Romany Collection (2)

Description

Consists of archive material donated or purchased by the University post 1962.


Is mainly made up of a selection of press cuttings bought from Durrants's Press Cutting Agency. Features (UK) national and regional press/publications/articles where reference is made to Gypsies, Traveller or Roma.


Also includes a wide range of manuscripts, letters, typescripts, press cuttings, photographs, music, objects, paintings and drawings referencing Gypsies and Travellers in the UK, Europe (Roma) and worldwide.

Provenance

This part of the collection is made up of additional deposits from DUR's collection. DUR continued to make additional deposits on an adhoc basis between 1950 until her death in 1967. Post 1967 further deposits from DUR's estate were made via Mrs P [Pauline].Young [sister] and Ludi Horenstein [niece].


It also includes purchases between 1954 up-to the current day as result of DUR's endowment fund. This comprised both one off archive/print items as well as a number of smaller collections (Thompson, Rev. George Hall, Kenrick and Dawson) - please see related items.


Following the death of DUR in 1967 and Dora Yates in 1974 (who often advised the University on items to develop the Collection) the University went on to spend the bulk of the endowment fund on a press cutting subscription with Durrants.



Most of these additions were recorded in a separate Romany Collection Account Book and/or recorded in the Accession Register [again with a B number reference, suffixed by 'R' for 'Romany Collection]. Where these exist they are recorded in the 'alternate reference field.'

System of arrangement

This Collection has been arranged by the archivist into the same/similar categories used in Romany 1. Many of these items had previously been catalogued and given a unique reference. In 2017 this reference was superseded with items being allocated new refs[please see alt ref for previous ref].

A number of smaller collections (see related material) were also removed from this part of the collection and established as collections in their own right. [They remain part of the wider group of Gypsy ,Traveller and Roma Collections].

Access and usage

Reproduction

Access

This collection is subject to various access conditions. Please see individual catalogue descriptions for further details on access.

The catalogue titles or descriptions in this collection may contain terminology and phrases that would now be considered unacceptable. Where present these original terms continue to be included to preserve historical accuracy and provide social and historical context.

Notes on terminology and spellings

 

Please note that there may be differences in the terms used to describe the particular communities represented in this collection, many of which have changed over time and may continue to change.

 

At the time this catalogue was created there are many definitions that identify different cultural and ethnic groups with their varied histories, traditions and associations with a travelling life.

 

These can include but are not limited to  those that have been recognised in UK law as ethnic groups; English and Welsh (Romany) Gypsies, Irish and Scottish Travellers; and non-ethnic groups that consider themselves distinct even if these have not been recognised in UK law, e.g. New Travellers, Showmen and Bargees. Outside of the UK 'Gypsy' may also be considered offensive  and ‘Roma’ is often used instead as the universally preferred term although this term also represents a wide range of distinct groups, (e.g. Sinti, Manouche).

 

It is our intention to respectfully and (where possible) accurately refer to these different communities in the catalogue. For this reason we ask you to note the following with regards to the descriptions in this catalogue that have been based on these current definitions:

 

1)  As many of these definitions have only come into being since the collection was created/1st catalogued, please be aware that original descriptions may not accurately reflect the group to which it refers, (e.g. the word 'Gypsy,' may have been used to describe those now recognised as Irish Travellers/Roma).  Therefore it is worth searching under various terms, e.g. 'Romany' and 'Traveller,' to broaden the scope of search results as well as using the alternative historical spellings, 'Gipsy,' 'Gipsie,' or ‘Romani.’

2) Where no original description exists and it is not possible to properly identify a distinct group they will be described as "Gypsy Traveller" (within UK setting), "Roma" for those living/recently originating outside the UK or "Gypsy, Traveller, Roma " for origin/locations unknown. References to any non - ethnic groups will similarly be capitalised to respectfully acknowledge all groups.

Users are advised that the content in this collection may include accounts of discrimination and the expression of opinions and/or terminology that would now be considered unacceptable.

Some parts of this collection are in copyright. Photocopies or digital images of the material in copyright can be supplied for private study purposes only. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain the copyright holder’s permission for reproduction of copyright material for purposes other than research or private study. Guidance is available on tracing copyright status and ownership.

Related records in our catalogue

On our website

Collection guide: Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Collections

The Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Collections consist of separate collections that reference a variety of both ethnic (eg Romany/Irish Traveller) and non-ethnic (eg New Traveller) communities with a nomadic culture, history or lifestyle.

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