Francesca Hillier
@frannabel2010.bsky.social
London mum, likes cats, museums, archives & indexing. Senior Archivist, British Museum
#eyabeauty There are very many beautiful drawings & images in the Museum’s archive-here is a selection from bound volumes & scrapbooks. #britishmuseum #archives #scrapbooks #architecturaldrawings
November 30, 2025 at 7:59 AM
#eyabeauty There are very many beautiful drawings & images in the Museum’s archive-here is a selection from bound volumes & scrapbooks. #britishmuseum #archives #scrapbooks #architecturaldrawings
This volume & its contents were in a very poor state until we had it conserved. Now it’s looking so much better & its contents can be viewed safely for the 1st time in years. #eyaconservation #britishmuseum #archives #conservation
November 30, 2025 at 12:55 AM
This volume & its contents were in a very poor state until we had it conserved. Now it’s looking so much better & its contents can be viewed safely for the 1st time in years. #eyaconservation #britishmuseum #archives #conservation
The Original of the Species was published #OTD in 1859. Here is #Darwin writing a testimonial for J P Woodward, who was applying for a job in the Geology Dept at the #BritishMuseum in 1848. #archive #charlesdarwin
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The Original of the Species was published #OTD in 1859. Here is #Darwin writing a testimonial for J P Woodward, who was applying for a job in the Geology Dept at the #BritishMuseum in 1848. #archive #charlesdarwin
#Museum30 #Magic, what’s better than a crystal ball?! Here’s a page from a Hans Sloane manuscript catalogue in the #archive which shows the crystal balls when they were in his collection, before it became the foundation of the British Museum. www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
November 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
#Museum30 #Magic, what’s better than a crystal ball?! Here’s a page from a Hans Sloane manuscript catalogue in the #archive which shows the crystal balls when they were in his collection, before it became the foundation of the British Museum. www.britishmuseum.org/collection/o...
The British Museum has a very large photo archive which reflects the history of its building, its galleries, events that have effected it & of course its collection. #Museum30 #photographs #archive #britishmuseum
November 19, 2025 at 10:50 AM
The British Museum has a very large photo archive which reflects the history of its building, its galleries, events that have effected it & of course its collection. #Museum30 #photographs #archive #britishmuseum
The quadrangle of #britishmuseum was part of the 1st Museum building in Montagu House, & the same feature was included in the new building in the 1830s. Built on in the 1850s when the Reading Room was added, it was covered over in the 1990s when the Great Court was built. #archives #museumarchives
November 19, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The quadrangle of #britishmuseum was part of the 1st Museum building in Montagu House, & the same feature was included in the new building in the 1830s. Built on in the 1850s when the Reading Room was added, it was covered over in the 1990s when the Great Court was built. #archives #museumarchives
It’s #WorldArchitectureDay so seemed a good time to share architect Sydney Smirke’s report to #britishmuseum Trustees in 1856 where he discusses the advice he received from Michael Faraday on lightning conductors & gilding for the Round Reading Room. #archives #architecture #faraday
October 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
It’s #WorldArchitectureDay so seemed a good time to share architect Sydney Smirke’s report to #britishmuseum Trustees in 1856 where he discusses the advice he received from Michael Faraday on lightning conductors & gilding for the Round Reading Room. #archives #architecture #faraday
From 2007-12 the British Museum collaborated with Kew Gardens to create beautiful garden exhibitions in the forecourt. Themes including North American, Indian, Chinese & African planting may provide some inspiration for the new visitor welcome experience works. #britishmuseum #archives #kewgardens
September 21, 2025 at 11:41 AM
From 2007-12 the British Museum collaborated with Kew Gardens to create beautiful garden exhibitions in the forecourt. Themes including North American, Indian, Chinese & African planting may provide some inspiration for the new visitor welcome experience works. #britishmuseum #archives #kewgardens
In 1912 the British Museum began discussing the offer of Stonehenge as a gift for the nation from the estate of John Jacob Astor. Here is Charles Hercules Read corresponding with Sir Edmund Antrobus (then owner) & the BM’s Trustees on the matter. #britishmuseum #archives #stonehenge
September 19, 2025 at 11:47 AM
In 1912 the British Museum began discussing the offer of Stonehenge as a gift for the nation from the estate of John Jacob Astor. Here is Charles Hercules Read corresponding with Sir Edmund Antrobus (then owner) & the BM’s Trustees on the matter. #britishmuseum #archives #stonehenge
