22h

As we prep another archive for upload to our online catalogue, we've been distracted by this rare bundle of 29 separate manuscript addresses or charges to the jury, delivered by John Gibson of Welburn at various Sessions of the Peace in North Yorkshire, 1661-1704.

Small stack of neatly handwritten documents, the top one is headed 'A Charge for a Sessions of ye Peace 1661' and is addressed to 'Gentlemen of the Jury' at Helmsley. Behind it you can glimpse the headings 'The Oath for a Jury' and another 'Charge fir a Sessions of ye Peace'.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 15/10/2026

We have also been facing this problem, it's reassuring to know we're not alone! Thank you for sharing your statement.

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Charles Fonge @fongebob.bsky.social · 11/10/2026

Save the date! Join us for the Canterbury and York Society AGM and open lecture by Dr David Robinson on ‘William Melton, the Archbishop as manager’. 🗓️ Wednesday 4 November, 3:30pm 📌 @uoyborthwick.bsky.social

A statue of Archbishop William Melton, seated, holding the Minster in one hand and making the sign of benediction, in the central niche over the Great West Door of York Minster. Melton had completed the building of York Minster’s nave. Image: Tilman2007

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

The description promises a: 'High Dress of muslin, with a triple flounce of work or Lace, & frill to match. Spencer of crimson silk - Hat of white moss silk, trimmed with white satin ribbon. blue kid Slippers & Gloves - a white silk French Scarf with a rich border, tied round the Neck.'

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

If you're looking for a seasonal wardrobe refresh, take inspiration from this 'Autumnal Walking Dress' from La Belle Assemblée magazine, October 1815. This very accurate recreation of the print was made by young Ann Reynolds of Heslington, York. No word on its practicality for muddy autumn walks...

Watercolour drawing of a woman seated on a chair dressed in a white dress, with a red spencer and a white hat and scarf. The text beneath reads 'Autumnal Walking. DressHigh Dress of muslin, with a triple flounce of work or Lace, & frill to match. Spencer of crimson silk - Hat of white moss silk, trimmed with white satin ribbon. blue kid Slippers & Gloves - a white silk French Scarf with a rich border, tied round the Neck.'

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Bringing this one back for #NationalPoetryDay 2026! This year's theme is 'wonder' so what could be more appropriate? Oh wondrous fruit indeed :)

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Fun Norah Fact: Simon was her first cat, but later she had Leo, Timothy & Bowet - the latter was named for a 15th century Archbishop of York who came to York from Bath 'as did the cat!' We don't have a photo of Bowet but here's Simon again, in a break from terrorising his fellow cats of Huntington

Norah Gurney, wearing a striped dress, seated on the grass and holding her Siamese cat Simon on her lap.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

October brings a brand new Borthwick Newsletter - this time with future Goon Show and Doctor Who events and the letters of the trailblazing Norah Gurney, first female Director of the Borthwick, who is pictured here with her majestic Siamese cat Simon. www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

Norah Gurney seated on the grass and holding her Siamese cat, Simon, who looks very imperious.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Do you know someone who volunteered in the North Riding Women's Land Army in the second world war? If so, why not drop us an email, they may well appear in Lady Celia's papers. #IYWF2026 You can also search the archive here: borthcat.york.ac.uk/miln-wla

Typescript note, dated 1941, noting that Dorothy Rambow, aged 17 3/4, has been a coilwinder at the Cargo Fleet Iron Co. for 12 months. Employers report "a good worker and time-keeper, and seems willing to work. Sensible about country life, and likes animals. Very keen; I should be very surprised if she does not make good."

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

This year is the International Year of Women Farmers. In 1939 the re-formation of the Women's Land Army (WLA) saw thousands of women take over farm work that had previously been done by men, playing a vital role in the British war effort. #IYWF2026

The front page of the first edition of 'The Land Girl' magazine, dated September 1940, showing a black and white sketch of a land girl holding a bucket and standing beside a milking stool, staring wide-eyed at a cow.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We found a sextoness in our records who took over after her husband died (and their daughter after her!) blogs.york.ac.uk/borthwick-in...

blogs.york.ac.uk

The Sextoness of Goodramgate – Borthwick Institute Blog

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Merchant Adventurers’ Hall @merchantshallyork.org · 03/09/2026

We have something very exciting on its way to the Hall! Here is a sneaky peak of a new permanent display on Dr Maud Sellers: steamboat lady, traveller, historian, archivist and the first female Merchant Adventurer in 400 years. Join us for a short thread on the indominable Maud...

