An Index for BRITISH MUSEUM Research Laboratories – File 2231

(Relating to work on the Trinity College Dublin Harp)

Compiled by Michael Billinge from contents of file as seen on 25th October 2010.

Note: At the time of my visit to the Research Laboratories, the contents of the file appeared to have been neither catalogued nor arranged in any specific order. I have therefore prepared this index as an aid to referencing these items for future work. However, the file had also recently been scanned and compiled into a .pdf file format for record purposes. To aid cross–referencing I have added the page number of the .pdf to the end of the relevant description. These .pdf page numbers are written in italics within brackets.

The following is a list of the items contained with the file envelope, and where possible, I have listed these in apparent chronological order. I also deal with these in two distinct groups, the first containing written items (reports, letters and publication extracts), the second including items of a non-textual nature (strings, X–ray and photographs). I must emphasise that the numbering system given below is purely my own, as no referencing or cataloguing system was apparent for the items within the file.

Written Content:

Item
No.

Brief description

  1. Large brown paper file envelope, with brief record details and photograph of the harp (see item 35 below) on the front. [1]
  2. File index Card 2231, written on both sides. [2, 3]
  3. Typed sheet, single side, titled Brian Boru’s Harp (giving a brief history of the harp). [5]
  4. Work Sheet, single sheet. Dates of 6th, 8th and 9th March 1961. [7]
  5. Handwritten report, single sheet written on both sides, titled Tara Harp. Examination of metal strips on ‘Harmonic Curve’. Dated 4th May 1961 (stapled to item 8 below). [12, 13]
  6. Typed report by Mary Rowland, three single sided pages, titled Report on playing the Trinity College, Dublin, Harp. Dated 14th October 1961. [15, 16, 17]
  7. Typed report by Joan Rimmer, three single sided pages, titled Report on stringing the Trinity College, Dublin Harp. Dated 16th October 1961. [18, 19, 20]
  8. Handwritten report, single side of foolscap paper but with sketch diagram on reverse, titled Report on Irish Harp from Trinity College Dublin. Dated 2nd November 1961 (stapled to item 5 above). [22, 23]
  9. Typed report, single sheet, titled Restoration of the Irish Harp from Trinity College, Dublin. Dated 10th November 1961. [24]
  10. Carbon copy of item 9 (above). Dated 10th November 1961. [25]
  11. Various newspaper cuttings, taken from the 19th February 1962 editions of: The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Irish Times, The Belfast News–letter, The Irish Press, and the 18th January 1963 edition of The Catholic Herald. [26–31]
  12. Typed letter from Joan Rimmer to Dr. Werner, single sheet, concerning enclosed addendum (see item 13 below). Dated 24th January 1963, and with British Museum date stamp 24th January 1963. [32]
  13. Typed addendum to report by Joan Rimmer, single sheet but with two rough diagrams sketched on back, titled Addendum to Report of October 1961 on Trinity College Dublin Harp. Dated January 1963. [33, 11 (sketches)]
  14. Offprint of article by Joan Rimmer titled The Morphology of the Irish Harp. Reprinted from The Galpin Society Journal XVII (1964). [44–53]
  15. Newspaper cuttings of an article, titled Linked by a harpstring, and photograph taken from The Irish Independent of 11th December 1964. [34, 35]
  16. Two newspaper cuttings respecting the theft and recovery of the harp. One titled The harp of Brian Boru is stolen and dated 26th March 1969, the other titled Tried to ransom harp (no date given). [37]
  17. Two newspaper cuttings respecting the recovery of the stolen harp. One titled Arms Find in Hunt (no date given), the other titled Priceless harp found buried is taken from the Evening News and dated 18th April 1969. [36]
  18. Typed report, single sheet, titled Report on the examination of a string purporting to come from the Irish Harp from Trinity College, Dublin. Dated 5th June 1969. [38]
  19. Handwritten report, single sheet, subject Repairs to damage sustained when stolen. Dated 3rd December 1971. [40]
  20. Typed report, single sheet, titled The Restoration of the Irish Harp from Trinity College Dublin to repair damage caused when it was stolen. Dated 3rd December 1971. [41]
  21. Copy of letter sent to Olav Bork (Head of Art and Design, The Northern Ireland Polytechnic) from Librarian of Trinity College, single sheet, respecting permission to obtain copies of documents. Letter dated 27th January 1975, and British Museum date stamp 30th January 1975. [42]
  22. Complimentary slip from Trinity College Librarian, (relating to item 21 above). British Museum date stamp 30th January 1975. [43]
  23. Typed letter to Dr. A. E. Werner (British Museum Research Laboratory) from Olav Bork, single sheet, respecting copies of documents. Letter dated 4th February 1975, and British Museum date stamp 6th February 1975. [54]
  24. Faxed letter from Ben Russell (Bantry, Co. Cork), single sheet, requesting information on documentation relating to restoration and the possibility of viewing this. Letter dated 29th April 1992, and British Museum date stamps 12th May 1992. [55]
  25. Department of Conservation internal memo, to Hannah, from Ian, relating to Mr. Russell’s request (see item 24 above). [59]
  26. Faxed reply to Mr. Russell (see item 24 above), three sheets: (1) Transmission header, (2) Fax front sheet, and (3) Letter of reply (mentioning enclosures) from Stella Lyne, Conservation. Dated 20th May 1992. [56, 57, 58 respectively]
  27. Typed letter from R. L. Barclay (Conservator, Instruments, Canadian Conservation Institute), single sheet, requesting information on restoration work. Dated 3rd December 1996. Originally sent to Andrew Oddy (Keeper of Conservation, British Museum) but forwarded to Dr. Sheridan Bowman (Dept. of Scientific Research) with handwritten comment added by Andrew. British Museum date stamps 13th & 17th December 1996. [60]
  28. Typed letter to Sheridan Bowman from R. L. Barclay, single sheet, expressing thanks for swift reply to his request (see item 27 above). Letter dated 6th January 1997, and British Museum date stamp 10th January 1997. [61]

