We’re often asked for images, illustrations and photographs for a variety of reasons: house or building history, planning and model making are just a few. So we thought it might be useful to list a few sources of useful information about how to access images, both online and in our collections.
Firstly, with a title including ‘Picturing the Past’ we couldn’t forget to mention the fantastic website Picture the Past which has thousands of searchable images from throughout the East Midlands. If you are particularly taken with an image you come across, you can even have it made into a cushion cover, coaster, or mug, among other items!
The images range from the scenic
to the posed
to the celebratory
We also have an A-Z Illustrations card index in our collection Local Studies collection which can be accessed in our Card Catalogue Room in the Local Studies Library. This contains references to photos, illustrations, postcards and other imagery. These often provide clues as to what a building may have looked like internally as well as externally, railways, mines and industry, and family and public events.
You can also find photographs and images in our Archives. A search for ‘photograph’ under ‘description’ in our online catalogue revealed 633 results.
In addition, if you are looking for aerial photos, the incredibly useful website Britain from Above has some useful images from around Britain. This is one of Derby. Let us know if you have any useful sources for illustrations, photos or other types of images!
Derbyshire Record Office 