We are looking at a workshop and in the foreground is a large display panel in the shame of a screen. It has an illustrated coat rail with an green coat, fox fur and elaborate hat hanging from it. At the base is a travel trunk and suitcase. Above is text, illustrations and photos.

We are looking at an older lady with white hair wearing a graduation gown with a cap in her hand. She looks directly at the camera with a fixed but tired stare.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

September has arrived, and we have a new Borthwick Newsletter for you. We know we're a day later than normal (sorry!), but we were waiting so that we could make a very exciting announcement... www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

Patrick Duncan at a Liberal Party of South Africa rally, mid-20th century, standing speaking at a microphone next to another man. Both men are standing in front of a table, with a flag in the background.

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York and District Family History Society @yorkfhs.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

'A House, a Family and an Architect’ a talk about Walter Henry Brierley by David Guyton at our September 2nd talk. Brierley was York’s leading architect and died a hundred years ago this month. @balhnews.bsky.social @federationfhs.bsky.social @yorkarchive.bsky.social @uoyborthwick.bsky.social

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University of York Events @uoyevents.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Join a guided tour at Heslington Hall Art Gallery celebrating the life and artwork of renowned York painter and printmaker John Langton. “John Langton: Slow Surfacing” exhibition - Guided Tour - 13 Aug www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/even…

york.ac.uk

“John Langton: Slow Surfacing” exhibition - Guided Tour

Join a guided tour at Heslington Hall Art Gallery celebrating the life and artwork of renowned York painter and printmaker John Langton.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Like many archives we still have (and use) our original card catalogue - and it does throw up the occasional surprise. Before you say "bless you", this is a real latin term! It means 'the state of being able to achieve honours' and it appeared in Erasmus' 16th century Adagia and in Shakespeare :)

Typed index card in a wooden card catalogue with the words: 'HONORIFICABILITUDINITATIBUS. written at foot of cause paper. Written on page originally stuck in the binding of Consistory AB 46 1593-5'

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

One of our newest archive catalogues is that of the York based architectural firm of George Pace and Ronald Sims. Whilst the rolls of drawings are still a work in progress, you can now browse more than 5000 project files across 888 boxes, ranging from York to Nigeria. borthcat.york.ac.uk/ps

borthcat.york.ac.uk

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

August is here and we have a new Borthwick Newsletter for you to enjoy :) This month we have three new archive catalogues for you to browse, as well as a new podcast and another York Festival of Ideas talk to watch on YouTube! www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

A meadow of wild flowers at Acomb on a sunny summer day.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

It's #YorkshireDay today! If you need some practice with the Yorkshire accent, why not try this 'Dialectical Dialogue' between a Mrs Smith and a Mrs Jones, taken from the 1919 Mount School magazine (full transcription in the alt text) 😊

A DIALECTICAL DIALOGUE.

SCENE. A Yorkshire moorland village - outside a small cottage. Mrs Smith standing at the door, Mrs Jones coming down the street.

Mrs Smith. Eh, Missus Joanes; grand mornin' this mornin'. As I was a'sayin' to my old man last night, wi t'sun sa round an' red, - "It's bound ter tak' oop"; I says, "its bound ter tak' oop!" An' 'ow be'st tha?

Mrs Jones. Eh! Missus Smith, it's right kind o'

you to ask, it is, but I'm nobbut dowly. What wi' th' rheumatics an' the coald winter as we've 'ad, why, it mak's tha feel none so well.

Mrs Smith. Now, Missus Joanes, doan't 'ee tak' on so. I'm sure as there's many a one younger non you, as looks a deal older, what wi' grief and sickness. An' now t'summer's comin' on agin, tha'll't pick up fine; an' wi' t'warm weather, an' seein' t'young wick things wakenin' up agin, an' all, tha'lt feel a bit better like.

