The Local Historian Volume 13 Number 1 February 1978

By J.D. Marshall

Discussion of one of the great debates in local history, that between those advocating a regional perspective, with the use of conventional administrative boundaries minimised as a framework for research and analysis, and those who are considered to favour such frameworks. The debate is presented in the form of a dialogue between an interlocutor ('the interested but sceptical local historian') and a character who 'represents the views of a growing band of workers in the local-regional field'. The 'debate', in the form of questions posed by the sceptical local historian and answered in greater length by the worker in the field, covers: i) the role of the amateur; ii) methods of comparing data and analysing phenomena over wider areas than parishes; iii) the relevance or irrelevance of county and other administrative boundaries; iv) the lead given by a range of academic researchers; v) the development of regional history at university level; vi) the purpose of training students in local or regional history; and vii) the development of common aims, methods and approaches.

[Hide]

By R.R. Morgan

Survey of a project to record details of a large area of the city of Chichester which was about to be demolished to make way for a redevelopment scheme, noting the variety of documentary and other sources which are available for researchers investigating the history of the city. These include archaeological evidence which resulted from rescue excavations in 1970-1971, the large-scale redevelopment having made a major excavation project essential. As part of the research into the areas to be destroyed, each property was investigated and the documentary sources analysed using card indexes. On each was recorded any documentary reference, in some cases running to twenty cards per property (and totalling over 15,000 cards). These were then analysed and mapped, and a variety of summary sheets and indexes prepared from the cards.

[Hide]

By Ralph B. Pugh

General survey of the origins and progress of the Victoria County History series, which at the time the article was written numbered 164 volumes. The article describes the format of the work, and the standard divisions into themes and topographical arrangements adopted in each county. Research methods and the procedures for the preparation of each volume are discussed, including changes which have taken place since the start of the series at the end of the 19th century. There is a detailed description of the management of the series, including comments on the successive editors and the agencies involved in publishing the work, and the VCH Memoranda, which are the guidelines used by the research and writing staff, are noted. The final section deals with the large-scale changes which have taken place in the world of local history in the past thirty years and describes the ways in which these have impinged upon VCH policy. New approaches and topics are indicated, and there is a short analysis of the likely prospects for the VCH in the future.

[Hide]

By Norman McCord

Discussion of the role which photographic evidence may play in local history research, beginning with a lengthy general account of the development of man's self-awareness and the relevance of archaeology to local history. It is argued that by using photographs as evidence, local historians are acting as archaeologists, and suggested that a much higher priority should be given to the recording and analysing of the recent past. Therefore, McCord considers, local historians should be deeply concerned with keeping a historical record of changes and of structures and buildings. There is also a more practical discussion of other major aspects of photographic work: i) the importance of high technical quality, with the keeping of a precise and detailed record of the subject and other details; ii) the form of the record (slides, photographic images, negatives etc); iii) the essential cataloguing and indexing, which is 'of cardinal importance'; and iv) the value of cross-referencing the record of the content, so that the images may have the widest possible use.