National Archives - Kew Tips?

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

  1. 2EastYorks

    2EastYorks Senior Member

    No never been before. Have had a look online and have got the reference numbers that I need, just need to book a reader's ticket.
     
  2. Buteman

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

  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I've now decided to take the plunge (finally) and I'm driving down first thing Tuesday morning on 20th July to spend the day there.

    One thing I can't seem to get my head around from the posts is these camera tables/stands. I'm taking a Panasonic Lumix Compact Digi Camera and it has a screw thread underneath it for a tri pod. Am I correct in thinking that every table has a mount that acts as a tri pod that I can fix my camera too?
     
  4. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    What's the current situation on parking?
     
  5. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    I've now decided to take the plunge (finally) and I'm driving down first thing Tuesday morning on 20th July to spend the day there.

    One thing I can't seem to get my head around from the posts is these camera tables/stands. I'm taking a Panasonic Lumix Compact Digi Camera and it has a screw thread underneath it for a tri pod. Am I correct in thinking that every table has a mount that acts as a tri pod that I can fix my camera too?

    No, not every table, only the tables that have camera stands (eg table 5).

    You can request this table when you pre-order documents online (I always ask for Table 5 in the requests box), or you can request such a seat when you get there.

    No idea about parking as I always use public transport.
     
  6. Nicola_G

    Nicola_G Senior Member

    As I posted on another Kew thread they will soon be pre-charging for parking. I think this can be done on their website. There were signs up about it when I went.
     
  7. gaspirator

    gaspirator Member

    Parking is first-come first-served, but a new booking system is on the way: Short delay in launch of car park pre-pay and booking system | The National Archives - I always go on the train.

    I've never felt the need to use the stands except when I've needed to photo a map with the camera level and vertical.

    For me, being able to move the camera around the document is more flexible, particularly with large sheets like maps that may need several pics to cover them in detail. These also mean a trip to the large doc tables to lay them out, so not having to unscrew the camera every time is a bonus.

    - Pete
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Cheers,

    Can someone post a link to the page where you pre order/book everthing? I can't find anything on their website.
     
  9. gaspirator

    gaspirator Member

  10. ADM199

    ADM199 Well-Known Member

    As you haven't got a Readers Ticket and need one to order Online it would probably be best to give them a call to order what you want to read. Don't wait until you get there.
     
  11. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Is there an idiots guide to finding files - I've been on it for an hour now.

    I've used the online search engine to look for DFC citations (Call me stupid but I don't get it). I already know its (I assume from one of my books) an Air/2 file but how can I tell from the discription given if the one shown is the correct one?

    I also want to photograph all the citations for the Air Force Cross and Air Force Medal from WW2.
     
  12. Buteman

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

    I'd give them a call tomorrow Andy and ask, as they may be on Film. You won't be able to photograph them if that is the case.

    Don't ask me how you get copies from film as I've never used that service.
     
  13. idler

    idler GeneralList

    I've photographed a few things quite successfully from the microfilm machine screen. They display as negatives - white on black - but you can always invert them in an image editor.
     

    Attached Files:

  14. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    I'd give them a call tomorrow Andy and ask, as they may be on Film. You won't be able to photograph them if that is the case.

    Don't ask me how you get copies from film as I've never used that service.

    Is photography no longer allowed in the microfilm reading rooms now? My last visit was a few years ago so I'm out of date but they did previously allow photography in there.

    The alternative was to use the self-service photocopiers but that gets expensive.

    Lee
     
  15. idler

    idler GeneralList

    Good point - it's been redeveloped since I last used the film viewers.

    Andy, have you seen the research guide:

    Royal Air Force
    For detailed information on RAF gallantry awards, see W Spencer, Air Force Records for Family Historians (Kew, 2000). During the Second World War, awards were:
    immediate (for single acts of bravery).
    non-immediate (normally given at the conclusion of a tour of duty of between 25 and 30 operations).
    Announcements of awards are in the London Gazette (ZJ 1 ) and are found by consulting the Gazette indexes. Surviving recommendations are in AIR 2 . Those for the Victoria Cross are in AIR 2 (for 1939-1942); in AIR 2/5010 (for 1943-1944) and in AIR 2/5867 (for 1944-1946).

    I imagine you want the lot, so you'll dispense with searching for specific ones.
     
  16. Paul Reed

    Paul Reed Ubique

    You can use digi cameras anywhere in the building but the best results for documents are using a copy stand and only a minority of tables have them built in.

    In both the public and reading room areas there are separate camera stands in key locations, but obviously this won't help with microfilm.
     
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Good point - it's been redeveloped since I last used the film viewers.

    Andy, have you seen the research guide:


    Royal Air Force
    For detailed information on RAF gallantry awards, see W Spencer, Air Force Records for Family Historians (Kew, 2000). During the Second World War, awards were:
    immediate (for single acts of bravery).
    non-immediate (normally given at the conclusion of a tour of duty of between 25 and 30 operations).
    Announcements of awards are in the London Gazette (ZJ 1 ) and are found by consulting the Gazette indexes. Surviving recommendations are in AIR 2 . Those for the Victoria Cross are in AIR 2 (for 1939-1942); in AIR 2/5010 (for 1943-1944) and in AIR 2/5867 (for 1944-1946).


    I imagine you want the lot, so you'll dispense with searching for specific ones.
    This is what I mean...Do I ask for Air 2? The above just says 'surviving recommendations' but doesn't specify which ones.

    Why doesn't it just say something like:

    DFC's are in here/ this file

    DFM' are in here/ this file

    AFC's...etc

    AFM's...etc

    And so on. Or do they and I can't just can't find them?

    Can you just turn up and ask the staff for the files that you want and they get them for you?
     
  18. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Andy AIR 2 is only part of the file reference. There's usually three parts needed to identify a particular file, its department code (e.g. AIR), series code (e.g. 2), and piece number (e.g. 100), in this example the full file reference would be AIR 2/100.

    There are probably several thousand files in the AIR 2 series. You need to identify the piece number for what you are searching for.

    Lee
     
  19. idler

    idler GeneralList

    It wasn't very helpful, was it (my post, not Lee's, I hasten to add)? Asking the staff would be the best bet, but PROCAT is throwing up some hits from here onwards.
     
  20. PsyWar.Org

    PsyWar.Org Archive monkey

    Just had a look at TNA catalogue and it looks messy. Other than for VCs and GCs all other awards look like they are spread over many different files. Some examples here:

    AIR 2/5002 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Immediate awards: operational Commands 1943
    AIR 2/5010 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Victoria Cross: recommendations 1943-1944
    AIR 2/5011 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Immediate awards: operational Commands 1943
    AIR 2/5012 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Ground gallantry awards: Sept. 1943 1943-1946
    AIR 2/5020 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Immediate awards: operational Commands 1943
    AIR 2/5021 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Ground gallantry awards, Oct. 1943 1943-1944
    AIR 2/5025 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Ground gallantry awards, Nov.-Dec. 1943 1943-1944
    AIR 2/5027 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Immediate awards: operational Commands 1943-1944
    AIR 2/5038 DECORATIONS, MEDALS, HONOURS AND AWARDS (Code B, 30): Ground gallantry awards, Feb. 1944 1943-1946
     

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