Did you know that we opened our Virtual Reading Room (VRR) last year? Since February 2022 you have been able to book a digital appointment (via Microsoft Teams) to access much of the material we hold. The service has been well-received; and we’re continuing our promotion to ensure all who might be interested are aware that it’s something we offer.
VRRs constituted part of the emergency response of many libraries and archives to the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. While we are eager, post-Covid, to welcome people into our searchroom, and encourage interaction with original material, this is not an option for everyone. VRRs enable institutions to provide geographically remote access to a worldwide audience. This can only be a good thing; consequently we have integrated digital appointments to run in parallel with our in-person offer. If you are unable to visit Southampton in person, this might be the answer for you!
Many of our VRR users are based in the UK – London, certainly but also the Midlands and northern England. We’ve had several bookings from Israel, reflecting our wealth of Jewish material, as well as Europe, South Asia, North America and Canada. We offer appointments at 1000-1100 | 1300-1400 & 1430-1530 (UK time) which does means that the hours can be anti-social, depending on where you are based.
Users have different aims when requesting a digital appointment. Some may just want to get a feel for an item and establish if they want to make a reprographics request or visit in the future. Some may want to view the whole item, others are looking for particular features. Most researchers using the VRR want to do one or more of the following:
Conduct preliminary research or scoping exercise as a precursor to a physical visit
To make a reprographics request
Check single documents
Referencing clarification
Benefits of VRRs
Many of our collections have a broad, international reach and the VRR helps to ensure they are accessible to all as the University enables and supports broader global engagement.
Time saving: they allow users to evaluate if they want to schedule an in-person visit as they can provide useful information beyond current catalogue descriptions. They are an effective use of time enabling people to scope out their potential visit.
Gentle introduction: VRRs can be a ‘welcome mat’ or on-ramp to make an in-person visit less intimidating. If you have not used our service before you may find a digital appointment a useful first step.
Travel constraints: the service removes barriers such as restricted funds, time or mobility as well as making it easier for students, people who work full time and those with childcare responsibilities.
Ecological benefits: reducing long-haul and short-haul travel
The visualiser set up for a digital appointment
Realistic expectations
Due to limitations of the equipment, not all items are suitable for digital appointments, in particular large items such as rolled maps and large bound volumes. We will always be happy to discuss the best way to access your chosen material to ensure the long-term safety of the collections. Additionally, it’s important to have realistic expectations on how much can be achieved in a one-hour session. We have found three items to be more than enough for most appointments. Naturally it depends on the extent of the items and the degree to which someone wishes to study it. Again, we are always happy to give advice.
Sample of the feedback we’ve received
Looking to the future
The Special Collections Division will continue its advocacy work to enhance discoverability and accessibility of this service. The International Alliance of Research Library Associations is considering a central space, such as an IARLA VRR Register, where researchers and other interested parties can find which institutions offer VRRs.
We currently offer digital appointments on Mondays and Fridays via Microsoft Teams. You can order up to three items to view in their one-hour slot. You are free to book subsequent appointments if you wish to view more material. Please email archives@soton.ac.uk to make an appointment.
This week we hand the reins over to Roger Ottewill for a blog on John Bullar, Southampton clergyman and historian. Much of Bullar’s library can now be found in the Hartley Library’s Special Collections, presented by his sons “as a lasting memorial of the interest which their father took in the Institution and of the earnest desire which he ever felt to promote by all means in his power the mental and spiritual improvement of his fellow-men.”
Among Southampton Historians John Bullar stands out as having received the ultimate accolade of an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography [ODNB]. Written by Barbara Spender this provides a succinct assessment of his life and works (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Part of John Bullar’s entry in the ODNB showing an engraving of him
She makes the point that his Christian ‘faith underpinned his diverse writings which ranged from a series of locally based historical and geographical tourist guides, to a collection of edifying poetry with which he sought to counter the anti-religious tide of popular culture epitomized by the poetry of Lord Byron.’ His very close links with Southampton, where he lived for the whole of his life, are also highlighted. In this vein, she concludes with words taken from his obituary in the Southampton Times: ‘The life of Mr Bullar is in fact the life of Southampton during the past fifty years.’ (ODNB, p.600). In another obituary, taken from the Salisbury and Winchester Journal, he is described as an ‘exemplary Christian, and a learned, eloquent and able man’ (21 May 1864, p.8).
