Films, Fact-finding and Future Paths

Researching films at the Yorkshire Film Archive has been an enriching experience for second year student, Freya Rickards, both in terms of using historical skills and thinking about future careers. Here, she highlights her approach to writing context pieces for this special film collection.

For my History, Community and Culture module, I completed a placement at the Yorkshire and North East Film Archive to assist with their Nature Matters project, which looks at changes in the environment and local landscape throughout the 20th century. In my work I researched various films that were being used within the project and created a summary of the context and history behind each film, allowing for a better understanding of the films themselves as well as how they relate to the project. I was extremely happy to get a place on this placement, as being a History and American Studies student, I spend a lot of time studying film, and have therefore gained a great appreciation for all types of film, especially those that can reflect changes throughout history. The placement has also been a great help in my future career decision, as I had previously never thought of working in an archive, but now I am strongly considering it as a career path once I graduate.

I have completed six contextual pieces for my placement, with each focusing on a different film within the Nature Matters project. Choosing which film to research was quite simple, I read through the list of available films and chose six that appealed to me the most, whether it be due to the film’s content, the history behind the film, or simply the way the film visually looked. Once my films were chosen, I rewatched them and researched the history of the main theme of the film, for example a city, a social movement, or a place of interest. Once I had written a few paragraphs on the historical context of the chosen film, I submitted them to the archive for feedback, and then I made the appropriate revisions to the contextual piece if needed to endure that the contextual piece is of a good enough quality for the archive.

Overall, I have very much enjoyed my time at the archive. Learning about the history of film has been fascinating, and being able to handle old film cameras from the beginning of the 20th century has been amazing. Another highlight has been the opportunity for us on the placement to use a Steenbeck machine to show how film tapes are viewed. The placement has truly been a great opportunity and I am glad I have had the privilege to contribute towards the Nature Matters project.

History, Research and a Sense of Place

York is known for being an historic city and, for those studying the past, the historic environment can be truly inspiring. Second year student Leah Marshall shows just how captivating those surroundings can be, describing here the history all around her while on placement at York Explore.

Recently I had the privilege to partake in a volunteering experience at the city archive, where I had the chance to work in an amazing historical building – York Explore Library – and surround myself with beautiful and iconic historical features of the city of York.

The structure was built in 1927 and is in the heart of York, surrounded by numerous historical sites of the city. The library was dedicated on 23 September, 1927, by the Right Hon the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine C.M.G, Chairman of the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust, which contributed £13,200 to the building’s construction. Prior to the construction the library had been housed in what is now known as the York Dungeon on Clifford Street.

The building is surrounded by the very popular Museum Gardens and overlooks the ruins of St Leonard’s Hospital. These remains are amongst York’s oldest architectural ruins, with it being almost 500 years since the Reformation, which saw the hospital destroyed. The ruins of St Leonard’s initially resemble the remnants of an old church, and to some extent, this is accurate. The St Leonard’s hospital was formerly King Athelstan’s St Peter’s Hospital, but it was destroyed in a fire in 1069. King Stephen then reconstructed it in stone and some of these remnants can be found on the library grounds. During excavations, numerous Roman and medieval artefacts and items were discovered, including a Roman oven.

The historical beauty that surrounds the building immerses you into the history of York, making you want to explore it in the detail that the archives can provide. It certainly made me want to study more about York! Volunteering at the archive has allowed me to understand and appreciate some of the amazing historical features of this beautiful city. It has given me the opportunity to be able to research and analyse some of the work that has been produced over time to make the city of York the popular tourist destination it is today.

The building is also on the site of the Multangular Tower. York’s history may be traced back to at least AD 71, when the Roman 9th legion arrived at the strategic meeting point of the rivers Ouse and Foss and erected a fort to defend themselves against hostile inhabitants. The Multangular Tower, which can be seen from the windows of the library, was an important feature of the fortress defence. So, if you come to visit this outstanding historical landmark, make sure to have a look within the archives and research this amazing feature.