The British Museum archive holds original archival records of the founding of the Derby China Works in the mid-18th C. Here is one of the beautiful pattern books & a notebook listing painters who were employed to decorate porcelain, including Angelica Kauffman. #BritishMuseum #archive #derbychina
July 25, 2025 at 8:03 AM
The British Museum archive holds original archival records of the founding of the Derby China Works in the mid-18th C. Here is one of the beautiful pattern books & a notebook listing painters who were employed to decorate porcelain, including Angelica Kauffman. #BritishMuseum #archive #derbychina
I love these two photographs of the King’s Library with proposed designs for new lighting drawn on them from the 1950s. Originally built in the 1820s - big glass chandeliers might have been a step too far! #BritishMuseum #archive
July 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I love these two photographs of the King’s Library with proposed designs for new lighting drawn on them from the 1950s. Originally built in the 1820s - big glass chandeliers might have been a step too far! #BritishMuseum #archive
This scrapbook was put together by John Thurnam (b.1810), psychiatrist & archaeologist, who had a particular interest in standing stones. It includes these lovely drawings, sketches & articles on Stonehenge. #britishmuseum #archive #stonehenge #exploreyourarchive #archaeology
June 28, 2025 at 9:10 AM
This scrapbook was put together by John Thurnam (b.1810), psychiatrist & archaeologist, who had a particular interest in standing stones. It includes these lovely drawings, sketches & articles on Stonehenge. #britishmuseum #archive #stonehenge #exploreyourarchive #archaeology
This directive was issued by the British Museum Director in 1939, bemoaning the summer attire of staff. I wonder what the staff made of it…! #britishmuseum #londonsummer #archive #eya
June 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This directive was issued by the British Museum Director in 1939, bemoaning the summer attire of staff. I wonder what the staff made of it…! #britishmuseum #londonsummer #archive #eya
Happy 90th birthday to Sir Norman Foster, architect of the British Museum’s Great Court! #britishmuseum #archive #sirnormanfoster #architecture #exploreyourarchive
June 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Happy 90th birthday to Sir Norman Foster, architect of the British Museum’s Great Court! #britishmuseum #archive #sirnormanfoster #architecture #exploreyourarchive
Just found another letter from Charles Darwin that I didn’t know we had in the British Museum archive - this one is to zoologist John Edward Gray & appears to be about barnacles (& Gray’s management of the collection)! #britishmuseum #archive #charlesdarwin #exploreyourarchive
May 31, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Just found another letter from Charles Darwin that I didn’t know we had in the British Museum archive - this one is to zoologist John Edward Gray & appears to be about barnacles (& Gray’s management of the collection)! #britishmuseum #archive #charlesdarwin #exploreyourarchive
This lovely little drawing was sent to us in the post recently - there was a short note with it from someone called Alan but no further details so I can’t write to say thank you. It’s of the Museum’s 1st home, Montagu House & dates from 1800. Thank you Alan! #britishmuseum #archive
May 15, 2025 at 3:09 PM
This lovely little drawing was sent to us in the post recently - there was a short note with it from someone called Alan but no further details so I can’t write to say thank you. It’s of the Museum’s 1st home, Montagu House & dates from 1800. Thank you Alan! #britishmuseum #archive
Happy 99th Birthday to former British Museum trustee, Sir David Attenborough, born on this day in 1926. Here he is at the Museum in the 1980s with the future King Charles III! #SirDavidAttenborough #BritishMuseum #Archive #otd
May 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Happy 99th Birthday to former British Museum trustee, Sir David Attenborough, born on this day in 1926. Here he is at the Museum in the 1980s with the future King Charles III! #SirDavidAttenborough #BritishMuseum #Archive #otd
The British Museum was badly damaged in air raids WWII & it took some time to reopen after the cessation of hostilities. Although the Museum was closed to the public when Victory in Europe was announced, staff who wanted to celebrate weren’t forgotten. #VEDay80 #britishmuseum #archive #EYA #WWII
May 7, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The British Museum was badly damaged in air raids WWII & it took some time to reopen after the cessation of hostilities. Although the Museum was closed to the public when Victory in Europe was announced, staff who wanted to celebrate weren’t forgotten. #VEDay80 #britishmuseum #archive #EYA #WWII
Reposted by Francesca Hillier
Great blog on women at the British Museum. @beyondnotables.bsky.social has a (very!) long list of women associated in some way w/ the Museum between 1870-1950, including women lecturing at the Museum (many w/ explicit permission of Trustees), women using the Reading Room, & women donors
If you’re interested in how women have visited, worked in or impacted the British Museum, here’s a handy blog!: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/first-w...
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
The first women at the British Museum
From the suffragettes to the first women employees, discover the women who led the way at the British Museum.
www.britishmuseum.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Great blog on women at the British Museum. @beyondnotables.bsky.social has a (very!) long list of women associated in some way w/ the Museum between 1870-1950, including women lecturing at the Museum (many w/ explicit permission of Trustees), women using the Reading Room, & women donors
If you’re interested in how women have visited, worked in or impacted the British Museum, here’s a handy blog!: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/first-w...
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
The first women at the British Museum
From the suffragettes to the first women employees, discover the women who led the way at the British Museum.
www.britishmuseum.org
May 1, 2025 at 8:17 AM
If you’re interested in how women have visited, worked in or impacted the British Museum, here’s a handy blog!: www.britishmuseum.org/blog/first-w...
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
#BritishMuseum #Archive #ExploreYourArchive
Without our important archive we wouldn’t know of our history, buildings, collection or foundational links to the British Library & the Natural History Museum, or that there was a philosopher’s stone in the Hans Sloane collection! #Archive30 #WhyArchives #BritishMuseum #BL_London #NHM_London
April 30, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Without our important archive we wouldn’t know of our history, buildings, collection or foundational links to the British Library & the Natural History Museum, or that there was a philosopher’s stone in the Hans Sloane collection! #Archive30 #WhyArchives #BritishMuseum #BL_London #NHM_London
The British Museum archive is vast, varied & complex - it is vital to telling the story of the world’s 1st public museum, with the history of its collections, buildings, visitors & much, much more. #Archive30 #ArchiveCollection #BritishMuseum #Archive
April 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
The British Museum archive is vast, varied & complex - it is vital to telling the story of the world’s 1st public museum, with the history of its collections, buildings, visitors & much, much more. #Archive30 #ArchiveCollection #BritishMuseum #Archive
The British Museum’s iconic building is known throughout the world but it’s had its fair share of upheaval & change. From the ‘new’ building in the 19th C, WWII damage, Great Court building & the Round Reading Room, it’s a special very place. #Archive30 #ArchivesBuildings #BritishMuseum #Archive
April 28, 2025 at 9:44 AM
The British Museum’s iconic building is known throughout the world but it’s had its fair share of upheaval & change. From the ‘new’ building in the 19th C, WWII damage, Great Court building & the Round Reading Room, it’s a special very place. #Archive30 #ArchivesBuildings #BritishMuseum #Archive
Mould outbreaks are every archives’ nightmare. This one came out of nowhere in a monitored store & developed very quickly - a big job to get it all professionally cleaned & then moved to a new store. #Archive30 #ArchiveNightmares #BritishMuseum #Archive
April 27, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Mould outbreaks are every archives’ nightmare. This one came out of nowhere in a monitored store & developed very quickly - a big job to get it all professionally cleaned & then moved to a new store. #Archive30 #ArchiveNightmares #BritishMuseum #Archive