I was stood lookin' at t'blossom on t' apple trees yonder. Eh! but tha'lt 'ave some fine fruit come autumn, tha' will.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Due to urgent drainage works in the library building the Borthwick will unfortunately be closed tomorrow and Friday. We are emailing all booked researchers to let them know and we will be responding to phone calls and emails as usual on both days. We're very sorry for the short notice!

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

OTD in 1965 The Beatles' second feature film Help! was released. The archive of its screenwriter Charles Wood, here at the Borthwick, includes this wonderfully no-nonsense letter from his agent Margaret Ramsey with some less than enthusiastic feedback on the finished product! (alt text provided)

$Letter titled 'Help!' with the words 'You will be amused to hear that we all sat through HELP! at Lerat, where the Moreau film Mademoiselle Genet is being made. As David Watkin had done the photography for you, and was also doing Mademoiselle Genet, Woodfall borrowed print. The production room was a converted cow-shed heavy with the smell of dung, and we sat on rows of benches. Everybody absolutely detested HELP, except Oscar's children. The little French boys were fractious on the way back in the car, and Mercer and Oscar had a frightful row about the merits of HELP! Mercer was frightfully upset about the mindlessness of the whole thing, whereas of course the whole Beatles cult is mindless, and not for the intellectual, so I can't see why a film should be made full of content for an audience who don't want content. Oscar defended the show loyally. I must say the paper-back must be quite awful, if it embodies the text I heard!! However, the time and place were exceedingly inappropriate for this particular film, as they had just been shooting a scene of Moreau in a school room teaching Gilde Rey to little boys while a funeral of a little boy passed the window, killed by the fact that she had set fire to the place where he was burnt. The air was therefore heavy with tragedy. Much love, Margaret Ramsay.'$

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

A long lost monologue by the great Alan Bennett from 'On the Margin' is just one of the many incredible survivals in our Galton and Simpson Archive!

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

What's that? Ghosts star Mathew Baynton playing our very own Joseph Rowntree in a new TV drama about the Cadburys?😲 We've been trying to find out if this is Joseph's first portrayal on TV and we think it might be - but if you know otherwise, please let us know!

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

A new month brings a new Borthwick Newsletter - this time we have some brilliant York Festival of Ideas talks to watch, two new exhibitions to visit, a look into the archive of a Yorkshire pawnbroker, and new dinosaur research. And it's not often we get to say that :) www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

The bridge across the lake on a sunny day, looking towards Central Hall. The sky is blue with only a few clouds.

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University of York Library @uoylibrary.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

You won’t get a better offer all day than this… ⤵️

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

It used to be our Microfilm Room but as microfilms are less in demand now it's been reinvented as a microfilm and teaching/study space for our volunteers. This week it's just a very cold space for everyone :)

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

It's rather hot in York at the moment, so if you're on campus why not cool off in our climate controlled study space on the first floor of the Raymond Burton library? We're keeping it open access all week, no archives or appointments required (and we can vouch for the icy chill) 😎

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

And we do need 24 hours notice to get out photographs as they live in our cold store. But as we like to tell people, you don't need to be researching an important project or writing a book to visit us. Curiosity (idle or otherwise) is a perfectly valid reason :) www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/vi...

york.ac.uk

Visiting us - Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

The short answer is - you can absolutely just show up to look at cool things! We are open to everybody and our catalogue of wonders is here: borthcat.york.ac.uk Slightly longer answer: we encourage people to make an appointment if possible to make sure there is a space in our searchroom.

borthcat.york.ac.uk

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

This is because the library foyer is getting a glamorous makeover during the summer. The work will also see the replacement of the rather unreliable Borthwick lift - but fear not, there will always be alternative lift access in place for the searchroom :) www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

york.ac.uk

Lift access to the Borthwick reading room

Over the summer there will be some refurbishment work taking place in the Library buildings, leading to some changes in how you can access our research spaces here at the Borthwick.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

If you're visiting the Borthwick over the next few months please be aware we have a new temporary entrance! Instead of using the usual doors at the front of the Morrell Library to enter the building, you will need to turn to your left and follow the path round to the Fairhurst Library door.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

A hearty sweet and savoury spread for our annual Summer VolunTea Party today - an opportunity to host our wonderful volunteers as a (very small) thank you for all that they do and contribute to the Borthwick ❤️

Table covered in a white and floral tablecloth and covered with plates of cheeses, crackers, dips, biscuits, tarts and cakes.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Competitive tender for Doctor Who, you say? Is it finally time for the long lost 'Sweet Black Angel' to shine... (Supposedly) starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, and Mark Hamill as Alex Morrow. You can read it for yourself in our Terrence Dicks Archive: borthcat.york.ac.uk/tdic-box-54 #DoctorWho

Front cover of a 1991 'Independent Production Tender' for Doctor Who by Naked Eye Productions.

