Presenting the Post Office Terrace Studio Collection

Continuing the RPS Historical Group's series of talks looking at collections of photography:

Mary Burgess, Local Studies Assistant at the Cambridgeshire Collection, Cambridge Central Library, discusses The Post Office Terrace Studio Collection, Cambridge. 

The photographic studio in Post Office Terrace in Cambridge was home to many photographers throughout its 120 year lifespan from 1865 through to 1985. All of the great and the good of Cambridge were photographed here. It was also the home of Ramsey and Muspratt, the famous women photographers in Cambridge from the 1930s through to the 1970s.

The majority of negatives for this studio have survived in the Cambridgeshire Collection, Cambridgeshire’s local studies library. More than 300,000 portrait negatives from half plate glass negatives to 35mm colour negatives cover the whole history of this studio. 

Mary will introduce the studio, the photographers and their work, along with how this important collection survived and how it is looked after.

Mary Burgess has been working in the local studies department of Cambridgeshire Libraries for eight years. She began her career at Cambridgeshire Archives, and also writes books and gives talks about Cambridge local history.

This talk is open to everyone and is free but space is limited and requires booking.

The presentation will be followed by a public Q+A. Questions will be taken by Zoom chat. Your Zoom link will be sent in PDF with your booking confirmation. 

Image:  Interior of J. Palmer Clarke studio 1900. Inv. P.Cla.K00 24695.