Research Tip #3: Easy as A, B, C

Author
Alison Hilton
Published Date
August 27, 2013

<written by Hayley Whiting, Reading Connections Digital Content/Online Engagement Officer

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Finding out about what is held in the MERL Archive just got a whole lot easier! The A-Z index of archive collections is now available. This is an extremely valuable resource for users looking for information on specific collections and a great way to gain an overview of what is held here at MERL.

This is a work in progress and is constantly being added to by the Arts Council England funded Reading Connections Project team (link to blog). The A-Z already contains over 250 entries on major archive collections. Each entry provides an overview of the collection and has a link to the relevant entry in our online database. Details are also given on how to request items for consultation.

There is a handy search facility where you can browse by subject category or do a keyword search, so why not take a look and explore the wealth of archives available!

Hedgehog extravaganza
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 24, 2025

The Friday Walks, with Man in the Woods

In this episode of The MERL podcast, we speak to Bristol-based artist Scott about his artistic practice documenting weird Britain.

School group in the garden
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 21, 2025

Another brilliant school year

Learn about the highlights of our schools and learning programmes from the 2024/25 academic year.

Jo Clement (a woman with long brown hair and glasses) holds an object at The MERL
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
April 4, 2025

Announcing our new Fellow, Dr Jo Clement

Read how our new MERL Fellow, Dr Jo Clement, is engaging with the Robert Dawson Romany Collection to explore the heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in England.

Shepherds herding sheep across a valley.
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 7, 2025

Voices: introducing our 2025 programme

Get the highlights of what’s coming up in the first half of 2025: from exhibitions and displays, to free tours and talks, plus the announcement of our official podcast.

The top of a letter to William Champion, farmer
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
February 5, 2025

Thomas and Austen: a gay relationship in the MERL archives?

For LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, researcher Tim Jerrome shares how he’s using rural archives to research same-sex relationships in the countryside.

A. Hedley Richmond's drawing of a proposed garden and Lewisham Hospital
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
January 6, 2025

Landscapes of public health

How does public health impact the design of public spaces? We recap the contents of the 2024 symposium of FOLAR (Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading), held at The MERL.

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