Bullar is also memoralised by having one of the streets in Bitterne Park named after him (see Figure 2). As A.G.K.Leonard explains in Stories of Southampton Streets this was to serve ‘as a memorial to a man who was involved in many liberal and humane causes, working ceaselessly to promote the spiritual and material progress of his town’ (p.83).
Figure 2: Map showing location of Bullar Road
The principal aims of this blog are to provide some biographical information and summaries of his key historical works, which are held in Special Collections. It is hoped that this will inspire others to consider further Bullar’s contribution to the development of Southampton’s cultural life and the influences which shaped his personality and, what today would be called, his ‘world view’.
Biographical Overview
Born on 27 January 1778, John Bullar’s parents were John Bullar senior (1744-1836) ‘a peruke maker and hairdresser of Southampton High Street’ and Penelope, nee Rowsell (1755-1799). He was the eldest of eleven children, although only three survived into adulthood. Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School he was clearly an industrious scholar since he subsequently became a schoolmaster, teaching in ‘his schools in Bugle Street, Moira Place and Prospect Place’ (ODNB, p.599). As pointed out by Barbara Spender, many of the civic leaders of Southampton received their initial education from Bullar.
John and Penelope had six children, four sons and two daughters. Three of their sons became doctors, with two of them, Joseph and William, being closely involved with the Royal South Hants Infirmary. One of their daughters, Ann wrote a number of well received educational works mainly for the young.
A powerful influence throughout Bullar’s life was his religious affiliations and sensibilities. Although baptised an Anglican, his marriage in 1806 to Susannah Sarah Whatman Lobb brought him within the orbit of the prestigious Above Bar Independent (later Congregational) Chapel, where her parents were leading members (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: Above Bar Congregational Church interior and exterior (Source: Avenue St Andrew’s URC Archive)
Subsequently, a member of the Chapel for the remainder of his life, Bullar served as a deacon for 43 years. Interestingly, however, his funeral service in 1864 was conducted by the Bishop of Rochester, with whom he had a close friendship. This led to the Birmingham Daily Post headlining its report, “A Dissenter Buried by a Bishop” (23 May 1864, p.3).
Historical Works
From the perspective of Southampton’s history, undoubtedly his most significant work was Historical Particulars relating to Southampton, published in 1820. However, in the foreword (or ‘advertisement’ as it is headed), Bullar makes the following ‘disclaimer’:
The following particulars which are presented to the public in the following pages, were collected at intervals, in the course of reading, many years ago. They were seen by the late ARTHUR HAMMOND, Esq. who urged the compiler of them to undertake a history of his native place; offering to use his influence with the Corporation, to obtain access to the sources of information in their archives. Want of leisure prevented him from availing himself of so liberal and important an offer; and the same cause is likely to continue to operate. His friend, Mr. THOMAS BAKER, however, unwilling that the few collections he had made, should be altogether lost, undertook to publish them. In this imperfect form, they bespeak the candour of the public: to which they are committed, with a hope that the publication of them may stimulate some able person to take up a subject, which might be made, it is probable, both instructive and entertaining.
Shortcomings notwithstanding, Bullar’s hope was certainly realised with this work serving to inspire later historians who used it as their starting point.
To provide a flavour of the accessible nature of the work, below are a couple of extracts. With respect to his beloved Above Bar Independent Church, he wrote that following the ejection of the Revd Nathanial Robinson from All Saints Church in 1662 and his remaining in Southampton:
At first on account of the persecution which then raged, they were under the necessity of assembling when and where they could. Afterwards, some houses were converted into a place of worship, in which, as the times would allow, they attended their Sabbaths and their monthly sacraments. They held also monthly fasts, at which they constantly made collections for the poor; thus assisting not only the needy of their own society, but even occasionally sending help to the persecuted Protestants of France … In 1727, a neat place of worship was erected, which was enlarged in 1802, and taken down and substituted with the present building in 1820 (pp.95-6).
