We believe that the people of Stockton deserve to be celebrated. There is so much to be proud of, from the many industrialists who helped build the town into a thriving area, to the thousands of passionate people who are the heart and soul of Stockton.
The story of Stockton is one that involves people from all walks of life. It began thousands of years ago with the first settlers and farmers, progressed with the wealthy industrialists of the 19th century and is now transformed to include the modern structures that we see today. We are living in a town filled with culture and community spirit, and that is thanks to the local people from the past as well as the present.
Within the collection, we like to recognise everyone who has played a part in making Stockton the town it is. This includes those people who have worked in the many industries the town is known for such as shipbuilding, potteries, brickworks, engineering and chemicals. This is just an example of the many individuals, groups and societies that are represented in the collection, whose experiences all help to tell the story of Stockton’s history.
We recognise the role of women in the town, from influential individuals to their changing role in the workplace. Further to this, we acknowledge the people from Stockton who were involved in the World Wars and remember the parts they played in some of the most difficult times in history.
The collection includes a significant amount of photographs showing individuals and groups of people from Stockton. People are also represented through the many thousands of objects, works of art and pieces of archive. Nearly all of these once belonged to or were made by someone with a connection to this town.
Annie Clephan was one of the daughters of Edwin Clephan, a Stockton man who moved to Leicester and was a prominent figure within the arts. He collected over 100 pieces of art and this collection was bequeathed to Stockton Council by Annie and her sister in the 1930s. Annie inherited her father’s interest in the arts and was herself a prominent figure in Leicester.
