The A.W. Franks and A.Way archive project

Project leader: Eva Oledzka

Department: Prehistory and Europe

Project end date: 2008

Description:

Archival material chosen for this publication illustrates the nineteenth century period of change in attitudes towards archaeology and collecting. It demonstrates a transition from appreciation of predominantly aesthetic values of classical archaeology towards modern preferences of historical worth of archaeological discoveries, culminating in the creation of national and regional archaeological museum collections.

Nineteenth century antiquary Albert Way’s correspondence gives evidence of his close cooperation with and his influence on A.W. Franks in the formation of collections of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities at the British Museum. The letters also depict the important role A. Way and A.W. Franks played in the shaping of other, mainly regional, prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval collections in the UK and give account of similar contemporary developments in the museum world in continental Europe.

Objectives:

The A.W. Franks and A.Way Archive Project presents the nineteenth century antiquaries and collectors in the light of archival material in the Department of Prehistory and Europe and is linked to an ongoing library project on A.W. Franks' rare books collection presented by him to the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities (now the Department of Prehistory and Europe).

Publications:

E.Oledzka, The Creating of the National and Regional Prehistoric, Medieval and Post-Medieval Archaeological Collections in the Light of A. Way’s Correspondence with A.W. Franks: a Survey of A. Way’s Letters Held by The British Museum, Department of Prehistory and Europe (London, British Museum Research Publications, British Museum Press, forthcoming)