Monthly Archives: July 2016

Major Miss Bell: Gertrude Bell and the First World War – Exhibition Now Online

The exhibition on Gertrude Bell’s First World War work, previously on display in Newcastle University’s Robinson Library, is now available to view online here. Cartographer, archaeologist, interpreter, photographer, Gertrude Bell (born 1868 at Washington New Hall, County Durham) is perhaps best known as a central figure in British political movements in the Middle East during the early twentieth century. Appointed the appointed Oriental Secretary in 1917, her expertise in the geography of the Middle East led to her involvement in the Cairo Conference of 1921, in which she played a central role in the formation of Iraq. Often overlooked, however, is the range and extent of the work Bell undertook during the First World War, which took her from Boulogne to Baghdad. Curated by Dr Emma Short (School of English, Newcastle University & Living Legacies 1914-1918), this exhibition of material from the Gertrude Bell Papers, held in Newcastle University Robinson Library Special Collections, explores the impact of the First World War on Bell’s life and legacy.

Researching the First World War: Community Project Networking Event

18 July 2016 @ Research Beehive Rm. 2.21, Newcastle University

We invite you to a networking event for community researchers working on the First World War. The event will take place on Monday 18 July 2016 at Newcastle University, and will offer an opportunity for people to meet and share their work and experiences. Heritage Lottery Fund North East will be at the event to talk about the range of First World War projects being carried out across the region, and we are delighted to welcome the Worker’s Educational Association to showcase their own project researching the WEA in the North East during the First World War.As well as these talks and the networking opportunities throughout the day, we are also offering the chance to take part in an HLF Funding Application workshop for the development of future projects. 

You can download a programme for the day here.

Attendance at the event (including lunch and refreshments) is free of charge, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. To reserve a place at this event, please email: fww@ncl.ac.uk by Wednesday 13 July 2016. 

The event is being hosted by the Living Legacies First World War Centenary Engagement Centre, in collaboration with the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from Newcastle University Institute for Social Renewal, and Newcastle University Humanities Research Institute. Living Legacies is one of five FWW Engagement Centres funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council to connect academic and community researchers. Further details of all the Centres can be found here