Back in March when we were told that the Archives team, like the rest of the University, would have to work from home due to COVID-19, my immediate panicked thought was, ‘How?’ The work that I do as a part-time archives assistant is mainly invigilating the Reading Room and the Archives wouldn’t be welcoming people for some time …
As things turned out, there is plenty to keep an archives assistant busy whilst working from home. Unexpectedly, this time has broadened my skills (summarising oral history recordings, participating in Zoom calls, blog writing!), allowed me to complete a basic introduction to digital preservation course, and engrossed me in the history of Swansea University.
The main new task assigned to my co-worker Sarah and I, was to create summaries for the Voices of Swansea University, 1920-2020 oral history project. The project consists of oral history interviews with past students and staff of Swansea University. The interviews have been conducted by Dr Sam Blaxland, as part of his research for his recently published book, ‘Swansea University, Campus and Community in a Post War World, 1945-2020’.
I was really inspired by the prospect of listening to the interviews, and to learn a new skill, summarising! Summaries give a concise guide to the contents of an oral history interview, providing enough information to help researchers decide which interviews to listen to and which part of an interview is of particular relevance. Developing this skill has been helped by written guidance from the Oral History Department of the British Library and essentially from Emily Hewitt, Assistant Archivist working on Swansea University’s records and oral history collections. I was also grateful for a working knowledge of minute taking which has given me a grounding in taking pertinent notes from conversation.
The interviews share the memories and experiences of past students and staff of Swansea University over many decades. They open up a personal and fascinating insight into Swansea University and its connection to the wider world. I have ‘met’ such interesting characters, including
- Lord Morgan of Aberdyfi, former History Lecturer,
- Victor Stuart Batcup, former University Solicitor,
- George Truscott, Chemistry alumnus,
- Richard Startup, former Sociology Senior Lecturer,
- Robert Barnes, History alumnus who became the Director of Registry and Academic Registrar,
- Edward Rees, English alumnus.
I have particularly enjoyed hearing about how they remembered their time in Swansea, and how it often played an important part in their career development. Lord Morgan, who later became Principal of the University of Wales Aberystwyth, remarked that he became a ‘confident historian’ in Swansea and talks of how happy he was during his time working as a young lecturer [Lord Morgan of Aberdyfi interviewed by Sam Blaxland, Voices of Swansea University, 1920-2020, 2017. C0001/48]. Dr Richard Startup comments on his fast career progression at Swansea and especially that the nature of his department allowed for free thinking as an academic. George Truscott, now an Emeritus Professor at Keele with an impressive career in chemistry, was a man who as a student at Swansea ‘didn’t dream’ he would ever become an academic. He relates his career path to his ‘wonderful’ PhD training at Swansea and talks very fondly of his time as a student. Most interviewees mention the beautiful area the University is set as a positive. Edward Rees, refers to Swansea as Shangri-La to a young lad going away from home to university in 1950; this really brought a big smile to my face (Edward Rees interviewed by Sam Blaxland, Voices of Swansea University, 1920-2020, 2020. C0001/76).
The work creating these summaries continues, but, in a less restricted world, I can now look back and feel fortunate to have undertaken this work. We have all had to adjust to working at home at a time when interaction with others has been limited. I must admit that I haven’t missed my commute to campus, early starts, or the Costcutter queues at lunchtime, but I have missed enormously the office company (and homemade cake), chats to our researchers and the general social interaction of campus. The familiar voice of Sam Blaxland, who I had often talked to during his research visits to the Archives, and those of his interviewees, have, however, filled and brightened the quiet time. This has been invaluable for its positive effect on my wellbeing, giving me some familiar and also very inspirational company whilst living alone – that and our daily Archives’ team Zoom meetings of course. I’m now very skilled in the art of formal pyjama wearing!
As restrictions lift I would like to share the thought provoking words of one interviewee looking back on his life,
‘In summary, I’d love to do it all again and I wouldn’t change a thing.’
(George Truscott interviewed by Sam Blaxland, Voices of Swansea University, 1920-2020, 2018. C0001/63)
Thankfully I now know that an archives assistant can be very useful working from home. Feeling lucky to have carried out the work I have during lockdown, I wouldn’t change a thing – well maybe I would have eaten less chocolate, but c’est la vie…
Stephanie Basford-Morris
Archives Assistant