Inside the building, as you can see in the photograph above, there is a beautifully depicted story of some crucial historical events that took place in York, named York Panorama. I found this artwork fascinating, especially when looking at the detail it goes into and the magnificent yet emotional story it takes you on when looking at the history of York. This is just one out of many amazing things this building has to offer.

Scrutinising Layers of History at Explore Archive

The History/American Studies/War Studies YSJ blog is back! To start our new series of student work, we have second year student Layla Kershaw, who has been examining the city’s development in the finest detail during her placement at York Explore and learning much about how York has changed. Here, she highlights some of the exciting work she has been doing in the archive.

Volunteering with the York Explore Library and Archives provided a valuable perspective into the history of York and surrounding areas. This enabled me to understand and appreciate the city in multiple ways after being exposed to a range of materials detailing York’s developments and appeal throughout the years. The placement provided an insight into the role of an archivist while teaching plenty about York’s cultural, civic and communal past. I was fortunate to work with a variety of plans and records, each presenting an additional view of the streets and layers to the city of York.

One type of plan that stood out to me the most were the Goad shopping maps that were handled slightly differently to the rest of the archives we had worked on. These were incredibly detailed maps of York from the 1960s and 70s that were essentially a bird’s eye view of York’s retail and businesses. It was fascinating to see how the city had developed to such extent by the surprising amount of both independent and chain business that are no longer around, as well as the emerging of more modern businesses leading to a commercialised York. The maps perfectly detailed the layers of York and how it has developed economically and technologically. It is clear that the city and surrounding areas have advanced in its industry while modernising the retail and tourist aspects to York

We were provided magnifying glasses to aid us in this activity and gain the most out of the intricate plans and maps, making it an enjoyable experience throughout the voluntary hours. This task, though lengthy, was beneficial to gaining a great knowledge of the city of York, by listing each street, road and avenue from left to right. Each feature of the Goad shopping maps describes the fast change and development to York’s businesses and how it gradually became a popular city for tourists. It is evident in the plans how the city prepared and planned for the attractions and sights that are flourishing today.

The collection of plans aided my experience and knowledge of a career as an archivist further, analysing drawings and photographs as well as the maps. The archives offered a great insight into every aspect of York, such as its rivers, bar walls, bridges and churches, presenting their change and developments over time. Identifying York as a symbol of religion, community, history and industry is clearly indicated throughout the archives I worked on throughout the placement. These documents support York’s position and role as a city involved in trade and tourism, indicating how York has become popular as a tourist spot as it is so rich in history. Working on the architect’s and engineer’s plans with the archives at York Explore made it clear that York has plenty to offer to visitors and its community.

The Visible Monastic Past: Examining Mount Grace Priory and Rievaulx Abbey

As part of our Visible Past first-year module, students examine monasteries and castles through site visits to appreciate the impact of time, the environment around the buildings, and the make-up of the communities that lived there. Here, Byron Grierson reflects on the monastic experience of awe and isolation.

Mount Grace Priory

Upon arrival at Mount Grace Priory, it was immediately apparent just how secluded the monks were during the monastery’s age. Surrounded by trees and fields, it was easy to be transported and imagine how life would have been here centuries ago.

The most striking aspect of Mount Grace to me was the space allowed to the monks residing here. The word, “cell,” brings to mind images of a small area used to punish criminals. Here, this is certainly not the case. A reconstructed cell shows the space in which a monk would reside: a two-story cell with a separate bedroom, living room, prayer room, and a room upstairs devoted to activities such as clothmaking. On top of this, outside of the monk’s cell, you will find a garden which would have been used to grow various crops and flowers. Upon seeing this, it became more obvious to me as to why people would pay large sums of money to live here.

Another area which interested me was the bell tower. Constructed by Thomas Beauford in 1415, it remains a prominent feature of the monastery, even in its ruined state. Arguably, the bell tower is the best-preserved feature of Mount Grace, perhaps meaning Beauford was granted his wish of remaining part of the abbey’s legacy, even after its destruction.

Rievaulx Abbey

It is difficult not to be impressed, or even overwhelmed, by the sheer size and splendour of Rievaulx Abbey. Built by the Cistercians in 1132, this monastery was clearly designed to be stunning in its appearance. It is not until seeing an Abbey like Rievaulx in person that you can truly understand why many were critical of the way Cistercians approached monastic life.

Like Mount Grace, Rievaulx Abbey is nestled away in the countryside, allowing for the monks of the time to live a solitary life. Despite this, there is still a feeling of community in the abbey. Rooms such as the refectory served as somewhat of a meeting point where monks would gather to eat. Another example of this is the Presbytery, which remains among the best preserved and visually awe-inspiring parts of the abbey. It is impossible to gain an understanding of the sheer beauty of this part of the abbey through the ruins alone. Pictures that present the abbey as it likely was before its destruction show a massive room with giant, beautiful windows which light up the area. This paints a particularly pleasant image of life at Rievaulx.

The differences between Mount Grace Priory and Rievaulx Abbey are vast, and it is clear why these two locations were chosen for this particular visit. Even lying in ruins, it is easy to imagine Rievaulx Abbey in its past splendour, and Mount Grace Priory, in its much more humble, yet still impressive, appearance prior to the dissolution. Both monasteries capture the visitor’s imagination, and areas such as the recreated cell at Mount Grace Priory effectively transport you to an age of past glory. In the case of Rievaulx Abbey, the building still inspires awe, despite its ruined state. The intricate attention to detail in every aspect of the building was particularly impressive, and the feeling of awe is immediately felt, even when viewing the abbey in the distance.

Reflecting on the Value and Nature of Public History

Second-year HCC student Caitlin Finn discusses one of the key themes of the module – the values of public history, particularly in light of remembrance and visual monuments.

Public history surrounds us every day. Nearly every village, town and city have monuments, statues and plaques, as well as museums or heritage sites such as stately homes, castles or ruins, and archaeological sites, some of which may well be passed unnoticed as people go about their day. 

These monuments and places provide us with a clear insight into our history, often giving us the opportunity to remember and commemorate some of the most prominent historical events. For example, the now preserved and protected sites of former Nazi Concentration Camps, such as Auschwitz in Poland, remind and inform us of the horrors of The Holocaust, giving the victims the chance to have their story told and ensuring that the world will remember them and learn from this terrible time. Examples of public history such as this keep us in touch with important events from the past regardless of how uncomfortable that may make us feel.

Ground Zero, New York

Another example of public history is Ground Zero. Following the 9/11 attacks, the former site of the World Trade Centre became one of the world’s most famous memorials: “a cemetery in effect”. After the attacks, the area was deliberately not redeveloped and instead left cleared, with just the original tower foundation footings the only remaining parts of the original structure, left as a memorial to the victims. In spirit, the site now it belongs to the people of New York and all the people of the world who were affected on that day, and it exists as a constant reminder to the public of the deadliest terrorist attack to date of the 21st century. 

More recently, the Bristol monument of Edward Colston was toppled, pulled, and defaced from its plinth and thrown into Bristol Harbour by demonstrators supporting the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Regarded by some as vandalism, the protesters justified their actions, highlighting Colston’s involvement in the slave trade, that trade that made him a rich man. Public support the protesters received was overwhelming, clearly a reflection of the ethics and beliefs of people today, in stark contrast to the time, in 1895, when Colston was considered deserving of a public monument in his honour. Colston’s now infamous statue recently became the subject of a public survey to discover where people felt it should be kept, following its recovery from the Bristol Channel. Some believe it should become a museum piece, displayed as a reminder of and memorial to all those so cruelly enslaved and an acknowledgement of our nation’s complicity in the Slave Trade. People are happy to own and admit to mistakes and misdemeanours of the past as long as those mistakes are acknowledged today and can be used for human growth and improvement and as evidence that society has changed. 

