Guildhall

After navigating the London Underground, better known as the Tube, the group began work promptly at 9 a.m. in the very specialized Corporation of the City of London Record Office and the Guildhall Libraries with print library, manuscript collections, and extensive collection of prints and drawings. CLRO Senior Archivist Jeremy McIllwaine showed the students copies of the Domesday Book, and Principal Reference Librarian, Ms. Irene Gilchrist, of the Guildhall Library, impressed students with documents signed by William Shakespeare. In the CLRO Amy Qualls found records of women who indentured themselves as servants in exchange for transportation to the new world.

CLRO

Irene Gilchrist, Principal Reference Librarian

Ms. Irene Gilcrist later joined the group for a potluck dinner, bringing with her a large selection of English beverages for the group to sample. While the ciders were a great favorite, students split on their opinion of ginger beer, the UK's answer to root beer.

Students next tackled the National Archives in Kew, one of the largest collections of public records in the world, spanning an unbroken period from the 11th century to the present day. The records of the central government and the courts of law can be found here. The group soon discovered that young people are less welcome than graying, male history professors.

National Archives at Kew

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