On a different subject, namely ‘boundaries’, he had this to say:
Southampton being a county of itself, a procession round the boundaries is occasionally made (till lately the ceremony was annual) by the sheriff, court-leet, and as many of the housekeepers who chose to attend: all of them are summoned and a fine of one penny is demanded on their refusal. – This cavalcade, which has obtained the popular name of cut-thorn, from the season when it takes place, sets out on the morning of the second Tuesday after Easter Tuesday, from the Bar-Gate, and after having made a complete compass of the county, re-enters the town at the bridewell gate. At the various boundary marks on the road, several ludicrous ceremonies are performed by those who have never before attended the procession. In the course of their circuit, refreshment is provided for them; in a tent erected on the common; and the day frequently terminates with greater credit to the hospitality of the Sheriff, than to the moderation of his guests (pp.107-8).
As can be seen, in places Bullar sought to inject an element of humour and/or sarcasm into his narrative.
Another work, Bullar’s guide to Netley Abbey, was sufficiently popular to run to at least nine editions, the last being published in July 1844. Described as a ‘companion’, this provided visitors with not only details of the buildings but also the life of those for whom the Abbey was their home.
The preface to the fourth edition of a Tour Round Southampton (1810) provides a fair indication of its geographical and historical scope with it:
Comprehending various particulars, ancient & modern of the New Forest, Lymington, Christchurch, Ringwood, Romsey, Winchester, Bishop’s Waltham, Titchfield, Gosport, Portsmouth &c, with the notices of the Villages, Gentlemen’s seats, Curiosities, Antiquities &c occurring in the different roads described , and various Biographical Sketches.
Clearly this was intended to encourage those visiting Southampton to enjoy other delights within the county and not restrict themselves to the town and its immediate environs. Thus, Bullar could be said to serve as a historiographical muse for not only future Southampton historians but also those whose interests lay elsewhere within Hampshire.
Lastly, reference should be made to Bullar’s guide to the Isle of Wight which covered all parts of the island and again ran to nine editions. In the later editions, the text is supplemented with an increasing number of engravings which serve to add interest and illuminate his descriptions of many of the principal buildings and vistas (see Figures 4 a-d for some examples).
“Entrance to Carisbrooke Castle” from the Historical and Picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight by John Bullar, 9th ed. (1840) [Rare Books Cope 98.035 1840]
“Arched Rock” in Freshwater bay from the Historical and Picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight by John Bullar, 9th ed. (1840) [Rare Books Cope 98.035 1840]
“Appuldurcombe” from the Historical and Picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight by John Bullar, 9th ed. (1840) [Rare Books Cope 98.035 1840]
“Niton” from the Historical and Picturesque Guide to the Isle of Wight by John Bullar, 9th ed. (1840) [Rare Books Cope 98.035 1840]
His coverage, however, is not restricted to the grand houses, but also includes references to Parkhurst Prison and the House of Industry (i.e. workhouse).
Other Publications
In view of his strong Christian faith it is unsurprising that among his published works are many of an overtly religious character. These include: The impartial testimony of a layman, against the errors of the present times, and in favour of the Holy Scriptures: being the substance of a speech delivered at the fifth anniversary of the Southampton Bible Society. Nov 10, 1819 and Harvest home and lord of all harvests: a lay lecture, published in 1854. A few years earlier, in 1846, he had published a collection of his lay lectures, under the title Lay Lectures on Christian Faith and Practice. This was described is one of his obituaries as being ‘marked with good sense, clear reasoning, much research and considerable eloquence and stamped the author as a man of learning and talent’ (Salisbury and Winchester Journal 21 May 1864, p.8). Many of his lectures were delivered at the Mechanic’s Institution and the Literary and Philosophical Institution. As indicated earlier, alongside history and religion, another of his interests was poetry. This was evidenced by the publication in 1822 of Selections from the British poets: … with select criticisms … and short biographical notices.
