Collecting the Nation: Scottish history, patriotism and antiquarianism after Scott, (1832-91)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: College of Arts
Abstract
The student will critically examine the interface between the development of modern Scottish historiographical traditions and the evolution of the collections of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, in the under-researched period 1832-1891, from the death of Sir Walter Scott, regarded as the father of Scottish antiquarianism, to the opening of the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland in Edinburgh.
| Description | I have discovered extra collections information for many of the objects I am studying and am able to provide details of archival and published sources related to these objects. This information has assisted curators in the museum conducting their own research on the collection. At this stage I have only been able to provide information for a few people on specific objects they knew had come in between 1832 and 1892. Once all the data is entered into the museum's computer catalogue database at the end of my project it will be available for all future research. Improvement of the collections database will allow the museum to provide better access to in-depth information on its collections. This is for the benefit of both the interested public through the online collections search and for researchers working both inside and outside the museum. The improved catalogue information will then assist with the future interpretation and display of the collection providing visitors of the museum with the most up-to-date information that the museum has on the collection. The social and educational importance of visiting museums has been well-documented and improved collections information will assist with a range of public engagement activities by the museum. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
| Sector | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Article in Society of Antiquaries of Scotland newsletter |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I wrote an article introducing my research project to Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in one of their newsletters. The Society's membership includes a wide range of people who have an interest in Scottish history as students, independent researchers, postgraduate students, academics and people working in the fields of both history and archaeology. The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland are unofficial supporters of the project in terms of offering the expertise of its Fellows and as an avenue for applying for funding for research trips. The article was my opportunity to inform the membership of the project so that they were aware of what types of research the Society was supporting. In addition, if Fellows felt they had information or expertise that they could share or discuss with me they could contact me. The article resulted in three researchers contacting me and providing information on their own research that they felt was relevant to the project. I was also able to share my own expertise on what information was in the archives of the Society and how the inventories can be accessed and searched. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Blog Posts for Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I wrote two separate blog posts talking about my research within the museum. These were aimed at the general public to engage them with the research activities of the museum. The blogs discussed some of the methods and sources that I was looking at so that people became interested in the project and also details of the collections in the museum that I am conducting my research on. I received some messages from the public about these blog posts, including one person who passed on some interesting information on Margaret Oliphant. I replied to these messages to convey my thanks for their praise of the posts and the interesting information they passed on to me. Some I followed up through personal email. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://blog.nms.ac.uk/author/jholder/ |
| Description | Blog post for exhibition (SDF project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | From Dec 2018 to Jun 2019 I was assisting on an exhibition at National Museums Scotland, whereby I was applying my research knowledge to writing about the objects we had on display in 'Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland'. I wrote a blog post on the Eglinton tournament that was featured in the exhibition. This blog post was later reprinted in the Scotsman newspaper. This blog post intended to promote the exhibition and spark interest in the subjects within it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://blog.nms.ac.uk/2019/08/28/the-eglinton-tournament/ |
| Description | Explore story for exhibition (SDF project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | From Dec 2018 to Jun 2019 I was assisting on an exhibition at National Museums Scotland, whereby I was applying my research knowledge to writing about the objects we had on display in 'Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland'. As part of this I wrote an explore story about some of the objects in the exhibition that were from the Eglinton Tournament. This explore story intended to promote the exhibition and spark interest in the subjects within it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/the-eglinton-... |
| Description | History Scotland Article (SDF project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In collaboration with Professor Hugh Cheape, I wrote an article about the Sobieski Stuart brothers and their involvement in Highland dress history. They were featured in the exhibition I was assisting on at National Museums Scotland 'Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland', and this article was part of a series that was published promoting the exhibition. This article intended to promote the exhibition and spark interest in the subjects within it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://pocketmags.com/history-scotland-magazine/history-scotland-sep-oct-2019/articles/620337/the-s... |
| Description | Radio interview for Wild and Majestic Exhibition (SDF project) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | I was interviewed for BBC Radio Scotland Time Travels with Keeper of Scottish History and Archaeology Dr Stuart Allan. We talked about the Eglinton tournament and the objects that were displayed in the exhibition 'Wild and Majestic: Romantic Visions of Scotland.' This programme intended to promote the exhibition and spark interest in the subjects within it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00068nj |
| Description | Staff presentation at NMS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to present a talk to staff at National Museums Scotland about my research. This was a museum-wide activity and audience members came from across the museum's different departments and from management. My talk aimed to explain what my methods had been, the main outcomes of my research and how this benefited the museum. The talk sparked a number of questions from the audience about my work. I was also contacted by staff members after the talk to ask if I was able to provide them with further information on the history of the museum and where certain archives were located. Many staff members commented that my work had changed their views of how objects were collected in the nineteenth century and what was happening in the museum during that period. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |