They Were Who We Are

"They Were Who We Are". I heard those words on Saturday night when listening to a Garrison Keillor podcast from Lake Wobegon (November 17, 2007). I was so taken by his turn of phrase that I listened to the podcast again.

Then I thought of the sort of post that would go with the phrase: "They Were Who We Are". This is it. Just a collection of links to places where you can see, hear and read about the past of Scotland and the UK. For free.

• BBC "A Nation on Film" archives.
• BBC "Scotland on Film" archives.
• BBC archive of history programmes.
• BFI from their creative archives licence.
• British Library Sound Archive -
• British Pathe Ltd - some free clips for view.
• Film Archive Forum provides information on various other sites.
• Films from the Home Front.
• Huntley Film Archives - some sample clips.
• Map collection from the NLS.
• Moving History - film and television archives. Links.
• National Archives - public information films, treasures and online exhibitions.
• The Open Video Project.
• School of Scottish Studies - listed by type.
• Scottish Screen Archive (from the National Library of Scotland).
• The Word on the Street - Scottish broadsides from 1650-1910.

I've ignored collections that are limited to educational institutes only. it should be obvious why I've done that.

"He who controls the past, controls the future" George Orwell. Look into your own past. It will help you in your own future. For some it will come as a disappointment to realise that you are as fickle or as steadfast as your ancestors. They too suffered and partied. Spoke about their hopes for the future. Had their dreams. Had their problems. Thought they were unique, and of an age that would never come again.

"They Were Who We Are"