The story of what happened to Colston’s statue is more significant and important than Colston could ever have been. His status as a slave trader and the destruction of his statue is now the story that defines him. It is another story that exemplifies the evolutionary nature of public history. It cannot be denied that history is unchangeable, but it is human nature to question and challenge interpretation and opinion from the past. Public history gives us the tools we need to engage with the past. 

Further reading list:

Burch-Brown, Joanna M., The Colston Statue: What Next? (2021),<https://research-information.bris.ac.uk/en/publications/the-colston-statue-what-next&gt; [accessed 15 January 2022] 

Silverman, Helaine, ‘Learning from Ground Zero: The Presence of Absence at Two Sites of Destruction’, The Future of the Bamiyan Buddha Statues (2020), pp.187-201, <https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-51316-0_12#citeas&gt; [accessed 18 January 2022] 

To Preserve Authenticity, The Conservation of Two Blocks at the Former KL Auschwitz I, (Oświęcimiu, Poland: Państwowe Museum, 2013) 

Working with Careers for a bright future

As part of our History, Community and Culture module, second-year students work closely with our brilliant Careers team to enhance their employability. Here, Kian Salmon reflects on the experience.

Week 2 of History, Community and Culture was very enlightening as a presentation into the value of self awareness both to employers and to yourself, in particular the section on self-awareness mind mapping. This was exceptionally useful in forming a skills section of my CV, with the ability to really break down what skills and abilities my previous employment and projects in education have given me.

The goals section of the presentation has aided me in setting myself achievable goals in the present which will aid me in the less immediate goals in the near and far futures. The ability to set short term and easier goals makes working towards a future career feel a lot more do-able rather than a distance and unlikely goal. Therefore, it promotes a more active approach towards goals of all size and distances.

The work sheets handed out during week three’s seminar were very informative in identifying the areas needed to work on to increase our employability, enhance the way we reflect on both our positives and negatives, and was a general good insight into what needs to be improved and/or changed. The slide on anti-values in the presentation was a particularly good way to evaluate both things I would need to work around in a work place and a way to evaluate what work place matters and responsibilities I would avoid. This is useful because it helps determine which jobs are most suitable for me and helps filter out which jobs would not fit me, overall a massive aid in determining which career path would be the best for me post-graduation.

To build off of the previous point, the FLOURISH acronym aided the values and anti-values slides in determining what works and what doesn’t. It made me think about travel to a work place, it made me think about my flexibility in a few aspects, such as would I move for the job, what kind of pay would influence me to do so, as well as what energises me during the work or study experiences, directing me to use that more to get the most out of the work I take.

One of the most useful parts of the presentation was the promotion of looking at what I could do with my degree. I very much thought there was little to do with a history degree outside of things such as teaching and planned to take any job that simply requires a degree; this made me reconsider that attitude towards work.

Though the content did not help much in regards to a placement (though this was very much out of the hands any careers advice or presentations) it very much helped out in the grander scheme of larger goals post-graduation, the presentation and materials we used during were informative and helpful in expanding self-perceptions both in helping identify the employable qualities and skills we have as well as the ones we may want to develop. 

Independence and interest: Improving skills and learning with the Yorkshire Film Archive

Second-year student Kama Clifford reflects here on their placement with the Yorkshire Film Archive, and what it’s brought to their skills as a researcher and historian.

My placement at the Yorkshire Film Archives has taught me a lot about myself, my work and, of course, the archives themselves. I’ve found it to be a brilliant opportunity that’s given me insight into my future. But I have three favourite things about my placement.

Firstly, the independence of it all. I’m a very independent person so being able to choose what film I contextualised, and just the general lack of pressure from the archive has been brilliant. The archive leaves you to it and that’s the best part; you feel like it’s all yours and like you aren’t being babysat. Of course, they’re always there if you have a question or need some direction, but the overall independence of the placement has been amazing.

