Commendation from Bodley’s Librarian to Archer Cowley & Co in 1934:

Phil’s History:

A ‘work in progress’ family history website starting from an Archer family of South Oxford, who were freemen, brewers, haulage contractors, and first ‘Archer & Co’ then ‘Archer Cowley & Co’ furniture removers in the 19th and 20th Centuries, inter alia, to whom are linked by marriage the Penfolds and Wells of Southwark and Surrey, the Reeds of Devon, the Gilders of Oxford and Hinckley, the Morgans of Petworth, Sussex, the Garners of Middleton, Lancs and many others. There are connections via Phil and the present generation (born 1930s/40s) with a patent law firm known as "UD&L" with motor-racing and Scottish antecedents.

This is the caption in the middle of the page of 4 photographs illustrating the Bodleian move:

“August 1934. Statement by Bodley’s librarian when he called on us to express satisfaction with our completed work: When Cambridge Universtiy moved into their new library - one mile from the old library - they transerred 1,500,000 books. They employed 70 men and all sorts of Horse Carts and Vans and Trolleys etc etc, and completed the move in two months. Equals, say, 48 days and 31,250/70 books per day = 446 books per man per day”.

When Archer Cowley & Co moved the Oxford Science Library to its new buildings in South Parks Raod, one quarter mile distant, we moved 200,000 books in 17 days with 17 men and suitable motor vans in 137 loads. Equals 11,765 books per day (for 17 men). Equals 692 books per man per day. See photos in Scrap Book."

Phil’s History:

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Commendation from Bodley’s Librarian to Archer Cowley & Co in 1934: