Tuesday 24 April 2012

Victorian Scrapbook

A new website about Queen Victoria's life, using material from the Royal Archives, has been launched by Buckingham Palace, as an educational and public resource to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Scrapbook is focused on Queen Victoria’s life and reign, in particular her Diamond Jubilee in 1897. It contains documents from the Royal Archives, paintings and photographs from the Royal Collection, as well as audio and film clips.

The archive material is divided into nine sections, including Queen Victoria’s childhood as a young princess, her life as a wife and mother, her role as Queen, and her Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897.

Each of the sections features a selection of thumbnail images of documents from the Royal Archives, including extracts from her diary, letters, memoranda, bills and souvenir items, in addition to photographs and paintings from the Royal Collection and newsreel film.

Clicking on each thumbnail takes the user to a large image of the item, with an explanatory paragraph and, where necessary, a transcript. Some of the archive letters and diaries have been recorded as audio files by professional actors and actresses.

The Scrapbook will be of particular interest to teachers and students. Many of the pages have activities for children attached.

The website complements the material about Queen Victoria and her Diamond Jubilee already on the official British Monarchy website – www.royal.gov.uk – and the official Diamond Jubilee website – www.thediamondjubilee.org

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee Scrapbook can be found at www.queen-victorias-scrapbook.org

No comments :