This project will explore the lives and experiences of ethnically diverse people in Berkshire during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The two students on the project will undertake historical study in county archives, learn from experienced researchers across the University, and identify local community groups who may become involved in future research.
Department: History
Supervised by: Dr Richard Blakemore and Dr Daniel Renshaw
This project will investigate the lives and experiences of ethnically diverse people in Berkshire during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. While much research has concentrated on urban areas (for example, London Metropolitan Archives' Switching the Lens project), our work will bring a new perspective by considering the previously overlooked presence of ethnically diverse people in rural communities. This perspective aligns with work at MERL to diversify its collections and resources and offers a new history of the English countryside. The project will build towards a substantial grant application for collaboration between the BRO and the Department of History, supporting both academic research and public engagement (like the BRO-UoR Broken Futures project on LGB histories, which involved a UROP student). Due to the volume of work we hope to complete towards specific funding schemes, we are applying for two students to work together, which also provides those students with a mutually supportive and cooperative experience. Dr Richard Blakemore and Dr Daniel Renshaw (History) will contribute their relevant historical expertise, while Mark Stevens (BRO Archivist) will guide the students on the BRO collections. Mark has co-supervised several UROP projects (including for Broken Futures). A key aim of our collaboration is to work with appropriate local community groups both in conducting research and producing suitable outputs. As well as undertaking research on secondary literature and scoping out primary sources, the main purpose of this UROP project is to identify, and initiate contact with, suitable groups in the Reading area, including within the University.
Week 1 Compile a literature review of suitable historiography, with some analysis of that historiography, and prepare an initial draft of the report. Weeks 2-3 Evaluate BRO, MERL, and UMASCS collections using catalogues and guidance from relevant staff, as well as some archival work with those collections, and prepare an initial draft of the report. Begin liaising with and interviewing University staff who have carried out successful public engagement projects. Week 4-5 Continue interviewing University staff (if this is not completed in the previous weeks). Research community groups in the local area, using the internet, Reading Council, and University resources, and prepare an initial draft of the report. Begin preparing blog posts and BRO newsletter piece. Week 6 Review and complete reports, blog posts, and BRO newsletter piece. If appropriate, approach community groups for initial conversations. The students will liaise with the following members of University Staff, who have all agreed to meet the students to discuss their won research activities and other aspects of the project: • Dr Sally Lloyd Evans and Alice Mpofu Coles (Geography), who led the Oxford Road Project: Reimagining the High Street Through Your Stories involving community groups, Reading Borough Council, and Reading Museum. • Dr Allán Laville (Clinical Psychology, Dean for Diversity and Inclusion), who conducted work on race equality with RUSU and Reading Borough Council for Black History Month in October 2021 and supported Reading's work with Advance HE for the Race Equality Charter. • Dr Rhi Smith (UMASCS), who has supervised UROP projects involving work with BRO, MERL, and UMASCS collections and collaborations with local schools.
Essential: proven ability to conduct independent academic research to a good standard; written and spoken communication; relevant IT skills for online research; editorial skills. Desirable: prior knowledge of the historical subject or period and relevant historiography, and/or of local archives, and/or of public engagement work.
The students will acquire or develop: • a deeper knowledge of this historical topic and period, suitable to take forward into their third-year dissertation should they wish. • new analytical and writing skills through conducting and reporting on research; • familiarity with archival collections and databases related to them, and an introduction to palaeography and document handling; • experience of communicating with University researchers, local institutions (especially BRO and potentially others), and community groups, including how to conduct informal interviews; • understanding of research funding applications, with their involvement in this process potentially continuing after the UROP project is completed.
Primarily in the Department of History, and on occasion BRO and MERL.
We will arrange the hours of work to suit the successful applicants. Time spent at some locations (e.g. BRO and MERL) will depend on opening hours.
Monday 12 June 2023 - Friday 21 July 2023
The deadline to apply for this opportunity is Monday 3rd April 2023. Students should submit their CV and Cover Letter directly to the Project Supervisor (click on supervisor name at the top of the page for email). Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.