National Archives - Kew Tips?

Discussion in 'Research Material' started by von Poop, Oct 2, 2008.

  1. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Assuming there is one, can someone post a link to a seating guide at the National Archives.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  2. Phaethon

    Phaethon Historian

    Another great tip that I found out about today is that if you're coming by rail from the north, the overland rail link from Euston (one change) is about twice as fast to Kew Gardens as the underground.
     
  3. Gibbo

    Gibbo Senior Member

    Assuming there is one, can someone post a link to a seating guide at the National Archives.

    Cheers
    Andy

    I wrote one earlier in this thread: post 37 updates a previous version.
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers Gibbo.

    I was at Kew again today - 9 files copied this time compared to two on the last trip :D

    Obviously my area of interest is the BEF - Is there a way of viewing the whole WO 167 file online ?
     
  5. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Is there a way of viewing the whole WO 167 file online ?

    Yes. We're just waiting for you to post it :D

    If you mean an index, a tussle with PROCAT has produced what I've attached. Is that everything?
     

    Attached Files:

  6. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    There's enough on there to keep him going until he retires.:lol:
     
  7. Rich Payne

    Rich Payne Rivet Counter Patron 1940 Obsessive

    Yes. We're just waiting for you to post it :D

    If you mean an index, a tussle with PROCAT has produced what I've attached. Is that everything?

    Top Man !

    Thanks for the list. :)
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Well Done Andy !

    I have 11 so far in two trips :D (I WONDER WHAT THE MATHS IS ON THAT !)

    Andrea has just told me that the NA are advertising for someone to be head of cataloguing for 40k a year. I'd do it for free !

    Edit:

    Phew....The Job's gone, Andrea was going to look at applying for it !
     
  9. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Managed to download that by using the advanced search feature:

    1) Under Catalogue Levels, tick Series to Item inclusive
    2) Put WO 167 as the Series Code
    3) As it must have a search term, in this case I set the Start Date and End Date fields to 01/09/1939 and 31/12/1940 respectively

    When the results are shown, use the Download Results button, save them as a csv file which can then be tidied up in Excel.

    I've now noticed the flaw in the plan: only the first 1000 results can be downloaded; bugger! Sorry, didn't notice that. Will need to split the date range and run it twice - edit - no, that didn't work as intended, either. Hmm...
     
  10. adam180

    adam180 Senior Member

    Hello Everyone
    I am going to visit to the the national archives in the next couple of weeks.
    I have had a look at the website, and I have got to be honest, it has left me more confused than when I started, so I am hoping a few of you who have been before can give me a few pointers.
    First of all on the website, a lot of the documents have codes like WO 169/10278, lets say I ask for this document, as well as lots of others, is it best if I just take pictures of everything I come across that looks interesting, then go through it when I get home.

    Is there a limit on how many pictures I can take, or amount of documents I can ask for.

    Can everything be photographed, i.e. microfiche etc.

    Is there a technique, or camera setting that is best for getting nice clear pictures, I noticed no tripods are aloud.

    Are any days/times better than others for going.

    One last Thing, I do intend to buy a few documents, because I want to put money back into this excellent service they give us.

    Thank you
    Adam
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Hi Adam
    I've moved your post to an older thread. I am sure at least some of your questions have been already discussed previously here. As for the rest, hopefully someone who has been to Kew will be able to help.

    Best of luck
    Diane
     
  12. adam180

    adam180 Senior Member

    Hello Diane
    I refreshed the page after coming back in from the garden, and wondered what had happened for a second.
    I then got engrossed in the excellent information contained in this thread, thank you.
     
  13. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    21 documents a day I believe so 21 WO171 files for example. I usually go around 10amish-3pmish asyou tend to miss the rush hour traffic. Allow 45 mins for them to order up documents you want. The minute the documents arrive order the max of 3 more to maximise your time productively.


    Thats all I can really help on. As for buying them, buy something from the bookshop instead. They charge so much for:
    Carparking, any minor copying... all the way to basically doing their job helping us... that they don't deserve it for 2 seconds on a scanner.
     
  14. Buteman

    Buteman 336/102 LAA Regiment (7 Lincolns), RA

    They say 21 docs in a day, but I've gone over that figure on 2 occasions wihout being stopped.

    I think that figure relates to max docs out in your locker without having returned any.
     
  15. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I'm just ordering some documents for tomorrow morning and for the life of me I can't find my note book that I wrote th eseat number I use down on. Does anyone know if there is a map of seating online at NA or what the seat number is by the window (Walk through doors and head slight right towards the windows. Its the table next to all the foam blocks used for reading books etc.

    Cheers for any help.
    Andy
     
  16. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    I'm just ordering some documents for tomorrow morning and for the life of me I can't find my note book that I wrote th eseat number I use down on. Does anyone know if there is a map of seating online at NA or what the seat number is by the window (Walk through doors and head slight right towards the windows. Its the table next to all the foam blocks used for reading books etc.

    Cheers for any help.
    Andy


    34D and 34E are by the window with copy stands. Can't remember offhand the other table numbers of that backrow but all the D and E seats in the row are directly next to windows.

    Lee
     
  17. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    They say 21 docs in a day, but I've gone over that figure on 2 occasions wihout being stopped.

    I think that figure relates to max docs out in your locker without having returned any.

    That's right. There is no maximum number per day as far as I know. You can have max 3 being processed at any time, 21 in your locker (this may include the 3 being processed). In order to make the visit more effective, pre-order, so you have some waiting for you when you arrive, and don't lose 30-40 minutes waiting for the first three to arrive. And consider bulk orders if you have a large number of consecutive files you need to see.

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  18. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Actually knowing I can order more than 21 documents has been very helpful! Cheers guys! :D
     
  19. adam180

    adam180 Senior Member

    This is one of a batch of pictures sent to me, that I hope to find a code for, I was told they got them at Kew, so I thought it was about time I went for a visit myself.
    Its hardly readable, but I can make out the words "Field return of officers" 7 Oxf Bucks, and I know its connected to the battle of monte Camino.
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=291&pictureid=2466
     
  20. Gibbo

    Gibbo Senior Member

    One point about the 21 files is that, if they include several boxed files, all 21 may not fit into your locker. In this case, they leave any that won't fit on a shelf above the lockers, on the staff side. They move them down as you return files and create space.
     

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