Safeguarding the Bernard Chapman Collection

Dawlish Museum and the Dawlish Local History Group are the custodians of the Chapman family's archive of over 4,000 photographs and glass negatives. Mike Ralls, the retiring chair of the Dawlish Local History Group, has digitized the images.

John Southall has also digitized the collection, and 72 important photos from the collection are already online, on the website http://www.time-capsules.co.uk

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 Here's the link to the online Bernard Chapman Collection 
and the  introduction from John Southall:

Bernard Chapman Collection

Bernard Chapman, now in his 87th year, is the 4th generation of Chapman photographers. The company started in 1863 although there is a note in Bernard's Great Grandfather's diary that in 1859 he received 7shillings and six pence for 'photography'. 7/6 is the equivalent of 37.5 of today's pennies! The collection consists of about 1,400 photographs and were put into albums by Bernard in 1963 although it took him 3 ½ years to complete. It is a history of Dawlish from 1863 up to 1963 and covers all aspects of life in the town. Some of the photos are of great importance and not just to Dawlish. I got to know Bernard as a result of my suggesting to the local paper, the Dawlish Gazette, that a weekly 'Then and Now' article might go down well. My investigations led me to Bernard and may I say that he is a great character and a thoroughly nice guy. Bernard has given me carte blanche to use the photos as I like which I consider a very great privilege. It has been suggested to Bernard that the collection is of such importance that it ought to be in a museum although it is now safely on both of my computers and also dvds. John.



At yesterday's meet of the Dawlish Local History Group, Mike Wedlake allowed members a glimpse into this remarkable archive. Here's one of the wonderful images (the one here, and the description, is from the online archive) which Mike projected onto a large screen. He started off with a history of the Chapman family, and pictures of the Victorian photograph printing works.

Description

The photos I am using are a part of the Bernard Chapman Collection. Bernard has granted me full use of the collection with the aim of showing it to as many people as possible.

This photo, dating from c1900, shows the family works, known as The Photo Printing Works, round the back of Dawlish, Devon.
Several members of the family are shown at work even the younger members. The photos are being printed by exposure to the sun outside the works.