The Keith Medley Archive
Keith Medley was born in South Africa in 1915. After school in the UK, and a period in the merchant navy, he took a photographic apprenticeship in Liverpool. On completing this he moved to London, working for an advertising agency, then subsequently as assistant to Howard Coster, a portrait photographer. His portrait of Howard Coster is in the National Portrait Gallery.
At the start of WWII he was married to Eileen Deakin, who was also trained in photography and later worked with him in running the photographic studio in Wallasey. During WWII he was in the MarineAircraft Experimental Establishment in Scotland, and filmed the first bouncing bomb experiments. After the war he moved to Wallasey, Merseyside, opening a photographic studio in 1949, initially with a partner. This he continued until he retired in 1986, and the archive contains most of the material taken over this time, much of it on glass plate negatives, the later part on 120mm film.
The images provide a unique perspective on the history and social development of Liverpool and surrounding areas from the 1950s to the 1980s, a very interesting period which includes the major regeneration of the city. His work ranged from studio, including portraits and mail order catalogue images, to commercial photography covering industry, shipping, and advertising. He photographed the progress and development of the second Mersey Tunnel from commencement of drilling to the opening by HM Queen Elizabeth II. He worked also as Northern editor for Movietone News, who made newsreel for cinemas. He filmed, amongst others, Churchill’s funeral, the Investiture of the Prince of Wales, and the fatal crash on lake Coniston when Donald Campbell lost his life in a bid for the world water speed record.
Much of the work contained in the archive shows a record of ordinary events of the time; weddings, retirements, local fetes, visiting dignitaries or politicians, beauty contests and babies. There are many photographs taken for local and national press of items then newsworthy, such as fires, car crashes, sporting events, and the music scene in Liverpool in the 1960s. Many of the images have a maritime theme, relating to Liverpool shipping, the docks, and ship building. There are also a large number covering the football teams Liverpool and Everton, both at games, training, and in general.
The collection is unfortunately not yet accessible, but once the negatives have undergone conservation and preservation treatment, and a catalogue of the collection has been created, these photographs will be available for use in research and for exhibition purposes. We also hope to add a representative selection of images to our Digital Collections to provide an idea of the breadth and depth of the archive.
Links
Portrat of Howard Coster by Keith Medley
Entry for Keith Medley, BUFVC (British Universities Film and Video Council)
