Speaker
Ms
Belinda Williams
(Museum Librarian)
Description
On the 31 March 2011 the Library Department of East London Museum received a much valued collection from Mister Dennis George Jenkinson. The collection consists of artifacts, notes, newspaper clippings, photographic material, talks and other printed material. Although the main focus of the collection is about tramcars and –lines, bits and pieces of information with regards to buses and the bus service of East London is also to be found amongst it.
Jenkinson made a study of the trams of East London and gave numerous talks about it to different groups and audiences like the Friends of the East London Museum, The Border Historical Society, Stroke Society, Probus Clubs and Rotary. The donation is thus a reflection of his interest, line of work, area of study and taste. His talks and study of trams also brought a particular community of East London together as it is a subject that brings fond memories back to them.
This collection is of particular interest to modern society as the tramlines in the main street of East London, that is indicated and encaptured in this collection, is at present being removed. The lines that lies beneath the surface of this street, namely Oxford Street, have made the surface of the road unsafe as it affected the road-handling and braking of vehicles. This activity has sparked off renewed interest in this mode of transport of yesteryear as it caught the attention of the local media and some of the older residents of East London.
This historical information provides a glimpse of the past from the perspective of one individual who is giving a forgotten society its rightful place in history. The value of this information to the Library of East London Museum and the community of East London lies in the fact that it preserve links with the past – a past that has often “been bulldozed out of existence” to make way for some modern finding and changes. By accepting and storing this information with regards to these trams in the Library, it is our endeavor to hold on to some expression of mankind’s ingenuity, advancement and achievements and its effect on society as a whole.
Summary
On the 31 March 2011 the Library Department of East London Museum received a much valued collection from Mister Dennis George Jenkinson.Jenkinson made a study of the trams of East London and gave numerous talks about it to different groups and audiences .This historical information provides a glimpse of the past from the perspective of one individual who is giving a forgotten society its rightful place in history. The value of this information to the Library of East London Museum and the community of East London lies in the fact that it preserve links with the past – a past that has often “been bulldozed out of existence” to make way for some modern finding and changes.
Primary author
Ms
Belinda Williams
(Museum Librarian)