Conclusion
Without doubt, Bullar was a leading figure within Southampton’s intellectual elite during the first half of the nineteenth century. Judging by the tributes paid to him both during his life and following his death it would be difficult to overstate his reputation. A true son of Southampton he was strongly motivated to improve the welfare and sensibilities of his fellow townsmen. His final resting place is in the churchyard of St Nicholas’ Church, North Stoneham (see Figure 5).
Friday 14 July 2023 marks 234 years since the storming of the Bastille in Paris in 1789. This was the iconic event of the French Revolution that came to symbolise the overthrow of the Ancien Régime; the name given to the political and social system that characterised France from the late Middle Ages until 1789. Bastille Day is now a public holiday in France.
The French Revolution is arguably the historical event most written-upon and most frequently subjected to the analysis of the historian. It is beyond the scope of this blog post to do justice to the historiography on the causes of the French Revolution, but suffice to say a range of political, economic, social and cultural factors have been offered as responsible for events unfolding as they did at the end of the eighteenth century.
The first episode in the Revolution was the summoning of the Estates General in May 1789, in order to address a financial crisis playing out between King Louis XVI and members of the French nobility. The Estates General was an assembly that represented the three estates of the realm: the clergy (First Estate), the nobility (Second Estate), and the commoners (Third Estate) but it had no true power in its own right, as unlike the English Parliament, it was not required to approve royal taxes or laws. The Estates General served as an advisory body to the monarch, primarily by presenting petitions from the various estates and consulting on fiscal policy. When it opened on 5 May 1789 it was the first time it had met since 1614.
In 1789 the First Estate comprised 100,000 Catholic clergy, owning 5–10% of the lands in France – all property of the First Estate was tax exempt. The Second Estate comprised the nobility, which consisted of 400,000 people, including women and children. By the time of the revolution, they had almost a monopoly over distinguished government service and under the principle of feudal precedent, they were not taxed. The Third Estate comprised about 25 million people (97% of the population), including the bourgeoisie (business owners and merchants), the peasantry, artisans and everyone else. Unlike the First and Second Estates, the Third Estate were compelled to pay taxes, yet the bourgeoisie often found ways to evade tax and become exempt. The greater burden of the French government, therefore, fell upon the poorest in French society: the peasantry and working poor; understandably there existed great resentment towards the upper classes.
The Estates General, instead of concerning itself with the financial crisis playing out in the country at large, began focussing instead on the question of how votes should be cast and how to divide power and representation amongst the three estates. On 17 June 1789 the Third Estate re-named themselves the National Assembly and on 20 June its members took the ‘Tennis Court Oath’ in the tennis court which had been built in 1686 for the use of the Versailles palace – their objective was to draw up a written constitution for France and to begin governing the country, with or without the involvement of the other two estates. A majority of members of the First Estate and many from the Second did in fact join with the new National Assembly. This moment marked the beginning of the French Revolution as it directly threatened the power of the absolute monarch – King Louis XVI. These developments were popular with many in Paris desperate for reform, relief and liberty.
On 11 July 1789 King Louis XVI (upon the advice of conservative nobles as well as his Queen Consort Marie Antoinette) dismissed his Finance Minister Jacques Necker, perceived as relatively favourable to the new National Assembly. This, combined with the fact that the King had brought troops to Paris (including foreign German and Swiss mercenary soldiers) put the people of Paris ill at ease, fearing as they did a conservative attack on the National Assembly. It was within this context that in July 1789 the people of Paris began demonstrating and storming properties to secure food as well as arms.
Front cover of Prince Louis of Battenberg’s postcard album of the French Revolution [MS62/MB2/A19]Jacques Necker in Prince Louis of Battenberg’s postcard album of the French Revolution [MS62/MB2/A19/74]
The Bastille was a medieval prison-fortress – a symbol of royal power in the heart of Paris. On the morning of the 14 July 1789 it was approached by a Parisian militia and ordered to surrender – a confused struggle then ensued throughout the day in which 98 attackers and one defender died, either in the fighting or subsequently from their wounds. If the Tennis Court Oath of 20 June marked the beginning of a liberal constitutional revolution promoted by the bourgeoisie, then it was the bloodshed and chaos at the Bastille that foreshadowed the violent phase of the revolution and the eventual downfall of the monarchy along with the rest of the Ancien Régime.
