Visualising Birmingham: Reframing the Photographic Collections

“Just as every picture tells at least one story, so every image produced today becomes evidence of the past tomorrow”

This research guide provides an introduction into Birmingham’s photographic collections:

• What do photos tell us about ‘history’ and Birmingham?
• Who were Birmingham's photographic pioneers?
• What do photographs tell us about local, national and international identities?
• How is photography used to combat prejudice?

Chapters in this research guide include:

• Introduction
• Sir John Benjamin Stone
• Bill Brandt and the Bournville Village Trust
• Lisel Haas
• Post-war Photographers

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People and places mentioned in this research guide include: Warwickshire Photographic Survey; Sir Benjamin Stone; Sherborne Pageant; Types of Races of Mankind; Trinidad; Algeria; USA; Bill Brandt; Bournville Village Trust; slum and municipal housing; back-to-backs; portraits; the Dyche Collection; Nick Hedges; Vanley Burke; Handsworth; William Jerome Harrison; Lisel Haas; Jewish refugee; Moseley; studio portraiture; childhood; photographs of plays and actors; Birmingham Repertory Theatre; Alexandra Theatre; Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Kidderminster Playhouse; Handsworth Self Portrait; Ten.8 Collective; John Reardon; Derek Bishton; George Hallett; Tim Smith; Pogus Caesar; and, Helen Caddick.

Further links and research:

Andrew Jackson - Photographer

A gallery of images from 'The Hidden Landscape' by Andrew Jackson. "The images are ones that are an image of contemporary Britain. They are images that both raise questions of what is ‘Britishness’ but also the question and nature of our urban identities. Produced in Handsworth and Lozells, Birmingham, 24 years after the riots that made it’s name; and two years after ‘race riots’ between Blacks and Asians. They are an image of Britain’s cities that stand as the legacy of 60 years after post-war mass immigration".

Staff Recommends - Photographic Collections

This is an additional miscellaneous resource list of materials contained in Birmingham Central Library’s photographic archive collections. These items were displayed at an event during research workshop seminars held by the Birmingham Stories project in 2009. These references should be used in conjunction with the resources in the learning guide on ‘Visualising Birmingham: Reframing the Photographic Collections.’

Connecting Histories - Photographic Exhibitions

A selection of images from the photographic collections at Birmingham Central Library.

Also, catalogues of the photographic collections of Vanley Burke, George Hallett, and Derek Bishton & Ten.8.

Further information on the photographers Pogus Caesar, Nick Hedges, Paul Hill, and Terry Lo, can be found in More Collections.