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.
North Ronaldsay School Date unknown- estimated.
A Tom Kent picture of a substantial school and schoolhouse.
North Ronaldsay War Memorial Date estimated. A Tom Kent picture showing that North Ronaldsay experienced a significant loss in th...
North Ronaldsay Wireless Station and Post Office Date estimated. A Tom Kent picture.
Peckhole Mill, North Ronaldsay Date estimated again. A Tom Kent picture. It seems very fragile looking, when you know what the wind...
Buckle's Tower Buckle's Too'er really. A Tom Kent picture, date unknown. I'm not sure if the man in the foreground ...
Old Firth School A closer view of the old school, which is still there, but not a school. A Tome Kent picture, date u...
Finstown from the north west A Tom Kent picture, date unknown. Things to note: the old Firth school in an earlier picture is the ...
Firth Mill A Tom Kent picture, date unknown. The Firth Mill in working order, with an impressive aqueduct to th...
Aerial view of Kirkwall looking to Scapa, 1931 A Tom Kent picture. Hasn't Kirkwall grown! In 1931 it stopped at the Clay Loan and Great Western Roa...
Aerial view of Kirkwall looking west, 1931 A Tom Kent picture.
This time we look from Bridge Street to the Peedie Sea, and can note the incr...
Kirkwall harbour from the air, 1931 A Tom Kent picture.
Not as interesting as the other two aerial pictures of Kirkwall, only pier pr...
Hall of Tankerness before 'new' extension A Tom Kent picture, date unknown, but certainly prior to 1924 (see picture #766).
One of four pic...Latest Pics