The National Assembly proceeded to abolish feudalism on 4 August 1789 and issued the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen on 26 August 1789, as it became increasingly radical. The events of the summer of 1789 were just the beginnings of the social and political revolution that unfolded in the following years, including the execution of King Louis XVI on 21 January 1793 and the rise of General Napoleon as Emperor of the French – his popularity with the French people driven by his victories in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Napoleon in Prince Louis of Battenberg’s postcard album of the French Revolution [MS62/MB2/A19/94]
The significance of the French Revolution was not confined to France or to the battlefields of Europe but was felt further afield; revolutions or social protest inspired by the events of 1789 broke out across Europe in the following years and decades. The great divides of nineteenth-century European politics were often framed in terms of liberal idealism on the one hand and conservative reaction on the other; even the ‘left-wing/right-wing’ terminology we use today has its origins in the seating arrangements for members of the National Assembly. This body was divided into supporters of the Ancien Regime to the president’s right and supporters of the revolution to his left. The Brabant Revolution of 1789-90 being a good example of how the French revolutionaries inspired others to rise up. This armed insurrection briefly overthrew the imperial rule of the Habsburgs and created a short-lived new state named the United Belgian States. In a letter from Henry Temple, second Viscount Palmerston, to Benjamin Mee dated 12 March 1790, the former gives his account of the causes of this dramatic episode in the Austrian Netherlands:
“[…] We were in some respect witnesses of the beginning of the Revolution in the Austrian Netherlands having been at Brussels when the insurgents entered the country. The facility with which they made themselves masters of it is to me incomprehensible. For as their number (I mean of men in arms) was very small, and the quarter from whence they must come, as well as all their motions perfectly known to the government, had the Imperial troops which could have been spared from garrisons been collected and properly stationed so as to have attacked them immediately, I conceive the business must have been ended as soon as it was begun. But as the whole country was on their side the opportunity once lost never was, nor I believe could have been, recovered.”
Palmerston goes on to describe how the poor treatment of the Roman Catholic church by the Emperor was responsible for the outbreak of violence, amidst confused attempts to reform an ancient constitution in need of amendment. He describes three distinct factions in the country: one in favour of an absolute sovereign; another in favour of an aristocratic council; and the third and most numerous in favour of a complete democracy: “In this they are supported by the example and influence of France and seem likely to pursue the same path of confusion and anarchy that their neighbours are treading.”
In the same letter, Palmerston goes on to describe the social unrest in France in disapproving terms, employing racist ideas in the process:
“Nothing I believe can exceed the wretched state of that country. In the capital they are undoing everything and loosening all the bonds of society while the horrors that are committed by mobs in various parts of the kingdom are such as would disgrace the most barbarous savages in the wilds of America. Whether anything like order and government is ever to come out of this chaos nobody I believe at present would venture to predict. Our politicians have been very foolishly debating and indeed quarrelling (that is to say Burke and Sheridan) about the proceedings in France, in our House of Commons, which seems to be the last place to discuss such a subject. Burke however was very fine upon it and is about to publish a pamphlet which I will send you when it comes out.”
The pamphlet Palmerston alludes to would be published by Edmund Burke in November 1790 as Reflections on the Revolution in France, now regarded as one of the most influential political pamphlets in modern history and considered a cornerstone of conservative political ideology.
A few years later in the late summer and early autumn of 1792, Lord Palmerston’s diary entries are quoted in the correspondence of Mary Mee, Viscountess Palmerston, sent to her brother Benjamin Mee during their travels through Europe:
“Paris at present is in the greatest state of insurrection possible. The Jacobins or the violent party carry everything before them and lay all the blame of the mischief that are resulting from their own absurdities on the King and Queen who are certainly in danger of their lives from the violence of the people and the little dependence they can have upon their guard who are only national troops. The assembly are distracted and seem in a mood of Frankish despair […]”
The political chaos and violence described by the Palmerstons led successively to the execution of King Louis XVI in January 1793; the assassination of the revolutionary and Jacobin leader Jean-Paul Marat by Charlotte Corday on 13 July 1793 (the day before Bastille Day); the ‘Reign of Terror’ of the Jacobins from September 1793 – July 1794; and the counter-revolutionary ‘White Terror’ from 1795. Tens of thousands of people died in these outbursts of violence.
Charlotte Corday in Prince Louis of Battenberg’s postcard album of the French Revolution [MS62/MB2/A19/39]
The Jacobinism of Robespierre and others was strongly denounced by conservatives in Britain, as demonstrated in the political preface from an 1804 edition of The Anti-Jacobin:
“Ever since we commenced our labours, we have uniformly maintained, that the only effectual means of combating the system of usurpation and universal dominion which characterizes the French revolution in all its stages, was firm and extensive concert. The principles whence it sprung, the acts which it exhibited, and the characters which it formed, whatever might be their several diversities, all agreed in seeking the subjugation of mankind. This was a primary object of Brissot and his Girondins, Robespierre and his Terrorists, of Lepaux, and of Buonaparté.”
Rare Books per A, The Anti-Jacobin, Sep-Dec 1804
The Anti-Jacobin, Sep-Dec 1804, Rare Books per A
When Robespierre died on 28 July 1794 he was satirically eulogised in a piece titled ‘Sur la morte de Robespierre’ appearing in the volume Second tableau des prisons de Paris sous le règne de Robespierre, 1794-5; “everything fell under his blows – old age and childhood”:
“Sur la mort de Robespierre – Air – de versaillois – Quels accents, quels transports, en ce jour d’allegresse, Succedent tour-a-tour a la sombre tristesse! Vient de venger la liberte. Le cruel immoloit la timide inncence, Tout tomboit sous ses coups, la vieillesse et l’enfance. Francais! n’obeissez desormais, sosu vos loix, Qu’aux soutiens de la France, aux vengeurs de vos droits.”
[“On the death of Robespierre – Air – from Versailles – What accents, what transports, on this day of joy, Succeed in turn to dark sadness! Just avenged freedom. The cruel immolated timid innocence, everything fell under his blows, old age and childhood. French! henceforth obey, under your laws, only the supporters of France, the avengers of your rights.”]
Rare Books, Hartley Collection, DC140.5
Second tableau des prisons de Paris sous le règne de Robespierre, 1794-5, Rare Books Hartley Collection DC140.5
If we jump forward several years to the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, we find Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, first Duke of Wellington, writing to Louis Philippe, Duc d’Orleans, later King of the French Louis Philippe I, giving his own views on the cause of the French Revolution:
“In my opinion the King [King Louis XVI] was driven from his throne because he never had the real command over his army. This is a fact with which your Highness and I were well acquainted and which we have frequently lamented; and even if the trivial faults or rather follies of his civil administration had not been committed, I believe the same results would have been produced. We must consider the King then as the victim of a successful revolt of his army and of his army only; for whatever may be the opinions and feelings of some who took a prominent part in the revolution, and whatever the apathy of the great mass of the population of France, we may I think set it down as certain that even the first do not like the existing order of things, and that the last would if they dared it oppose it in arms.”
Wellington’s emphasis on the importance of martial power and discipline might not be surprising, given that he was a Field Marshal on the verge of a major battle with Napoleon’s forces, but it echoes the idea expressed much later and by a very different general that ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’ – at least in the most immediate and pressing circumstances. Wellington’s notion that Louis XVI’s lack of military strength caused the French Revolution adds to a long list of economic, social and political factors held responsible.
It wasn’t until July 1880 that the French government officially adopted 14 July as the public holiday that we now recognise. The date was chosen partly to commemorate the storming of the Bastille in 1789 but also to commemorate the ‘Fête de la Fédération’, which was originally held on 14 July 1790 on the first anniversary of the capture of the Bastille. It was meant as a festival to celebrate the unity of the French people.
Bastille Day is now firmly established as the French national day. The 14 July 1945 marked the first celebration of Bastille Day subsequent to the total victory in Europe over Nazi Germany and it was the impetus for the signal sent from Lieutenant General F.A.M. Browning to the French Military Mission, sending good wishes on Bastille Day, 14 July 1945.
