Allie Nickell
@alliethinks.bsky.social
Likes history, genealogy, art, movies, small furry animals and terrible jokes. Possesses a (mostly) logical mind and a vivid imagination. Born and rared in Belfast, and back there after wandering round Scotland and London.
Digitisation horror story.
October 31, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Digitisation horror story.
When you run out of 'G's.
October 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
When you run out of 'G's.
I hadn't realised that the illustrations for 'Ireland's Memorial Records' (the list of Irish war dead from the First World War) were done by stained glass artist Harry Clarke.
October 28, 2025 at 11:24 AM
I hadn't realised that the illustrations for 'Ireland's Memorial Records' (the list of Irish war dead from the First World War) were done by stained glass artist Harry Clarke.
Are you *sure* about that?
October 16, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Are you *sure* about that?
(This is an old pic that I happened to have lying around)
October 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
(This is an old pic that I happened to have lying around)
An 18-month old Angela Lansbury endorses Pond's Cold Cream.
October 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
An 18-month old Angela Lansbury endorses Pond's Cold Cream.
Some weird ghost images in this newspaper scan.
September 26, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Some weird ghost images in this newspaper scan.
The other bit of the Secret Service that put it there must be really annoyed...
September 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The other bit of the Secret Service that put it there must be really annoyed...
I ❤️ the Internet Archive, but I wish uploaders would get the metadata right - been looking for this report for longer than I should have, and it wasn't until I realised there were multiple "First Annual General Reports" that the penny dropped. Usually it's the publication date that's unreliable.
September 17, 2025 at 1:56 PM
I ❤️ the Internet Archive, but I wish uploaders would get the metadata right - been looking for this report for longer than I should have, and it wasn't until I realised there were multiple "First Annual General Reports" that the penny dropped. Usually it's the publication date that's unreliable.
Use it anyway. There's even a footnote you can borrow.
September 6, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Use it anyway. There's even a footnote you can borrow.
My day has improved significantly - just received a shiny new library card via the uni's civic borrower scheme (pictured here with my swanky new-ish diary 😊)
September 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
My day has improved significantly - just received a shiny new library card via the uni's civic borrower scheme (pictured here with my swanky new-ish diary 😊)
1917-style genealogy humour.
August 21, 2025 at 9:12 PM
1917-style genealogy humour.
Are there any nice Irish speakers out there who can tell me what this says?
August 16, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Are there any nice Irish speakers out there who can tell me what this says?
Get up to shenanigans with your otter, get your otter confiscated.
August 15, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Get up to shenanigans with your otter, get your otter confiscated.
It's on the FAQ page
August 13, 2025 at 10:17 AM
It's on the FAQ page
Dublin Evening Mail limerick competition, 1942.
August 12, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Dublin Evening Mail limerick competition, 1942.
Just came across a painting by Irish artist William Orpen of his parents. Now, I'm 99.9% sure I'm not related to him, but these photographs are of my great-great-grandparents... #DoubleTake
August 9, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Just came across a painting by Irish artist William Orpen of his parents. Now, I'm 99.9% sure I'm not related to him, but these photographs are of my great-great-grandparents... #DoubleTake
He was James Cohorn? Holmes and he ran off to Australia. His wife sued for divorce in Scotland in 1895 and there are a few newspaper articles.
August 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
He was James Cohorn? Holmes and he ran off to Australia. His wife sued for divorce in Scotland in 1895 and there are a few newspaper articles.
Don't think I've seen this before - two unrelated entries from an 1864 Co Armagh birth register (i.e. the year civil registration came into force) where the registrar has recorded that these are 'intended names'. #IrishGenealogy
July 19, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Don't think I've seen this before - two unrelated entries from an 1864 Co Armagh birth register (i.e. the year civil registration came into force) where the registrar has recorded that these are 'intended names'. #IrishGenealogy
The finger and box is constantly moving round the thumbnail. Today is the first time I've see it, and there is no obvious way to make it stop.
July 18, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The finger and box is constantly moving round the thumbnail. Today is the first time I've see it, and there is no obvious way to make it stop.
Trying to work out what exactly the second entry here says (baptismal register, Scotland 1783). The date above is 'July 3d', the second entry is *something* day - the crosses over the top have obscured the writing. Paging @davelifelines.bsky.social...
July 14, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Trying to work out what exactly the second entry here says (baptismal register, Scotland 1783). The date above is 'July 3d', the second entry is *something* day - the crosses over the top have obscured the writing. Paging @davelifelines.bsky.social...
Family gravestone (not my photo). It looks complete, but the 'Erected by' bit is missing - was there something more to the monument at one time, or did the sculptor make a grave error...? #Genealogy
July 10, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Family gravestone (not my photo). It looks complete, but the 'Erected by' bit is missing - was there something more to the monument at one time, or did the sculptor make a grave error...? #Genealogy
If you want any inspiration...
July 9, 2025 at 1:37 PM
If you want any inspiration...