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December 2020
 Three cards form the 'Parker collection of games', which includes educational games, toys and puzzles including jigsaws, card games and writing games!
This month's BUMPER edition is packed with activities to keep you occupied over the festive period - both physical and virtual! We've got extra puzzles to do with family and friends - who can complete the jigsaws the fastest?... a perfect round in a festive online family quiz should you be doing one (many of us are!), a spot the the difference, creative writing sessions, a markets of Birmingham reminiscence item, walks - some virtual (it's Christmas… we HAVE to go for a walk!), a Vanley Burke photograph for 'Document of the Month', and polar bears... of course!
We hope you’ll enjoy this festive edition of our update… If you do, why not forward it to friends and family?!
 "Shoppers, Soho Road, Handsworth", nd. c1970 [MS 2192/A/A/1/59]
This wonderful photograph from Vanley Burke's Archive features two young black boys at the doorway of a butcher's shop in Birmingham in about 1970. The shop looks busy, and inside you can see poultry for sale hanging from hooks around the store, and because it is Christmas-time... a sign inside the shop window reads, "Join our Christmas Club for Turkeys, Geese, Poultry, etc."
Vanley Burke was born in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica, in 1951. He was sent a camera from his parents, who were living in England, for his 10th birthday. In 1965 he came to England to join his parents and had a choice between leaving his aunt his radio or his camera as a parting gift. He left her his radio. He began photography in earnest from around 1967 and made a conscious decision to document the black community.
The photographs capture his own experiences of being newly arrived in Britain, his encounters with the different landscape and ways of living, and the experiences of the wider African Caribbean community. They were also created to counteract Burke’s perception of negative and stereotypical images of black people found in mainstream media. The photographs represent the black community back to themselves in an intimate portrayal and are taken from his perspective as a member of the community, rather than as documentary images taken from an ‘outsider’ perspective.
You can find out more about this rich Archive on our Connecting Histories website and about Vanley's ongoing work on his own website here.
This jigsaw puzzle features E. Nesbit's "The Life of Happy Children" (1895). London: W. Hagelberg. [Parker Collection Ap087.1/1895]. How quickly can you complete it?! Perhaps a round in that festive online quiz you're planning...?
We're missing Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market this year... so we thought we'd reminisce about it a bit... and since we have lots of wonderful historical documents in the archives... we thought we'd reminisce about the past markets of Birmingham in general!
The Christmas market, the biggest of its kind outside Germany and Austria, came to Birmingham for the first time in 1997 when it consisted of 11 stalls in Victoria Square. It returned in 2001, since which time it has become an annual fixture in the Birmingham calendar. The stallholders all come from Frankfurt and surrounding areas and their offer here in Birmingham mirrors that in Frankfurt – in fact some of the stalls look almost identical! If you want to find out more about the history of the Frankfurt Market you can find out more here.
Now to the more historical markets of Birmingham... in pictures!
 The Saturday Rag Fair, Open Market, Moat Row, Birmingham [WK/B11/394].
This wonderful photo (a bromide print printed in1904 and photographed by Thomas Clarke, of Ascot Road, Moseley, in 1897) shows customers gathered around a market trader selling caged birds at the Saturday Rag Fair at the Open Market, Moat Row, Birmingham.
 Covered Vegetable and Fruit Market, Jamaica Row, Birmingham [WK/B11/393].
This scene, photographed by Thomas Clarke, shows a cauliflower seller on top of a cart on market morning outside the covered Vegetable and Fruit Market, Jamaica Row, Birmingham in 1899.
 Market Hall, Birmingham in 1901 [WK/B11/1228].
Another bromide print, this time photographed by George Whitehouse, of Wyecliffe Road, Handsworth. This photo is an interior view showing a market trader with a customer at the fish stall in the Market Hall, Birmingham, in 1901.
 Kerb vendors in the Bull Ring, selling penny packets of lavender flowers on market day in 1901 [WK/B11/955].
For our last market photo... a bromide enlargement from a hand camera negative 4.25 x 3.25 inches. It was photographed by Percy J. Deakin, from Digbeth, on the morning of Thursday, 18 July 1901 and shows a vendor of penny packets of lavender flowers at the Bull Ring on market day.
 The Children's Library at the Library of Birmingham are continuing their 'Writing Black History' events with a series of six online family workshops. Do you know any 12-17 year olds that would like to take part?!
Over the course of 6 Saturdays, starting 9th January 2021, we will be looking at the lives and work of the musician Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock, the cricketer Basil D'Oliveira, the author Malorie Blackman, the activist Doreen Lawrence, and the aircraftwoman Lilian Bader.
At the end of each session, you will have learned about an iconic black Briton, other famous Britons in their field, and started writing a creative response to a major incident in their life.
You can sign up for as many sessions as you want, just email childrens.library@birmingham.gov.uk for a registration form.
This month's BONUS jigsaw puzzle features a photograph from MS 494 (the records of Joseph Harris Limited, dry cleaners) cleaning a slightly unusual item... yes... stuffed into the back of the dry cleaning van is a... polar bear... with a bow tied around it's neck! ‘Joseph Harris Ltd. was founded in 1780 and now, a member of the Johnson Group Cleaners Ltd., is the 14th oldest company extant in Birmingham’! But, can you complete the Jigsaw? We found this one quite tricky! What's your fastest time?!