Non-textual content:

Item
No.

Brief description

  1. Translucent paper envelope containing X-ray negative of the end of cross piece [neck-pillar joint]. The negative within measures approximately 6 inches by 4 inches and is in good condition. [8]
  2. Paper envelope containing Wire used to restring Harp. [4]
  3. Monochrome photograph, mounted on a single large white card, depicting an angel playing a harp from a stained glass window in St. Edmunds Church, Downham Market, Norfolk. [6]
  4. Three monochrome photographs, mounted on a single large white card, showing harp as received. March 1961. [9]
    32a Right side view of harp.
    32b Detail of decoration at top of right side of forepillar.
    32c Front view of harp (slightly from right side).
  5. Three monochrome photographs, mounted on a single large white card, showing harp [as received]. March 1961. [10]
    33a Left side view of harp.
    33b Detail of decoration at top of left side of forepillar.
    33c Back view of harp.
  6. Three monochrome photographs, mounted on a single large white card, showing harp [as restored]. September 1961. [14]
    34a Left side view of harp.
    34b Right side view of harp.
    34c Back view of harp.
  7. Monochrome photograph, glued to front of file envelope (item 1 above), showing three quarter view (front/right) of harp [as restored], 1961. [1]
  8. Two monochrome photographs, mounted on a single large white card, showing Mary Rowland playing harp in September 1961. [21]
    36a Detail showing hand position as suggested by wear marks.
    36b Detail showing a more modern hand position.
  9. Two monochrome photographs, mounted on a single large white card. [Not included on pdf]
    37a General view of Mary Rowland playing harp.
    37b Unidentified women with the harp.
  10. Monochrome photograph, mounted on large white card, showing the Castle Otway Harp. [39]

Submitted 12 March 2014.

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