WOMEN, POLITICS AND WELFARE

The Papers of Nancy Astor, 1879-1964, from Reading University Library

Part 1: Autobiography, Political Diaries, Speeches, Articles and Newscuttings

Part 2: Subject Files - Children and the Family

Technical Note

Our microfilm publications have been prepared and produced in accordance with recommended and established guidelines for the production of microfilm of superior quality. These conform to the recommendations for the standard guides to good microfilming and micropublishing practice.

Attention should be drawn to the nature of the original material. Much material in Part 1 comprises boxes of loose papers, correspondence and notes for speeches which is all in good condition.

The 89 volumes of Newscuttings are for the most part in immaculate condition. A few of these volumes have suffered badly from water damage and one or two others suffer from a corrugated effect caused by the strips of the original glue present in such volumes. Only about 10 out of the total of 89 volumes suffer from these problems.

Most of the material in Part 2 comprises folders of loose manuscript material and correspondence. Other papers consist of newscuttings (a few in fragile condition), pamphlets and periodicals in the relevant subject files.

With volumes of Autograph Correspondence, Letters and other material affixed or pasted into bound volumes, we have carefully screened behind each item as necessary to provide a clear image. In a few instances, text is written in several directions on particular documents – vertical, horizontal and upside down. Where necessary, Volumes have been turned to capture more easily all such text which would otherwise have been more difficult to decipher. A few volumes are quite tightly bound.

A few manuscript documents consist of faintly legible correspondence and records written with a variety of inks, pens and pencils or on paper which has become slightly discoloured and stained.

These original characteristics present problems of image and contrast which stringent tests and camera alterations cannot entirely overcome. Every effort has been made to minimise these difficulties.

The most responsible care has been exercised by the filming staff of Bell & Howell Ltd (Micromedia Division) in the filming of this unique collection and this microfilm publication meets the standards established by the Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

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