Behind the Desk in London’s First Public Libraries (1880s-1920s)
This engaging course answers these questions and more through a series of richly-illustrated talks that describe the friendships, rivalries, misfortunes and successes ‘behind the desk’ in London’s first publicly-funded free libraries from the 1880s to the 1920s. The information you discover will ensure you never look at your local municipal library in quite the same way again.
Who is this course for?
- Library lovers seeking an opportunity to spend an afternoon immersed in the social and biographical history of London’s first rate-supported libraries
- Librarians and library managers keen to learn about the joys and challenges faced by their professional predecessors
- Anyone curious to discover little-known stories about London work and leisure from the 1880s to the 1920s
What can I expect?
- The subject is examined through a series of expert tutor talks illustrated with slideshows that share digitised sources such as Victorian press cuttings and Edwardian postcards
- Regular, facilitated opportunities for small and whole-group discussion ensure this is an interactive learning experience
- Two ‘hands-on’ research activities provide a rare chance to examine unique historical materials from Bishopsgate Institute’s special collections, including a scrapbook, letters, and a silver trowel!
Will I need any equipment or materials?
We will be looking at hand-written texts during the session. Make sure you have reading glasses to hand if worn.
I came on my birthday and I couldn't have asked for a better birthday activity. I learned a lot about a topic I knew nothing about before, and it also revived my interest in archival work and research.
Need to Know
You will learn
- Richly-detailed human stories taken from published and unpublished sources produced between the 1840s and the 1960s.
- Unique insight into how men, women, and children from a range of backgrounds have enjoyed and experienced London’s outdoor spaces during our period
- Data and information on the whereabouts of London’s parks and grasslands, and the facilities and activities they have historically provided for visitors
- The joys and challenges of reconstructing the past using original historical materials
Meet the Tutor
Dr Michelle Johansen
Dr Michelle Johansen is a social historian specialising in the history of modern London, with a particular emphasis on social class and mobility, gender, professional lives, and regional identities. Her publications include articles in Teaching History, the London Journal, and Cultural and Social History. Michelle has more than ten years' experience of delivering learning sessions at Bishopsgate Institute for all types of learners, from primary school pupils to undergraduates to informal adult learners. Her teaching approach places the emphasis on access to original historical documents, which provides a uniquely dynamic and immersive classroom experience.
Dates and Times
Behind the Desk in London’s First Public Libraries (1880s-1920s)
, 5:39 - 9:39
