Storico archivio
MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – 'Standard museum name: PHOTOGRAPH - Workers at Ransomes // Accession number: 88/8 // Classification: INDUSTRIES // Negative number: 60/15368 // Acquisition method: GIFT // Acquired from, date: MRS M. TYSON, [...] April 1988 // Store: Picture rack // Condition: good // Recorder, date: JMB 10.6.88 // Description: [‘FRAMED PHOTOGRAPH 1914-1918’ underlined] // Shows workers at Ransomes, Ipswich when they were making munitions during the first world war. Mr William Edge, father of the donor is on the photograph. He was an Overseer at this time. // Dimensions: Photograph: 29 x 24cm. Frame: 52 x 42cm // Associated information: See attached correspondence. // References: Ransomes Archive', Letter, Mrs M. Tyson to Ramsomes, Sims & Jeffries Ltd, March 1988 – 'Dear Sirs, // You do not know me, but my Father worked for you in the 1914- 1918 years when you turned to munitions and my father was an Overseer, I do not know if Mr. Stocker is still with you, but I visited your factory in 1959, and left the photograph to be put in your local paper. It was, and I received 12 copies, which were very good, as it will be 70 years since the end of the 1914-18 War, and as I am now this month 78 years old, I wondered if you would like the picture to keep, to show what you did to help the War effort, my 2 Sisters are also in their 70s and I wouldn't want my picture broken up, or thrown away. My husband and I are coming to Ipswich on the 17th of June, and if you would let me know if you would accept my picture, we will bring it down, it will be a Friday afternoon, so if you please have someone to meet us, I would be very pleased. My Father's name was Mr. William Edge, and he lived until November 29th 1918, just as the War ended on the 11th November, my happiest days of my life were when my dear Father was alive, but as we had no relations near to us, my mother's family came from Chester, and all the family was split up. But when I see Ipswich even the football team on the T.V. it all comes back to me. Please let me know if you want the Picture as we will be coming on a coach, just for 2 days at the Post House. I look forward to meeting someone who will promise to take care of my Picture. // Yours very sincerely // Mrs M. Tyson // P.S. Please let me know if you don't want the Picture, thank you.', Letter, W. P. N. Crewdson of Ramsomes, Sims & Jeffries Ltd to Mrs M. Tyson, 9 March 1988 – 'Dear Mrs. Tyson, // Thank you very much for your letter and for your kind offer to let us have the photograph of your father, Mr. William Edge, who worked at Ransomes during the 1914/18 War. Sadly, Mr. Stocker died about 10 years ago and there have been many changes since you last visited us in 1959. // To ensure our archives are properly looked after, and put to good use, some 20 years ago now they were all sent to the Institute of Agricultural History at the University of Reading. // As we no longer have the facilities for storing our archives it would be wrong of me to guarantee the photograph would be properly looked after at Ransomes, particularly as it won't be too long before I retire. However, the photograph would be a valuable addition to our archives, which remain our property, held at Reading. // When you come to Ipswich in June I am sure you will have plenty to do and for this reason, in the event of your being willing for the photograph to be added to our collection at Reading, may I suggest you send it to Mr. John Creasie, Institute of Agricultural History, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 2AG. // I would be so pleased if you were willing to send the photograph to Reading and in case you are I'm sending your letter, together with a copy of this one to John Creasie so he will know the background to the photograph when it arrives. If you do send it please do so with a note about what you remember of your father that would be of general interest and it would be recorded that the photograph was donated to the collection by his daughter Mrs. M. Tyson. // You obviously retain a soft spot for Ipswich but I'm afraid our football team no longer hits the high spots as it did a few years ago. We all live in hope that things will improve. // It really is most kind of you to have offered us the photograph and I hope you will understand why it is that it will be in safer hands at Reading than it would be here. // I hope your visit in June will bring back many happy memories. // Kind regards, // Yours sincerely, // W. P. N. Crewdson // Public Relations Manager', Letter, Mrs M. Tyson to Mr. John Creasey of MERL, 14 March 1988 – 'Dear Sir, // I am writing to you regarding a Photograph of my late Father MR. WILLIAM EDGE, who was Overseer at Ransomes during the 1914-18 War years. He was a wonderful man who worked hard all his life, but the flue ipedemic [sic] came in 1918, and he died just as the War was ended. He was buried the day before his (40th) birthday, and my mother was left with 7 children, far away from any relatives, so of course they came down to Ipswich for the funeral, and we all had to go back with them. I try to get back to find his grave (He lies in an unmarked grave) but I made a vow I would come back and find it, and I did, I also had a lovely Black Cross made and took photo's of it, and put lots of flowers on, so I could show my dear Mother, then I had to take it off again, as the orthoraties [sic] said it wasn't ours, because no-one had been to see to it, I was only 8 yrs old when my Father died, and there were 3 more younger than me, but those were the happiest days of my life. My dear Mother is now dead, and also my 4 Brothers and 1 Sister, so there's only myself, I will be 78 the day you recieve [sic] this letter, and my 2 sisters left, so I want to be sure my Father's Picture is Honoured, as it deserves, also all his workers who worked under him, my Father is seated on the left of the Picture, I hope you soon get the letter from Mr. W P N CREWDSON, Public Relations Offices Manager, explaining my letter. Will you please let me know if you wish to accept my Picture, and how I can get it to you, as I was going to bring in to Ipswich when my Husband and I came on a coach trip, but now I would be glad if you can help me get it now to you. I know you must be very busy, but I look forward hear from you. // I Remain // Yours Sincerely // Mrs. M. Tyson. // P.S. As you know Ransomes were changed over to munitions 14-18 to help the War Effort, hence my Father's Photo.', Letter, Mr. John Creasie of MERL to Mrs M. Tyson, 18 March 1988 – 'Dear Mrs. Tyson, // Mr. Crewdson has passed on your letter to us. We would be pleased to accept the photograph of your father, Mr. William Edge for the Ransomes Collection. Would you be able to pack it and post to us and we would refund the postage. Or, if you prefer, we could send you a copy of our publication [‘Ransomes of Ipswich: a history of the firm and guide to its records’ underlined]. // If you have any difficulty about this please let me know. I am enclosing photocopies from Ransomes Register of Workmen for the period showing the entry for your father. There is also an entry for another William Edge, age 14. // Yours sincerely, // John S. Creasey // Librarian and Information Officer // ['£2.65 postage // Photo & JB // 19/4/88' pencil]', Letter, Mrs M. Tyson to Mr. John Creasey of MERL, 14 March 1988 – 'Dear Sir, // I thank you for your most welcome letter saying you will accept my Father's Picture, also the Photocopies from Ransomes, as you know No. 1 was my Father, and No 2, was my eldest Brother William (but of course we always called him Billie) but he was killed on his Motor Cycle, when he was only 24 yrs old. I hope the Picture arrives safely, my heartfelt thanks to you, and I would be very pleased to recieve [sic] the Ransomes History. I shall rest easy now I feel I have done the right thing, and I'm sure my dear Parents would agree with me. // Yours sincerely // Mrs. M. Tyson.'
