Owen Williams Collection

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Reference	2008/078
Archive collection	British Empire & Commonwealth
Level of description	Collection
Date	1930s-1940s
Description	This collection consists of a series of 33 small reels of film taken in India during the 1930s and 1940s. The films span various cities and villages within Northern India during the British Raj, thematically covering architecture, labour and British settlement.
Extent and medium	33 films
Creator	Owen Richard Williams
Biographical history	The company Henry Williams Ltd was set-up in Glasgow in 1883, to produce railway equipment and signal fittings. By 1911 the company had grown and moved its base to Darlington. In 1921, it opened its first manufacturing facility in Calcutta, India, and was instrumental in the development of the Indian railway, employing over 4,000 people by 1946 when this arm of the business was sold to GKN. Owen Richard Williams (1879-1958) was the third son of the founder of Henry Williams Ltd. He graduated from Glasgow University with an engineering degree, before becoming a director of the company. In 1910 he visited India to arrange for the sale and export of the Company's products. Trade was interrupted by WW1 but in 1921 he returned to India to set up a new production site at 97 Andul Road, Howrah. An Indian employee, who worked at Andul Road from its opening, recalled that Owen Williams was 'a strict and conservative person; a tall, reserved figure, he would occasionally appear in the factory aloof'.
Access status	Open
Access conditions	None

Voyage from India to England Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India Chhanga Manga, India Pakistan Mountain labour in Patriata, Punjab Cable Cars in Patriata British Man Fishing British Official visit Aden, the Red Sea Agra, Uttar Pradesh Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India Ropeway in Uttarakhand A Focus on Architecture Simla, Himachal Pradesh Mughal Architecture in Agra Architecture in Delhi Forest Sports A British India Estate Christmas, 1937 Journey Across the Red Sea Grounds-keeping on an Estate Daily Life in the Himalayan Foothills Mussoorie Hillstation British women in Mussoorie A Cargo Freighter Voyage British India Voyage Chakrata Cantonment Labour and Leisure in an Indian Costal Town Life on the Lake in the Himalayan Foothills The British Raj Hillstations British Raj Hillstation Oddments: Coal Miners, Horse Racing and Architecture The Town of Shimla, Himachal Pradesh British Family Leisure Time