This collection contains a small amount of archival items and artefacts which belonged to Birt Acres and his son Sidney Birt Acres. The collection also includes books on early cinema, which were used as research material by Alan Acres, while writing ‘Frontiersman to Film-Maker’, and represent the archive created in the process.

Various items of correspondence related to Birt Acres' business and correspondence about his life and career.

Notebook on making film stock entitled formulae, containing multiple loose notes.

Letter from Howards and Sons to Ltd Sidney Birt Acres in response to his enquiry about information on different solvents. Howards and Sons Ltd Chemical Manufacturers headed letter paper with pencil notes on reverse, 1p.

Notebook on film making recipes.

Notebook with recipes for film stock and emulsion containing multiple loose pages including four on typed pages on Substratum Formulae and one entitled Birt Acres rapid negative.

Notebook entitled ‘Notes on Lots of Materials, films, plates, bromide paper, post cards, etc. Also contains hand written loose pages on photographic process (rapid ammonia), standard positive emulsion, substratus as recommended by The American Celluloid Co., for their T-12 celluloid base and others.

Notebooks on film making specifications and chemical tests.

Notebook on film making recipes and film perforations data, containing four loose notes.