6 Shipping Companies and Shipbuilders The Museum's collection of shipping company records are primarily business records and do not cover operations, voyages or passenger lists. Research Guide No. F1 provides a brief list of the main records. The Open Museum is the Centre for Research's programme of lectures and talks demonstrating the Museum's commitment to wider public access to its collections and to broadening an understanding of their significance. The courses and lectures are run in conjunction with Goldsmiths College, University of London, and explore a range of subjects including aspects of the sea and shipping, time, astronomy and navigation, local history and the arts. Lectures take place on weekdays and evenings and at weekends.
Many courses provide practical assistance with carrying out research.
The Open Museum also offers Hidden Collection Seminars, which provide the opportunity to go behind the scenes to view some of the research collections, including ship models and plans, ceramics, oil paintings, prints and drawings, historic photographs, scientific and navigational material, or to see conservators at work. Open Museum speakers are drawn from the National Maritime Museum, other major national museums, universities, and specialist societies and institutions. All are experts in their field. Free prospectus available. The PRO is a primary source for service records up to 1906.