A right royal read!

The bunting has come down (until the Olympics!), the Union Jack-inspired party food has been eaten and we’ve all raised a glass to the Queen in her 60^th year on the throne (or at least enjoyed the extra day’s holiday she’s given us!). Whether you’re a royalist, a republican or something in between, there’s no denying the history behind the royal family. If the Jubilee celebrations have got you thinking about the long line of kings and queens that came before Elizabeth II, why not come in and find out a bit more?

A quick glance at the history section in Townhill Library reveals The Jubilee Years 1887-1897, looking at the period between Queen Victoria’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees, at 942.081 HOW (plenty of other books about Victoria and the Victorians at this number too!), Elizabeth I at 942.055 NEA, William the Conqueror at 942.021 DOM and Alfred the Great at 942.02 BEC. Further afield, our old favourites, National Archives, have launched an online exhibition looking back at Queen Victoria’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees. It features 60 congratulatory messages from all over the world and links to other Diamond Jubilee resources.

A century after the Titanic’s doomed maiden voyage, let’s remember the people on board

Sunday sees the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which went down in the early morning of the 15th April 1912 with the loss of over 1500 lives. The story of the “unsinkable” Titanic has fascinated us ever since and many books, TV series, films and documentaries have been produced about the ship and those on board over the last century. Search for Titanic on our catalogue to find out what’s available from your SMU library. You might also like to read our blog post from last year.

Many fictionalised accounts of the voyage have been written (including James Cameron’s epic film, which is available from Griffith Library in Dynevor), but it’s the stories of the real people that seem most captivating. You can find out about the crew and passengers on the Titanic from the new National Archives web page which has been launched to commemorate the anniversary: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/titanic/. The 20 stories they’ve chosen from witnesses, victims and survivors make for interesting and often very poignant reading.

You can also view a timeline from the ship’s construction to the death of the last survivor in 2009, as well as videos and podcasts from various experts. Teachers can follow links to online lessons. This website is packed with information and can become quite addictive, though it may also bring a tear to your eye!

Step back in time with the National Archives

Are you a history teacher, history student or history buff? If so, you might be interested in the National Archives website, and especially in the Education section. It’s filled to the brim with lessons, topics, podcasts, film clips and resources for video conferences and virtual classroom sessions. There are primary and secondary resources for historical periods from 1066 until the present day and there is lesson material appropriate for key stages 1 to 5. You’re bound to find something useful no matter which age group you’re teaching or what topic you’re covering.

The National Archives website is well worth a look even if you’re not in the business of history education. It’s full of interesting stories and fascinating resources! At the moment, for instance, the Education section is featuring ‘Cats, mice and votes for women’, which uses newspaper reports and other contemporary documents to look at the tactics used by the suffragettes and the police during the suffrage movement.

The National Archives homepage is a gateway to all sorts of information, from family history to newly released documents that shed light on the workings of government and the secret service. Go on, have a look!