WORKING WITH ARCHIVES

AIMS OF THE PROJECT To develop a range of TLRs (teaching and learning materials) utilising the collections of local archives. These would be piloted with first year History/Humanities students in the first instance but would have a broader academic worth and could be used in other interdisciplinary teaching. The materials could also be used in Summer University courses and one-day workshops relating to local and community history. It is anticipated that this project will further develop the links between the University and Local History Study Centres resulting in more collaborative work and a structured work placement programme in archive work for our students.

PROGRESS TO DATE Three meetings with South-East London local history archives. Several meetings with students who are involved in the project. Two students undertaking work placements at Lewisham Local History archives. Local historians and selected students locating suitable materials for teaching and learning resources (TLRs) Two meetings with Head of History at Thomas Tallis

PROGRESS TO DATE Len Reilly (local archivist) delivered a lecture on ‘the rise and rise of the suburbs’ using local archive materials to second year history students. June Balshaw has delivered lectures to level 3 Media Project students and level two Media Writing students on the uses of archive material in both historical enquiry and the creative process. 43 students and 4 History teachers from Thomas Tallis came to the University for a Working with Archives workshop (specialising in suffrage sources) on 19th December 2007.

TLRs in development: 1.Edwardian crime/murder Stratton brothers case which was the first to use fingerprinting to secure a murder conviction. This TLR utilises Lewisham Archives and TNA at Kew

Working with John Hogg, final year History with Creative Writing student. Piloting a walk which starts at the Dreadnought Library where one of the victims was taken

Shaftesbury Home on Circus Street, Greenwich

Old bailey transcript

TLRs in development 2. Representations of Race Riots Utilises Lewisham Archives, The National Newspaper Archives and TNA at Kew.

Working with Jane Bryan Brown who is doing a dissertation on the topic.

Report from The Times

Lewisham 13 th August 1977

TLRs in development 3. Education in Victorian Britain Working with Catherine Martin, final year Humanities student. Utilises Bromley Archives, LMA and TNA.

The 1870 Education Act The 1870 Education Act enabled women for the first time to vote and to stand for election to local School Boards. In 1870 four women stood as candidates. Flora Stevenson in Edinburgh, Lydia Becker in Manchester, Emily Davies in Greenwich and Elizabeth Garrett in Marylebone. Elizabeth Garrett wrote a letter on 24th October 1870, explaining how she became a candidate. This morning I had a deputation from the Working Men's Association…. I dare say when it has to be done I can do it, and it is no use asking for women to be taken into public work and yet to wish them to avoid publicity. Still I am very sorry it is necessary, especially as I can't think of anything to say. The first of these trials is to be next week. It is a tough and toilsome business.

DISSEMINATION PLANS Workshop to create awareness of the materials Workshop to evaluate materials Slot at the Learning and teaching conference Dedicated website to house the TLRs