A Reading Scrapbook: A history of the town through printed ephemera

Description

Historical ephemera gives us a fascinating glimpse into everyday life in Reading in centuries past.

In this book David Cliffe uses surviving pieces of ephemera from the collections held in the Department of Typography at the University of Reading and the Local Studies section at Reading Central Library as a starting point for a marvellous and discursive journey into the history of the town.

Going back over the last 300 years and more, these scraps of paper show how the people of Reading lived, how they made their money, what they did for entertainment, and much more. The author’s commentary puts each piece into the context of its time and brings to life the story of the town. This is an intriguing and absorbing dive into local history.

Contents: Introduction and acknowledgements I. Markets and auctions II. Shopping III. Department stores IV. Trades and services V. Manufacturing VI. Transport VII. Restaurants, hotels, pubs and breweries VIII. Churches and religion IX. Clubs and societies X. People XI. Stage, screen and radio XII. Music and dance XIII. Sport XIV. Royalty, festivals and processions XV. Crime and punishment XVI. Local government XVII. War and peace. Reading printers; Sources; Illustrations.

The pieces of ephemera in this book are reproduced with the kind permission of Reading Borough Libraries and the Centre for Ephemera Studies, Lettering, Printing and Graphic Design Collections, Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, University of Reading.

David Cliffe.  Paperback, 200 x 200 mm, 264 pages, October 2024. With 150 colour illustrations.

About the author: David Cliffe came to Reading in 1969 as a newly qualified librarian to work in public libraries. He worked for both Reading and Berkshire, and at the end of his career was able to spend time on the extensive local studies collection in Reading Central Library. This was the ideal job for someone who has been keen on local history for as long as he can remember! He is currently Chairman of The History of Reading Society and Berkshire Local History Association. His other books about Reading have looked at churches, public libraries, cinemas, and pubs and breweries. In 2024 he was honoured to receive an award from the British Association for Local History, for his ‘outstanding individual contribution for his skills in promoting the history of Reading through his work in the Local Studies Library, and support of others in the field of local history’.