It's time for some more notable news from our archive lair and since our last newsletter it's gone from sizzling summer to autumnal chill in the space of about six days. What's going on? Where's our Indian summer?

At least it gives us an excuse to introduce this month's missive with a nice autumnal image. Read on for a reminder of a great event here at the library this month, vintage-inspired fashion, and six extraordinary sisters.

Canines on Camera

We're excited about our forthcoming event at the library on 26th of this month when Heidi Hudson, curator at the Royal Kennel Club, will be giving a talk on the development of dog photography accompanied, of course, by loads of fascinating archive photographs, including many from our own holdings.

The evening is also a chance to see inside our unique building, and we're even throwing in a glass of wine with your ticket.

Heidi's own faithful friend, Bob (insta: @doodnamedbob) will also be available for pats, cuddles and selfies. Tickets can be booked via eventbrite here or a number will be available to purchase on the door on the night. You'd be barking mad to miss out.

T-Shirts for Good

Our collaboration with groovy online womenswear retailer Joanie continues to go from strength to strength with new designs recently added to their website at www.joanieclothing.com.

Among others, the new designs include: 'Ferroequinologist' - for trainspotters everywhere (modelled by Tom), or Emmie (modelled by Jessica), which uses the famous phrase from an original WSPU badge in the March of the Women collection.

Joanie will be donating £10 from any sale of this particular style to Emmeline's Pantry, a Manchester-based charity food bank supporting women in need.

Second hand September

Continuing down the road of fashion, we wanted to highlight the fact that Second Hand September is happening this month.

Spearheaded by Oxfam, the campaign urges people to refrain from buying anything new this month, raising awareness of the devastating environmental impact of the fashion industry. We're very much on board with second-hand September especially with a treasure trove of a branch of Oxfam across the road from us in Blackheath (but that's top secret information only for you News of Note readers).

In honour of this month, we've pulled together an interesting selection of images which demonstrate the different meanings of 'second hand' through the ages.

Mitford Madness

There has been quite a buzz around news of a forthcoming drama charting the lives of the infamous Mitford sisters, which is currently in the pipeline.

We've even licensed a copy of The Sketch as a prop for the production and wonder who will be reading it? Nancy? Diana? Decca?

We predict that when 'Outrageous' hits the small screen, interest in the six sisters will be at fever pitch and so we're reminding you of the unique material we have on them, from Nancy as a Tatler cover girl, Pamela gracing the front of The Bystander and a number of portraits by Madame Yevonde, including Jessica as the original reluctant debutante, looking mischievous and inelegant in her court presentation gown.

Click here here for a selection.

Remembering Major Tonie Holt

We were saddened to learn of the death of Major Tonie Holt on 5th September at the age of 91. Many of you will be aware of the famous battlefield tours conducted by him and his wife Valmai as well as the numerous guides written by them. Not only that, the couple were instrumental in raising awareness of cartoonist Captain Bruce Bairnsfather by writing a biography which firmly re-established his reputation in the Great War canon.

In 2003, they also sponsored a plaque to Bairnsfather unveiled on the site at St. Yvon in Belgium where he drew the first cartoons which soon found fame through publication in The Bystander (a publication held here at the library as part of the ILN archive).

In recent years, we have been pleased to represent the Holts' interesting collection of war memorials, sites and ephemera relating to both the First and Second World War, a lasting reflection of Tonie's expertise and passion for the subject.

History of the Hippodrome

And finally, our Head of Sales & Research, Luci, will be giving a talk on the history of the London Hippodrome for the British Music Hall Society at The Water Rats in London on 15th October.

Luci wrote a book on this iconic building a couple of years ago, and drew on our library for many of the illustrations, especially for its fascinating early years as a circus of variety.

Details and tickets here.