Title
George Parr Archive
Reference
PARR
Production date
1924 - 1976
Creator
- Parr, GeorgeBiographyBiography
George Parr was born on 30th July 1894 in Long Preston, Lancashire. His father William was a signal man. Later in his childhood he moved to Keighley, West Yorkshire. He attended a school in Worth Valley and started work at 13 in a local mill.
On 15th June 1909 he was indentured to Messrs. W. H. Brocklehurst of Bradford to learn the printing trade.
He served in WW1, enlisting in 1915 and serving until 1919. He rose to be a sergeant in the West Riding Brigade 3rd Royal Field Artillary. During his service he was awarded the Military Medal. He was disembodied on 30th May 1919. After the war he returned to work for Brocklehurst's.
Parr married Florence Pye on 1st January 1921. Pye had a dress-making business on Bradford Road in Keighley. After the marriage they lived in Calverley with Parr's parents, William Parr and Elizabeth-Ann Parr. Later they moved to their own home in Thornhill Street. In 1926 they acquired a newly built house on Ravenscliffe Road. During this time they had a daughter, Mary, and a son, Donald.
In the second world war, Parr, always a religious man, was encouraged to take up an appointment to preach. He was accepted and became active as a preacher and speaker from 1945 onwards.
Parr retired in 1959. After his retirement Parr's wife and daughter bought him a photographic enlarger. An old enthusiasm for photography was rekindled during this time, during which he turned a box room into his own dark room. He was inspired and encouraged by Bradford Photographic Society. He became Syllabus Secretary for the society, and regularly taught and gave demonstration. He was awarded the Leighton Trophy six times between 1957 and 1971. During this time he also exhibited his work at the Royal Photographic Society, London. He also produced a film about Bromoil work, which was widely used by local societies.
Parr's wife, Florence passed away in March 1971. In 1972 George Parr met and married Miss Cora Williamson from Batley, and in 1973 they moved into their own home at 18 Portman Street, Calverly.
Scope and Content
This archive is the collection of amateur photographer and bromoil producer George Parr. The collection includes glass negatives and bromoil prints produced by Parr in the 1960s and 1970s, which are largely portraits, landscapes and photographs of religious buildings.
The collection also includes papers relating to Parr's membership of the Bradford Photographic Society, the Royal Photographic Society, Bromoil Circle Postal Club and the Yorkshire Photographic Union including awards and certificates, critique sheets and exhibition prints. There are also lecture materials used by Parr when teaching about bromoil printing. The collection also includes a small amount of Parr's own printing and darkroom equipment.
Extent
8 archive boxes and one small suitcase
Physical description
The condition of this collection is fair.
Language
English
Archival history
This collection was donated to the National Science and Media Museum in 2005.
Level of description
TOP
Repository name
National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
Associated people and organisations
Subject
Conditions governing access
Access is given in accordance with the NSMM access policy. Material from this collection is available to researchers through the museum’s Insight facility.
Conditions governing Reproduction
Copies may be supplied of items in the collection, provided that the copying process used does not damage the item or is not detrimental to its preservation. Copies will be supplied in accordance with the NSMM’s terms and conditions for the supply and reproduction of copies, and the provisions of any relevant copyright legislation.
System of arrangement
This collection is currently undergoing processing and a system of arrangement has yet to be established. This field will be updated at a later date.