Secondly, I’ve learnt so much from the archives. As a part of their People and Nature collection I watched some films on the relationships between people and nature, I then realised how much humanity views nature as a commodity; from animal testing to zoos and even to agricultural shows. Humanity views nature as something to monetise and this can be seen through the films and the entire collection the archives hold.

Lastly, the placement has helped me refine my research skills. At the beginning of placement my notes on the films were very long and I was finding it difficult to decide what information was important and relevant. However, throughout the course of the placement I began to find my way and realised how to find the most important and relevant information on what I was researching. This is going to be a big blessing when it comes to assignments in the future as I will be able to take what I’ve learnt and reuse it again and again. I also particularly enjoyed bringing the information up to date, for example, if I was writing about the first National Food Kitchen in York, I would discuss the context behind why it was set up and at the end of the context I brought it up to date by discussing the increase in food banks over the last ten years. 

This placement has also helped me learn lots about the archival and film industry, for example our introductory session taught us how film began and how the technology developed over the years, by showing us old films and the technology used. Another part of our introduction was a tour and explanation of the archives, we were shown the vaults in which the films are stored, and we were given an explanation of the formation of the archives. 

A fascinating public exhibition from the National Railway Museum archives

As part of our ongoing series about work placements and public history, second-year HCC student Jack Leather reflects on one of his favourite memories of his time with the National Railway Museum.

During my time on placement at the National Railway Museum there was one exhibit on display that continually caught my attention and has made me interested about the First World War from a different angle I had not considered before. This exhibit was about hospital trains and their usage throughout the First World War in transporting soldiers all across Britain when they had to come home for treatment. 

I found the exhibit fascinating. Firstly, in the respect of what I was able to learn about ambulance trains. Secondly, now with the knowledge of how much work goes into maintaining archives, I have been able to gain such a level of respect for the industry in how the museum was able to put together such a thought-provoking exhibit. 

The exhibit itself consisted of a train carriage which had been re-purposed by the team at the museum to look and show to visitors what an ambulance train during the First World War was like, this ultimately made the exhibit immersive and full credit has to go to the team at the museum for creating such an authentic carriage. Also, on the walls surrounding the carriage was a range of statistics, diary entries, letters, etc. These all helped to explain the importance of ambulance trains during the First World War, not just on a scale in numbers, but also at a personal level with diary entries showing how greatly some soldiers appreciated the treatment they received whilst aboard these trains. 

Whilst my placement was solely focused on working in the archives at the museum, I still got a chance to take in everything the museum does and to appreciate how much work goes into each and everyone of their displays. Without the work of archives and museums I don’t believe that I would have been able to find out about such interesting parts of history that I would never have considered before. Personally, I have always been interested in the First World War but this sort of exhibit has allowed me to be able to learn more about the impact of the war at home and on a personal level through the soldiers and their experiences. 

What interests me even more is knowing that there are so many more parts of history that most people are probably unaware of, such as the ambulance trains, that are just waiting to be uncovered. This thought is something that ultimately drives me in why I enjoy history so much, the thought of finding out something completely unseen before and being the first person to do so. In my opinion, I fell that is what makes working in history so fascinating. 

Unfortunately, the exhibit was taken down during my last week on placement at the museum but I am sure I will be going back at some point to visit and learn about whichever part of history they choose to uncover next. 

Challenges to the Education System in 2021-2022

As part of our History, Community and Culture module, second-year students are encouraged to reflect on the current issues facing their prospective career sectors and industries. Here, William Cox writes a think piece about the challenges facing the education system.

I have been doing research on the education sector as this is a possible area of work that I may pursue after university. One piece of research that I came across is the challenges that the education sector is facing at this current moment in time.

One problem being Covid-19; this has impacted teachers and students alike in the last 2 years whether this be at primary school level or university level. One of the main problems being that all teaching has been online at some point in the last 2 years, so that the teacher-student relationship has been strained as students have been forced to attend school from their homes. This creates the problem of some students not having access to the internet or the technology needed to engage in online lesson which means that they are not getting the full education that they need. Another challenge Covid-19 has bought is that there is a lack of interaction between teacher and student which will affect a student’s learning as they do not get the same support as they would do if they could go and see their teacher in school to ask about problems.

