Calling For Volunteers!

GSA currently has two exciting opportunities to contribute to work on our WW1 projects

GSA’s WW1 Roll of Honour research project has recently been completed. We are now working on a project to research individuals who were involved in Home Front activities during the First World War, with a view to creating a Home Front memorial as a partnership piece to the Roll of Honour.

 We would like 2 people to volunteer 1 day a week for 12 weeks in the first instance, starting in July.

We are looking for enthusiastic, reliable and trustworthy individuals with an interest in history, WW1 and/or the history of GSA and its students and staff. You will have some experience of conducting research, good communication skills and excellent attention to detail.

The placements will involve researching GSA students and staff who were at the School between 1914-1918, using material from GSA’s archives such as our student registers, prospectuses and annual reports from the early 20th century, as well as other resources such as publications and the internet. We’d then like you to compile short biographies for these students and staff, which will be added to our online catalogue. Please take a look at our blog for information about the research conducted so far: https://gsaarchives.net/blog/

Page from a GSA Annual Report from the First World War Period, c1915, (Archive Reference GSAA/GOV/1)
Page from a GSA Annual Report from the First World War Period, c.1915, (Archive Reference GSAA/GOV/1)

This is a great opportunity for those of you who’d like to gain more experience of working with original archive material and conducting archival research. Full training will be provided and you will learn how to undertake this type of research, how to use the resources available, how to handle the material properly, how to use Archon collections management software, and how to compile biographies. There will also be opportunities to disseminate your research via presentations/talks and via our blog.

The placements will be based at our premises at The Whisky Bond in Glasgow: http://www.thewhiskybond.co.uk/

It is envisaged that an induction morning will be held on Thursday 29th June and that volunteers should be available to start the following week (week commencing 3rd July).

If you are interested in applying please send a covering letter and CV (including contact details for two referees and your general availability i.e. Mondays or Tuesdays) to Michelle Kaye, Collections Development Officer, m.kaye@gsa.ac.uk  by 5pm on Sunday 11th June.