Research Skills Innovation Grant Completion / Final report

Research Skills Innovation Grant
Completion / Final report
Please complete this report within one month of the end of your project, and email it, along with any
additional materials/appendices, to [email protected]
Project Title: PG Training Programme – Studying Early Modern France: Archives, Texts, Images
School (Department): School of Modern Languages
Date / time period of project: October-December 2015
1. Brief description of project (50-100 words):
My training programme responded to the needs of postgraduate students at British universities working
on early modern France in a range of disciplines. They are required to deal with the complex organization
of French archives, read manuscripts in specifically French handwriting styles and examine a variety of
French source materials—both written and visual—that are not always easy to find and process.
Archival training offered by British universities, though useful, often proves too general and broadranging to help students gaining skills in these areas. My training programme aimed to address this gap
by providing specialist research training in the use and understanding of early modern French sources,
while also focusing on the interdisciplinary character of archival research in France more generally.
2. Project outcomes (300 words) (What development activity was implemented and how successful was
it in achieving its goals? This description may be included in the St Leonard’s postgraduate newsletter.)
Experts in the field, drawn from various disciplines and schools, shared practical advice on the different
aspects of studying early modern France. The first session ("Visiting and Plundering French Archives" led
by Dr. Julia Prest and Prof. Guy Rowlands, School of Modern Languages and History) explained at what
stage in your PhD research to undertake archival research, how to prepare for a visit to a French archive
and how to make the most of your time there. The second session ("The French Book World in the
Renaissance" led by Dr. Graeme Kemp and Dr. Shanti Graheli, School of History) introduced the core
issues in the study of the early modern book world in France. Participants were invited to examine a
French imprint from the Library’s Special Collections and describe it independently, using bibliographical
resources as applicable. The third session ("Case Study: Sources for Art Exhibitions in Early Modern
Paris" led by Dr. Elsje van Kessel, School of Art History) concentrated on the fascinating task of working
with a variety of source materials, both written and visual. It took Parisian art exhibitions as an example of
the challenges that come with the reconstruction and analysis of fleeting historical events.
The fourth session ("Making the Archive: Storing and Retrieving your Sources" led by Dr. Sarah
Easterby-Smith, School of History) enabled participants to make informed decisions about how best to
store and organize records collected from French archives. It discussed a wide range of computer-based
systems (e.g. Zotero, iPhoto) and posed the question how effective these are when faced with multiple
languages and archaic spellings. The fifth, and final, session ("Visit to the University of St Andrews
Special Collections" led by Gabriel Sewell, Head of Special Collections and Assistant Director of Library
Services, and Rachel Hart, Deputy Head of the Collections) was held at the Martyrs Kirk Research
Library. Students demonstrated and evaluated the skills gained during the programme on the basis of the
French imprints they requested earlier from the Special Collections, which were on view throughout the
session.
3. Any follow-up from the project planned?
Yes
No X (At least not for the time being)
If yes, please give details:
4. Additional resources produced in connection with the project (e.g. feedback from participants,
training resources, website links, additional materials, etc and how it is being used.)
I have created an internet blog to communicate the tutors’ practical advice and students’ findings to a
broader audience of postgraduate and early career researchers (https://studyingemfrance.wp.standrews.ac.uk/). In the course of my training programme, I posted reviews of all five sessions with
hyperlinks to relevant secondary literature. Moreover, I wrote a guest post for Echoes from the Vault, the
blog from the University of St Andrews Special Collections, about the University's collection of early
modern French sources, a review of the programme’s final session at the Martyrs Kirk Research Library
(https://standrewsrarebooks.wordpress.com/2015/12/14/studying-early-modern-france-archives-textsimages-hands-on-workshop-in-special-collections/).
6. Tips/experience learnt from the project
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I learnt a lot about how best to advertise workshops for postgraduate students. Initially, I made my
training programme only available to those students working on the early modern period, but
quickly found out that it would also benefit people working in other research areas. By broadening
up the scope and appeal of my programme, I attracted more students than I would have done if I
would only have targeted at people working on early modern subjects.
I found it an enriching experience to work together with a variety of teachers from different schools
and disciplines. Prior to the programme’s first session, I held several conversations with the tutors
involved about their expertise and interests, and how best to organize their session accordingly.
Equally stimulating was engaging into discussions with fellow postgraduate students working in
various research areas. This facilitated the transfer of skills across a range of disciplines.
Finally, I found it a useful experience to collaborate with the secretaries of the School of Modern
Languages on issues of catering and the booking of college rooms. This made me very much
aware of the practical side of organizing workshops at a university.
7. Any additional comments or information regarding the project?
Please find several photos and the flyer for my training programme below.
8. If your project involved a postgraduate conference, we would appreciate photos of the event for
possible use in the St Leonard’s College newsletter, if you have any. Please include any photos with
your report.
I give permission for my photos to be used in the newsletter: Yes
No
Report submitted by: 10/01/2016
Date: 10/01/2016
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Session 2: The French Book World in the Renaissance led by Dr Graeme Kemp (l) and Dr Shanti Graheli.
Session 3: Case Study – Sources for Art Exhibitions in Early Modern Paris.
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Session 5: Visit to the University of St Andrews Special Collections.
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PG Training Programme
Studying Early Modern France: Archives, Texts, Images
October-December 2015, 2-4pm (Buchanan Building, room 306), St Andrews
About:
‘Studying Early Modern France: Archives, Texts, Images’ offers specialist research training
in the use and understanding of early modern French sources, while also focusing on the
interdisciplinary character of archival research in France more broadly. It is taught by experts
in the field. For more information, please contact Bram van Leuveren at [email protected].
Schedule:
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October 9 – Visiting and Plundering French Archives (Julia Prest and Guy Rowlands)
October 23 – The French Book World in the Renaissance (Graeme Kemp and Shanti Graheli)
November 6 – Case Study: Sources for Art Exhibitions in Early Modern Paris (Elsje van
Kessel)
November 20 – Making the Archive: Storing and Retrieving your Sources (Sarah EasterbySmith)
December 4 – Visit to the University Library’s Special Collections (Rachel Hart)
Admission:
Open to approx. 15 postgraduate students across the University of St Andrews working on
the early modern period (not necessarily on France).
Application:
Those interested in taking part should apply by 4 October 2015 by sending a request to
Bram van Leuveren at [email protected]. Please attach a brief abstract (100-200
words) of your research project.
Illustration: detail of Le Tapis Vert au moment de l’abattage des arbres hiver 1774-1775 dans les jardins de Versailles by Robert Hubert
(1777) © Versailles, Musée National du Château de Versailles.
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