The history of the British Library
Emmeline Ledgerwood
- Regions:
- South East, London
- Notice Period:
- Regular (more than one month's notice)
- Type:
- Professional
- Fee:
- Paid: £90 plus travel expenses
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 19th October 2026
- Tagged:
- British Library | History | Cultural Institution | National Library
Created in 1973, the British Library is a relatively young national institution that only moved into its permanent London home at St Pancras in 1997. However its history is the history of the myriad of organisations from which it was formed, and the origins of some of its historic collections stretch back into the seventeenth century and across continents. Who even knows that the British Library is actually spread across two sites, the second on the outskirts of a village in North Yorkshire?
In this talk I explore the dazzling range of holdings inherited from the British Museum Library, the Patent Office Library, the National Reference Library of Science and Invention, the National Lending Library for Science and Technology, the Newspaper Library, the National Central Library and the Oriental and India Office collection. Images of these bygone institutions are interspersed with stories of idiosyncratic curators and their work. To finish, I refelct on the present-day challenges faced by the custodians of our national collection.
Views: 10 | Enquiries: 0About Emmeline Ledgerwood
I'm a historian with a PhD in twentieth-century British history. As a life story interviewer, I've recorded 70 in-depth interviews with scientists, politicians and other experts in their field for the British Library's sound archive. I also write features for newspapers and magazines, with recent items appearing in 'History Today' and 'Nature Career'.
An engaging, confident and clear speaker, my talks are richly illustrated and based on rigorous historical research. I specialise in telling the unknown stories of men and women whose lived experiences illuminate broader themes in twentieth-century history. I tend to find myself writing or speaking about people who worked in scientific research, government or specialist libraries. For example, my current research explores how librarians and civil servants in Cold War Britain helped British scientists understand Russian science.
Each of my talks is accompanied by a Powerpoint presentation. I can provide laptop, projector and speaker if necessary. I live in Surrey and usually travel up to an hour to deliver a talk in person. However I am very happy to consider travelling further afield or to deliver a talk online.
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