Burnley Library Photographic Collection

Collection of lantern slides and glass plate negatives formerly held in the Reference Library at Burnley Public Library. Includes purchased sets as well as original lantern slides. The glass plate negatives are thought to have mostly been created by local Burnley photographers, George Henry Foulds and Henry Rushton.

The collection is currently arranged a series of lantern slides and glass plate negatives. It appears that the slides and negatives have been rearranged by place or subject before they were transferred to Lancaster. Many of the lantern slides and negatives have been numbered in the past, but they do not appear to be in their original order. The collection may be rearranged when it is full catalogued to try to create its original order.

The collection can be accessed by appointment in the Archives Research Centre. Request for access must be made at least one week in advance to ensure we are able to book your place and retrieve the requested material ahead of your visit. Access to some of the items in the collection may be restricted due to their poor condition.

The contents of collection were originally held by the reference library at Burnley Library. Lancaster University Library was contacted by the Burnley District Librarian as they were looking to find a new home for their materials in their photographic collections which were not directly associated with the local area. The collection was transferred to the University in 1984.

The collection was previously integrated into the Library?s ?Slide collection? and largely stored in its original wooden and cardboard boxes. In 2023 it was decided to treat the collection as a distinct collection and the collection is currently being repackaged into archival standard boxes and enclosures.