Another challenge the education sector is facing is that post-graduate university students are finding it harder to find jobs in the specific area that they want to go into. This is leading to more students deciding to take apprenticeships. This would mean that they are learning on the job whilst getting paid without picking up any loans to pay back, leading to apprenticeships becoming more favourable and leading to certain sectors of work lacking staff such as doctors, teachers etc.

Another issue that the education sector is facing is that the government keep cutting the budget to the education sector. This is leading to schools becoming underfunded leading to either not enough learning resources for students or schools being forced to downsize their staff. This has led to teachers taking on further responsibilities adding to their ever-growing workload which intern would make going into teaching look less appeasing. This shortage of staff alongside an ever-growing student population is causing a real issue and outcry for more teachers.

Another challenge the education sector is facing is the lack of qualified teachers for subjects such as maths, English etc are being enticed into jobs that offer more money. The lack of access to technology is also a problem as students are having to share computers to do work and teachers are asking for more training to get the full use out of the technology available to them. This has been an issue due to budget cuts by the government in recent years and the affect that Covid-19 has had on the economy. It is hard for the government to give schools more money to update theIR technology, this causes students to be at a disadvantage using out of date technology which could be unreliable or not up to the standard of technology that you would find at the workplace. 

The Anglian Tower and its Excavation: Research at York Explore

Eva Barker, one of our second-year HCC students, writes here with Dr Julie-Ann Vickers about their research at York Explore.

The site around York Library has a dense history, many of the buildings previously on this site still have visible remnants today, including the Mint Yard, St Leonard’s Hospital’s crypt and chapel, the Multangular Tower, the Church of St Maurice, and the Anglian Tower. 

The latter being the subject of my interest when I came across its excavation documents in York Explore Archive inside the library. While its construction date is under debate, likely around the mid-7th Century to the mid-9th Century, its historical significance is not under debate, it is the only remaining Anglo-Saxon structure in the country that does not have ecclesiastical ties. 

Although only the ground floor remains, it gives a very impressive representation of contemporary construction skills, with some of its walls being as thin as two inches, and the height reaching 3 metres. The two entrances on the ground floor suggest that it was designed for a sentry to walk along the base of the City Walls. 

The site was left undiscovered after the 866AD Viking invasion, only found in 1839 by workmen tunnelling from St Leonard’s Place to the Mint Yard. The excavation of the Tower 

only began in 1970 by digging into the banks behind the City Walls, the archaeologists discovered several layers of defensive banks from the Medieval, Norman, Dark Age, and Roman periods. For many years the location had a plaque commemorating the lead archaeologist on the excavation, Jeffery Radley, who unfortunately died in an accident on site. The team managed an incredible accomplishment and dug a total of 30 feet from the original bank level to 15 feet below the modern-day street level of King’s Manor Lane. The different bank levels are now labelled for the public, but as anyone who has tried to visit the site will know, what is physically observable from the lower and upper paths is severely limited. 

The council currently has plans underway to make the pathways more accessible, this is a very important feat as consequently it will make York’s history more accessible. The current City Archaeologist, Claire MacRae, helpfully explained that while the main goal of the City of York Council is to improve accessibility around the Anglian Tower, they will also be making efforts to conserve the Tower and surrounding walls. 

This should also improve the ease of admittance to the many guided tours that go through this area of the City Walls, helping the public actually observe York’s deep history first-hand. 

Accessibility is an objective every historian should have, and the archives are a great place to begin any research on the Tower as they hold a myriad of documents about the initial excavation. A majority of the excavation documents were drawn out by P.D. Little, and D.R. Henderson and the photographs shown here should provide you with a glimpse into the archives. Though I should point out that nothing compares to seeing these documents in-person, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the library’s resources.