Why have students enjoyed seminars at the Modern Records Centre?

It made archives less intimidating

A hands-on experience

A chance to look outside the 'canon'

It reminds us that it isn't just internet resources that are available

A nice break from normal seminars

It's grand being near primary sources

Sessions held at the Modern Records Centre can introduce students to the concept of using primary sources, provide guidance on how to undertake archival research, identify sources for academic work, and provide students with the confidence and skills to undertake their own independent research.

A survey of 10 groups of students who had attended seminars run by the Modern Records Centre revealed that:

94% had never previously visited an archive

Prior to their visit, 98% knew little or nothing about what the Modern Records Centre could offer

74% said that the session had made them more likely to visit the MRC for archive research

On being asked whether they had found the experience of looking at original sources interesting, 73% strongly agreed

We can provide and enable teaching in our seminar room and small meeting room - contact us to ask about hiring them.

 

What can we provide?

Introductory sessions

Usually an hour in length

A basic introduction to archival research and the Modern Records Centre

Includes hands-on look at archives relevant to your course

Optional look behind the scenes at the strongrooms

Tailor-made study sessions

Study sessions can be designed with complete flexibility to suit the needs of individual groups.

Sessions could include:

Analysis of particular archive sources, including consideration of their reliability, informational worth and ease of use

Series of student presentations on an archive source, or on a subject using examples from primary sources

Work towards a student-curated exhibition of archives

Study space

Hire our research space and use archives as part of your seminars