Learning from the Landscape

I'm now in the second year of my PhD, focussing on the themes of citizenship and community during the early years of Newton Park Teacher Training College. My current task is a deep analysis of the archival documents relating to those founding years, under the leadership of Mary Dawson, the first Principal.

'It was recognised that this beautiful landscape must, of itself, educate the students' (Mary Dawson, 1946)
Picture: Kate James

Going through some of Miss Dawson's speeches, one theme repeats again and again. This is the idea that the historical environment of Newton Park was considered a learning resource in itself, in addition to the teaching the students received from their books, lecturers and school practices. 

The built environment and landscape of the park represents over a thousand years of English History. 

Mary Dawson wrote in 1954 that 'there is a sense in which the students are heirs of a rich culture with roots deep in time.' 

Ancient buildings - the stable at Newton Park today
Picture: Kate James

Newton Park gatehouse, where generations have passed to and fro
picture: Kate James

Miss Dawson, as a historian herself, became fascinated to discover as much of the history of Newton Park as she could, and she sought the help of Darlow and Molly Humphries. Professor Humphries, a governor of the college, taught at Bristol University and Molly was the college's own history lecturer. A file of papers accumulated by the Humphries is part of the archive collection, and demonstrates the research methods of the time. Back in the 1950s, each item of information was garnered through a painstaking series of letters or time-consuming visits with uncertain outcomes. Some of Professor Humphries correspondents were helpful, but many are guarded or protective of their sources. Some were even deliberately unhelpful.

Today we can look up digitised archive records instantly; so much has changed in the world of research. Newton Park has changed too, with new buildings and vastly more students, but at its heart it retains all the historical aspects so admired by Mary Dawson, Molly and Darlow Humphries

 Kate James

  

Last week at the archive...

One thing we could say about the archive work, it's varied. Last Monday saw us putting the finishing touches to our exhibition. On Tuesday we discovered some wonderful old papers. On Wednesday, we finally began Phase 2 cataloguing. Thursday, the 1st day of August, was a catch-up day, and next week we'll be back to the cataloguing.

Working on the exhibition images

On a normal catch up day I'll be picking up a few of the 'dropped plates' from the archive - those tasks which need to be done to keep things ticking over but which sometimes get sidelined. Last week it was oral history interview proof reading, chasing up some almost overdue transcriptions, replying to blog comments and emails, and some supplementary research.

Wonderful old documents to discover!

Phase 2 cataloguing

The research is for a conference in September, hosted by the Centre for History and Culture at the university, and taking place in the centre of Bath. Some of the PhD students will be giving a 'Poster Presentation' of their work, and my offering is about the 18th century development of Newton Park. During my research stint last week, I found a few snippets from newspapers of the time, describing the building work of 1761 and 1762.

November 1762

January 1762

Last week's blogpost was about Graduations, and yet again, a couple of comments from alumni have set us off on a new trail of information. We now have added details about other graduation ceremonies, to add to the archive. Thanks for the comments!

During the past year or so, I've also been involved, along with Dr Roberta Anderson, in the writing of a book about our institutional history, and this is now going through the editing and proof reading stage. It was fascinating to write, and even more fun to source all the images. This task was a reminder of just how rich and varied our story is, and what a lot of great images we have here in the archive. Much of this material is what we've collected or been given in the last year, since the archive started to take off, and its tempting to wonder how much more we''ll have by this time next year, or in a few year's time.

Keep it coming, everyone. We'd love to hear your stories too!

TTFN

Kate

Heritage, Popes, Bones and stay-at-homes

Last week, the archive had a week off, as two of us were involved in a history field trip to Rome. Of course, the trip was arranged long before anyone knew about the papal elections, but what a time to be there...

The view towards the Vatican, from the Capitoline Hill, Rome

The main purpose of the trip was research: into aspects of heritage, the practical application of history and the history and landscape of the Grand Tour. All of these things are relevant to the cross section of students and staff who joined the field trip. And of course, we enjoyed the good food, wine and chatting that took place as well!

St Peter's, 11.03.13. Preparations for the pre-Conclave service.

Italy, and Rome in particular, houses a vast array of heritage from every era. Whether your interest lies in Roman, religious, Renaissance or Risorgimento history, there is a seemingly limitless supply of things to see, to experience and to wonder at.

Your archivist communes with Socrates!

We were struck by one site in particular, as a highly individual use of artefacts. This was the Capuchin Crypt, where an explanatory museum has been built over several small crypt rooms. These rooms contain thousands of bones, artistically and bizarrely arranged into pictures, images, altars, archways, chandeliers and ceiling displays. Complete skeletons in monk's habits stand and lie amidst the bones, overlooking the graves of real monks of the Capuchin Order.

The Capuchin Crypt

The whole thing is strange and intriguing, and a fascinating way to tell a story with archival resources. We pondered long and hard about the interpretation, and considered the way we look after archives today.

Meanwhile, following news of 'fumata nera' and 'fumata bianca' Pope Francis was elected and made his balcony appearance. Those studying the Grand Tour could identify with their 18th century counterparts, who travelled to Rome and witnessed the full grandeur of Catholicism for themselves, and were either impressed or distrustful, as the tourists from two hundred years ago had been.

A Nun celebrates Pope Francis' election with a selection of delicious  cakes! 

Back at home, the other half of the archive team carried on transcribing our most recent set of oral history interviews. We've had a batch of former Bath Academy of Art students visit the archive office recently, and we've enjoyed meeting them and finding out more about this fascinating aspect of our corporate history. As the office is based at Corsham Court, we have loved hearing about student life here in the 1950s - 1980s. It seems the peacocks have always been here, calling, screeching and chasing one another, just as they are today!

Hayley, still transcribing...