Typescript page headed 'Pilot Outline. Sweet Black Angel' followed by an 1885 quote by Friedrich Nietzsche "The living are but a rare species of the dead."

The text then reads: Deep space. The stars shine cold and remote like the love of God - unchanging, unwavering, still. Sirius. Arcturus. And Vega, which silently vanishes into the blackness.

Night is approaching as a tall wrought-iron gate is pushes cautiously open. A man makes his way along a winding path arched by overgrown trees. He stops. Ahead of him stands the silhouette of a decaying Victorian manor house. At the door he knocks, his face lit by a single lamp which burns above him. Alex Morrow, a forty year old New Yorker, cares about only one thing - and she opens the door to face him; his beautiful daughter Helen. "I was just passing..." She stifles her laughter, surprised and delighted to see him. Pressing a finger to her lips, she leads him past the closed study door. "He's working..." she whispers.

A solitary figure sits reading in the dying light. He raises his tired eyes - it is the Doctor. Outside night has fallen, and he can resist sleep no longer.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

On this International Archives Day, shout out to all the spreadsheets and the archivists who love them; the incredible volunteers who give their time and skills for free; the enquiries that are never the same two days running; and the tiny discoveries that make it so worthwhile :)

A tiny horned cow drawn in ink in a hospital account book.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The archbishops' registers have been fully digitised and can be searched online: archbishopsregisters.york.ac.uk/home_page/in...

archbishopsregisters.york.ac.uk

York Archbishops' Registers

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

The arrival of #WorldEnvironmentDay had us wondering about our earliest environmental record. We think a good argument can be made for this July 1319 entry in the register of Archbishop William Melton, mandating prayers 'for calming of intemperate wind and rain showers' causing damage to produce.

A section of Latin text from Register 9B, containing a mandate to the archbishop's official of York or his commissary general for prayers for calming of intemperate winds and rain showers, causing problems with produce at a time of dearth; with a memorandum of a similar letter, with some alterations, to the dean and chapter of York.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Today is #WorldBicycleDay so enjoy this vivid tribute to the joys (and trials) of cycling from the 1921 Mount School magazine.

Watercolour drawings of a woman on a bicycle stuck in the mud, two women pushing their bikes up hill in driving rain, and two cyclists stuck in the exhaust fumes of a car, contrasted with a sketch of two cyclists lying out happily in the sun beside a pathway, bikes next to the. The text reads 'Cycling is guaranteed to produce good Muscles, good Appetites, good Sleep, good Temper, & a capacity for enjoying Anything & Everything!'

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Hello, the Terrence Dicks Archive will be treated the same as the rest of our collections so it will be accessible only in our supervised and climate controlled searchroom. You can read our searchroom regulations online here: www.york.ac.uk/media/borthw...

york.ac.uk

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HatmanRich @hatmanrich.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Ok, so I have today learned that we could have had a Doctor Who series starring Tom Baker and Mark Hamill with production design by H R Giger, I have no idea what that would have been like but I wish we'd found out 😭

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

What do H.R. Giger, the Archbishop of York, John Lennon, Mark Hamill, and Doctor Who have in common? They all get a mention in this month's shiny new Borthwick Newsletter! Find out more at the link: www.york.ac.uk/borthwick/ne...

View looking towards York Minster with the famous Bile Beans advert on the building to the right. The sky is blue with white fluffy clouds.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

We actually have students who do that now! They book in like normal and just use the searchroom to revise. After 4.30pm our microfilm room is also open to anyone :)

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

They are very handy! Although we all refer to them as 'the book pillows', their official name is 'book sofas' - which is somehow even better.

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