Whether you spend your Bastille Day at work, at leisure or brushing up on your French history – we in Special Collections wish you liberté, égalité et fraternité this 14 July!
As a curator we can take on many roles as we oversee the curation and engagement with collections in our care. But one role in which the curator is not so often cast is that of researcher, drawing on the knowledge and expertise of curatorial teams to lead or co-lead in research projects. In an endeavour to re-balance this, the Research Libraries UK, in conjunction with the Arts and Humanities Research Council, set up and ran its Research Catalyst Cohort Programme. I was one of the 12 participants on this inaugural programme which completed in April 2023.
This extensive and comprehensive timetable took the participants on a journey through aspects of research culture and management, as the RLUK Programme sought to equip the participants with the skills and knowledge to develop their own research project. The sessions sharing knowledge on everything from funding to developing partnerships to project management were well considered and informative, but what was particularly effective for me were the development sprints and the support of a mentor as part of the programme. As in so much of life, confidence is key, and having impartial but knowledgeable facilitators with whom you could discuss your ideas was important in growing this key factor in the participants. Connections made during the course and the supportive culture fostered amongst the participants were another important factor.
Providing the tools and the belief in curators to move forward and both initiate important research projects or take a more pro-active role in their institutions in the projects of others, rather than just be seen as the people who provide access to the material, is an important and welcome development. It recasts the balance in a way that is much more healthy for the creation of new and exciting developments and utilises the best of the expertise and knowledge of all parties.
From a leaflet by the Jewish People’s Council against Fascism and Anti-Semitism, 1936 [MS60/15/53]
One of the aspects of participation on the RLUK Research Catalyst Cohort Programme was a requirement not just to learn about research culture but to use the experience to help participants to develop a research project idea. Taking what might be called a real-life curatorial issue, I used this opportunity to focus on issues relating to the curation of challenging material. There is a growing recognition of the challenges of dealing with sensitive material and in particular there has been much discourse relating to the decolonisation of collections. As an institution holding considerable Jewish archival material, we are looking at what curatorial issues arise from these collections.
Oswald Mosley at a meeting, 1954: one of the challenging items held in collections at Southampton
Strands of narrative about curating sensitive or challenging material are being developed in conjunction with MA teaching programmes at the University on which I have been or will be leading sessions. The first of these were sessions with students from the Winchester School of Art MA in Curation Studies in February. Using examples of a range of material from the collections, the students were asked to engage with these and analyse issues around the items. The resulting discussions enabled the students to interrogate questions of cultural sensitivity, language, imagery as well as curatorial challenges with regard to the acquisition, description and presentation of material and to begin the process where we can gather evidence relating to this.
Part of a leaflet by the Jewish People’s Council against Fascism and Anti-Semitism relating to fascist marches through the East End of London, 1936 [MS60/15/53 page 40]
Building on this experience, I shall be running sessions as part of the public history module of a new MA in Holocaust Studies starting in autumn 2023. In these sessions I will be leading students to interrogate further the challenges and responsibilities of curating sensitive material, in this case specifically focusing on the Jewish archive collections.
This student engagement is a starting point for a developing research project which will feed into discussion and development of curatorial practices in the care of such collections, starting here at Southampton.
![Men's football team, 1953-4 [photo_MS1_7_291_22_4]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50089268168_f26eed63ef_s.jpg "Men's football team, 1953-4 [photo_MS1_7_291_22_4]")
![Women's rowing team, 1961-2 [MS1_7_291_22_4]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50090079577_3b7acbde42_s.jpg "Women's rowing team, 1961-2 [MS1_7_291_22_4]")
![Men's rugby team, 1953-4 [MS1_7_291_22_4]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50089268523_4f2c587220_s.jpg "Men's rugby team, 1953-4 [MS1_7_291_22_4]")
![Women's hockey team, 1953-4 [MS1_7_291_22_4]](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50090079692_28114e9c7d_s.jpg "Women's hockey team, 1953-4 [MS1_7_291_22_4]")
University of Southampton Special Collections 