 Dry cleaning a polar bear [MS 494/B/13].
 List of members (including the dogs!) and group photograph, 26th December 1930 [MS 610].
It's that time of year where we like to try and get out for a walk when the weather permits... so we thought we'd introduce you to this wonderful collection, MS 610, the minutes of the Cherry Brandy Club! The Club met annually on Boxing Day to walk a set route from Edgbaston to Rubery, and they started out because three friends decided, one Boxing Day in the early 1890s, to go for a walk from Augustus Road in Edgbaston to the New Rose and Crown Inn in Rubery. There they had lunch and returned by train to New Street Station and then by the old Harborne line to Edgbaston. Within a few years, there were two significant features introduced, one was that the club was formed and minutes written, the second was that one of the members suggested, after a particularly cold walk, that a glass of Cherry Brandy would not come amiss. This was acclaimed by those present, and the Club was named the Cherry Brandy Club and Cherry Brandy became “the eponymous liquor” and was drunk every year except one. Find out more about this club in our guest blog here!
And if you need some inspiration for your December walks... why not try one of these... there are a couple of virtual ones too!
Dog Friendly Canal Walks - "Take a rejuvenating walk around the canals of the West Midlands. These free downloadable routes are perfect for walking your dog. These walks all take approximately between 20-40 minutes to complete. Follow our guides to feel recharged by a healthy walk. Life's better by water".
Birmingham City Centre Canal Walk- "Uncover the fascinating story of Birmingham's past as the 'workshop of the world'. Just a short walk through Birmingham's streets will tell a fascinating story about this constantly evolving city - for those who know where to look. Don't forget the canals themselves, which have played a significant role in Birmingham's success over the last 200 years".
Woodgate Valley- "With over 450 acres of park and 8 miles of path to walk Woodgate Valley is an ideal place for a stroll. There are three waymarked routes to choose from, or pick up a map from the Visitor Centre and explore the rest of the park. All three waymarked routes start and finish at the Visitor Centre. To follow the routes, look out for the colour marked posts along the way".
Curious About Birmingham - Quirky heritage walks for the Curious! - "Explore Birmingham city centre with two self-guided heritage walks with a treasure hunt theme. Discover Birmingham's "hidden treasures" whilst having a fun day out with family and friends!"
Lickey Hills - "There are several marked walking trails across the park. The circular walk is one of the most popular! It begins and ends at the Visitor Centre and is around 1.5 miles long. There are green posts between the numbered posts to help you find your way".
Sandwell Valley - "Finding somewhere for a quiet walk is easy in Sandwell Valley Country Park. Whether you are a keen rambler, or just want to go for a walk with the dog or family, with 660 acres to walk round, you can go for a quiet stroll in pleasant surroundings through woods, farmland and by pools and streams".
Edgbaston Reservoir - "This 70 acre site is mainly open water. The reservoir is surrounded by woodland and grassland. Walkers and joggers can enjoy the approximately 2.8 km (1.75 miles) path around the reservoir. The area supports a variety of birdlife. And is also a valuable city site for animals such as newts and bats".
Architecture Jewels (Self-guided), Birmingham - "Birmingham has a variety of mixed-styles of architecture from old Victorian style to cylindrical highrise skyscrapers that will have a huge impact on all of Birmingham's tourists. The beautiful architecture of the buildings in Birmingham is one of the top sightseeing tours in England."
Walks in the West Midlands - "Whether you’re looking for tranquil woods, wide open fields, or lazy lakeside meanders, the Midlands has some very special places to discover on foot. This list has been put together with the help of our outdoor rangers (who’ve recommended some top spots) as well as the lovely folk at Cotswold Outdoor".
Birmingham City Centre Walks - "Did you know that Birmingham was often described as the ‘Workshop of the World’? From the eighteenth century onwards the city made goods ranging from copper coins to chocolate, printed books to jewellery. This walk explores Birmingham’s history as a manufacturing centre. It also looks at how central Birmingham has been subject to constant change since the Middle Ages. Find out about the latest wave of redevelopment and regeneration, and some of the people that have made Birmingham so ethnically and culturally diverse".
If you can't get out and about or it's a bit nippy... why not try a virtual walk!?
Birmingham City Virtual Canal Walks - "Explore somewhere new and enjoy relaxing waterside scenery from the comfort of your own home with our top six virtual walks".
Self-Guided & Virtual Walking Tour - Birmingham's Central Squares - "This tours starts in Victoria Square and ends in Centenary Square where our second tour - Centenary Square and the Canals begins. This tour looks at historical aspects of Birmingham right up to the present city. Each stop considers a different aspect of the city".
Finally... to keep you busy until next time... a fiendishly difficult spot the difference! There are 6 to find! You can see more photos from this wonderful collection here!
 Digbeth High Street looking towards Smithfield Street, Birmingham in 1953 [WK/D1/159].
We hope you've enjoyed this update - it's production is a collaboration between the Archives, Community Libraries, the Library of Birmingham, Library Services at Home, the Mobile Library, and the Prison Library! Our aim is to share Birmingham’s history, archives, and community heritage activities, showcasing our city’s unique and irreplaceable archival collections, keeping you updated about projects and events you can get involved with! In every issue there will be a range of articles and fun quiz activities to involve you with our unique and irreplaceable collections!
See you in 2021!
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