McMillan Memorial Library before the destinctive lion sculptures were erected by Book BunkBook Bunk
McMillan Memorial Library
Opened in 1931 in Nairobi, McMillan Memorial Library is Kenya's second oldest library. It houses an impressive archival collection made up of books, newspapers, gazettes and photographs from as early as the late 1800s.
By 2019, these collections, some of which are not publicly accessible elsewhere in Kenya had started showing signs of deterioration. As a preliminary step in securing the preservation of this collection, an inventory process was necessary.
Book collection at the McMillan Memorial Library (2019-06-24) by Paul MuneneBook Bunk
Cataloguing the Library
Kicking off in April 2019, an inventory of collections at McMillan Memorial Library and its two branches of Eastlands and Kaloleni libraries culminated in the creation of the libraries' first ever digital catalogue of 137,605 items across the three locations.
Glass Negative Archive
The glass negatives in the library date to as late as the 1800s. They depict various aspects of life in historic Kenya. Pictured here is a man in Kenyan tribal hairstyles, clothing and accessories.
Glass Negative Archive
An undertaking of the British colonial government, construction of the Kenya - Uganda railway began in 1895 in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa. Originally concluding in the western city of Kisumu, the line later expanded into neighbouring Uganda.
Glass Negative Archive
Captured here are traditional African women posing in elaborate neck ornaments.
Glass Negative Archive
In the interior parts of Kenya, trading activities among the indigenous communities would take place under huge trees in the middle of the market centre.
Photograph Collection
Traditionally, women from central Kenya Kenya carried loads supported by a strap across their foreheads. Sometimes, this led to the formation of permanent grooves of their heads.
Photograph Collection
Men in the attire of historical colonial administrators standing outside a tent.
Photograph Collection
The Nairobi City Council standing committee members for the years 1966-1967.
Photograph Collection
Man rocking a distinct hairstyle.
Newspaper Collection
Book Bunk is in the process of digitising the McMillan Memorial Library archive.
Newspaper Collection
The McMillan Memorial Library's basement houses the library's newspaper archive.
Newspaper Collection
Minute books from Nairobi City Council meetings from the 1920s are housed at the McMillan Memorial Library.
Newspaper Collection
The oldest newspaper housed at the McMillan Memorial Library is from the East African Standard in 1902. A repair and rebinding
Digitisation exercise at McMillan Memorial Library (2021-11-15) by Paul MuneneBook Bunk
Digitisation at the Library
Starting in late 2020, items from the most at risk section of the library's archive were identified and their digitisation undertaken.
Building a Digital archive
To date 356,831 items from the McMillan Memorial Library archive have been digitised and made publicly available, with more items being added every day.
