2013/10/1-2

Dominion Dairies Co. Ltd. (Maker)

This cardboard box, comprised of base and lid, was used to transport Golden Acres butter via train from Dominion Dairies Co. Ltd. It was donated to MERL by Cambridgeshire Archives (part of Cambridgeshire County Council), care of Richard Anderson. Cambridgeshire Archives purchased the box at Cheffins Fine Art auctions on 23rd February 2011 as it contained part of the collections of Francis Garrett of Cambridge who was a local historian who collected records of the Watts and related families of Cottenham from between 1716-1919. The Cambridgeshire Archives collection number for the Garrett collections is R111/011.

1 box: cardboard.

Email, Richard Anderson to MERL, 18 January 2013 - 'Dear MERL // A former colleague of mine here at Cambridgeshire Archives who has just retired was interested in finding out whether a suitable home could be found for an historic packaging box which he has left behind with us. Perhaps you would like to see it? // It is a box size 38cm x 31cm x 11.5cm. It states in a roundel on the lid 'Dominion Dairies Ltd. Aylesbury Bucks'. Within this roundel is an rough image of a rising sun, cottages and three cows stating 'G[olden - obscured by label] Acres Butter. Dominion Dairy Co. Ltd. Guaranteed Pure and of the Finest Quality'. The lid is partially obscured in places by luggage levels. // It was clearly used for railway goods since the lid also states on the side 'If unable to examine contents, please check weight and sign Railway Sheet for gross quantity received'. // If you would like it, I can easily put in an large envelope and send it on best regards // Richard Anderson // Archivist', Email, MERL to Richard Anderson, 21 January 2013 - 'Dear Richard, // Could you possibly take a quick digital photograph and send it through, just so I can take a look at what we are talking about? It sounds interesting but I'd need to see it first. // Best, // Ollie', Email, Richard Anderson to MERL, 23 January 2013 - 'Dear Ollie // Please find two photographs attached // regards // Richard Anderson // Archivist', Email, Richard Anderson to MERL, 14 March 2013 - 'Ollie // Thanks very much for your e-mail. Following taking the photographs, my colleague has put the box somewhere very special, and once we have identified where that is we will send it on! // Best wishes // Richard Anderson // Archivist', Letter, Richard Anderson to MERL, 14 March 2013 – 'Re. transfer of butter box // Dear Dr Douglas, // Please find attached the butter box of which I sent photographs to you a few weeks ago, and which you indicated you would be happy to accept. As you may notice from the sticker on the side reading 'Cheffins 171, Feb 23rd 2011', the box came to us at Cambridgeshire Archives after purchase at sale on that date at Cheffins Fine Art auctions held at Clifton House, Clifton Road, Cambridge. The contents were recorded by my former colleague as the following: // Additional collections of the late Francis Garrett of Cambridgeshire (d. 2009), local historian comprising records of the Watts and related families of Cottenham 1716-1919 // If you are able to defray postal costs to us, this would be greatly appreciated. Cheques should be made payable to 'Cambridgeshire County Council' and sent to the full address as at top right hand corner. The only sum we would ask for is the postage cost as appearing on the postal sticker at the top right hand corner: there is no charge for packaging or similar // Should you require further documentation I would be pleased to assist // Yours sincerely // Richard Anderson // Collections Archivist', Email, MERL to Richard Anderson, 27 March 2013 - 'Dear Richard, // Just to let you know, the butter box has arrived without any problems except for a charge for insufficient postage and a small handling fee from the Royal Mail. // I see your note regarding covering the costs of postage. I'm afraid I don't have a business chequebook and will need to check with our new administrator (who starts after the Easter break) whether I can send a personal cheque and claim this back. Also, you mention the postal sticker at the top right hand corner and there is no such sticker. According to a sticker on the box, we paid £4.45 in unpaid deficient postage costs plus the £1 handling fee at our end (totalling £5.45). Is there an additional fee that you paid and, if so, can you please tell me what this was? // I am assuming you acquired the wider collection to which this box relates (i.e. those of Francis Garrett) as part of the Cambridgeshire Archives. If there are reference or accession numbers or even a collection-level number of this material it would be good to add this to our records at this stage. I have located the reference R111/011 as being relevant to this material but would like to confirm this with you before I add mention of it to our records. // Best wishes, // Ollie', Email, Richard Anderson to MERL, 27 March 2013 - 'Hi Ollie // I must apologise that the museum had to pay excess postage. All our post gets sent out from Cambridgeshire County Council's postroom, so it should have had a CCC postal sticker on it, following which the cost would be debited from our account by a number code on the box. In this instance, it is clear that they have completely forgotten to put postage on the item: there is of course no additional fee to the museum given this circumstance. // The collection level number for the Garrett collection is R111/011. Other than the short precis of contents which I sent on to you there is no list at present, although one of my former colleagues is working towards creating one, which I hope can be sent on to you in time Best regards Richard', Two printouts of colour photographs of the top and side of the box., Envelope that contained correspondance from Richard Anderson to MERL accompanying box upon delivery to the Museum.

Cambridge