Reminiscence resources

Reminiscence resources available for loan at Salford Museum and Art Gallery:

Handling boxes

The themed boxes contain original objects, photographs and other material that will trigger memories and stimulate reminiscences.

Boxes available include:

A Basket of Memories
A basket full of sensory items from days past, chosen to spark memories. Recommended for users new to reminiscence, or groups with dementia.
Bringing up Baby
Hand-knitted bonnets and booties, nappy liners and a hand-operated baby food mincer are just some of the objects worn and used during infants early years. Thankfully, the sleepless nights and early mornings are not included!
Celebrations
Do you remember the pleasure of wearing your 'Sunday best'? The selection of objects in this box includes a wedding dress, birthday cards and Christmas decorations, to help bring to life memories of those special days!
Childhood
These objects will help evoke memories of the days where toys didn't have to bleep or flash to be the latest craze for playtime! Traditional toys such as the whip and top, cup and ball, marbles and the much loved teddy bear are included.
Fashion and Fabrics
With clothing dating from the 1920s, right up to the 1970s, there is a decade for all to reminisce and enjoy, whether it be as a style queen, or making a fashion faux pas!
Glitz and Glamour 1
Everything for the glamorous woman - clothes, hats, gloves, jewellery, a handbag, nylons, powder compact, and all that was needed for the fashionable hair style!
Glitz and Glamour 2
Includes similar content to Glitz and Glamour 1, containing objects used for a glamorous woman.
His not Hers: Objects for Gentlemen
Braces and bow ties, collar studs and cigarette cases - everything apart from the cut throat razor!
Home Front Memories
Objects to bring back memories of wartime life - gas masks, dried egg, ration books - it even includes an evacuee's suitcase.
In the Kitchen
With recipes, cookbooks and kitchen utensils included, these objects help to spark memories of home cooking, rationing, family life, and much more!
Make Do and Mend
Includes a vintage hand sewing machine and objects relating to sewing, knitting, crochet and darning. Includes everything needed to have a go at making a peg rug.
Mystery Objects
A mixture of weird and wacky objects that are sure to get people guessing. Can also be used as a quiz.
Pick and Mix
If you're not sure which topic to start with everyone is sure to find something to reminisce about with this selection of objects that range from ladies bloomers to coronation souvenirs.
Salford Heritage Bingo
This box combines the excitement of a game of bingo with the stimulation of a quiz and the opportunity to reminisce. You call questions instead of numbers and the box includes photos and objects as clues. A proportion of the questions are Salford related. Prizes not provided!
Sports and Games
Board games, card games and sporting memorabilia feature within this box, including photographs of Salford sporting events throughout the years.
Teenage Kicks: 1950s and 1960s Youth Culture
Go back to the era of shake, rattle and roll with a box full of objects, including prom dresses, a 1950s Bush radio and 12" vinyl records, to bring back memories of doing the twist and screaming at the Beatles.
The 1950s and 1960s
In 1957 Prime Minister Harold Macmillan declared that "Most Britons have never had it so good". With fabulous dresses, colourful wallpaper, glossy magazines and TV guides, the 1950s and 1960s box is sure to bring back memories of the good life after the hard times of rations had ended.
Washing and Cleaning
Objects to remind you of when washing took all day and cleaning took real stamina - donkey stone, carbolic soap, dolly blue, flat iron, posser, pinny - everything except the elbow grease!
Whit Walks
The Rose Queen, Boys' Brigade, Scouts, Brownies, and all who walked in their best white clothing are featured within this box to celebrate the much loved Whit Walk parade, held every year within Salford and Manchester.
Working Lives
With tools, a 'Ready Reckoner', hard hats and photographs of men and women at work, this box is sure to get everyone's tongue wagging about work. It even contains a vintage bus conductors ticket machine!

Picture packs

These are folders of black and white images copied from Salford Heritage Service's collection of over 50,000 photographs.

The packs enable people to enjoy looking at old photographs and share their memories of people, places and events. Packs are available on:

Barton, Patricroft and Peel Green
Boothstown
Broughton
Clifton and Pendlebury
Cross Lane
Eccles
Hanky Park
Haworth's Mill
Irlam
Irlams o'th' Height
Langworthy and Seedley
Little Hulton
Monton
Old Salford
Ordsall
Royal Visits
Swinton
The Docks
Walkden
Whit Lane area
Winton
Worsley
WW2 - The Home Front
Milestones: Celebrations, Childhood and Marriage

Exhibitions

There are currently four exhibitions available for loan:

Schooldays
Shopping
In the Kitchen
At the Seaside

At just two metres wide the small eye catching displays are designed to fit restricted space in reception areas, lounges or dining rooms and are sure to trigger memories and stimulate reminiscences.

The pop-up display stands are accompanied by boxes of handling objects and photographs that can be used for reminiscence sessions.