Orkney Archives
The Orkney Archive includes a wide range of records such as those of the local authority and its preceding bodies; the sheriff and justice of the peace courts; customs and excise; presbytery and kirk session records. The gifts and deposits section includes family and estate papers, those of local businesses and organisations, and the papers of prominent Orcadians like Robert Rendall, Ernest Marwick and Stanley Cursiter. Census schedules, Parish registers and local newspapers are all available on microfilm.
The Sound Archive comprises of an extensive collection of oral history recordings.
The Photographic Archive was founded in 1976 with a priceless gift of over 6000 glass plate negatives donated by Mrs Barbara Walls. The photographs were the work of Tom Kent, who worked as a photographer in Orkney from 1898 until his death in 1936.
The Photographic Archive is of immeasurable social and historical importance, both locally and nationally, since it records changes that were occurring throughout the country as well as in Orkney. The images depict changes taking place in the working and social lifes of Orkney's people; the switch from horse drawn transport to motor driven vehicles; the introdustion of the first air service to the islands; the changes in farming methods; the effects of two World Wars and the huge influx of military personnel as well as industries that have largely disappeared and many more subjects.
The Photographic Archive has expanded regularly since that time with the acquisition of works by many other local photographers and now holds in excess of 50,000 images relating to Orkney and it's people, from the nineteenth century up to recent times.
The Photographic Archive can supply prints from the collection, up to 50.8 x 40.64 cm (20 x 16 inches). The prices for these can be found on their website.
Hamburg-American liner Cincinnati in Kirkwall Bay A Tom Kent picture, date estimated. At the time it was believed to have been the largest vessel ever...
Fancy Dress cycle parade for George V coronation A Tom Kent picture, looking along Broad Street on 23rd June 1911.
Silver Jubilee Parade for George V A Tom Kent picture, showing a later parade of cycles on Shore Street on 6th May 1935.
Opening run of Orkney Motor Club 18th April 1917 This is the Tom Kent picture Paul refers to in his comment to picture #2066. This is again at the Do...
Opening run of Orkney Motor Cycle Club Taken by Tome Kent on 27th May 1914, at the back of the Girnel, next to where Tullock's Garage would...
A gathering of motorcycles in Harbour Street A Tom Kent picture, date unknown
Motorcyclists near Crafty A Tom Kent picture.
The gents pose side on to aid identification of their bikes. That'll be McEwans...
Motorcyclists near Crafty Picture clearly taken at the same time as picture #2071, but displaying more hilarity.
Masonic outing to the Standing Stones Hotel I've uploaded this photograph in reply to Paul Sutherland's latest comment regarding picture #2544. ...
Masonic outing to Standing Stones I believe this will be the outing that Paul refers to in his comment to picture #2544. This is a Tom...
Captain Fresson in West Castle Street Captain Fresson and De Havilland Gypsy Moth in West Castle Street, Kirkwall, 1932
[A Tom Kent pic...
30th February gravestone In reply to Alison Ritchie's recent posting regarding the famous 30th February gravestone in the Cat...Latest Pics
