Cultural Heritage

Hannah Westall - Archivist and Curator

2019, the College’s 150th anniversary, was a spectacular year when our heritage collections took centre stage. The Archive in particular was showcased throughout the year as we reflected on the achievements of the College. Archival collections featured prominently on the 150th timeline website, the exhibition banners examining the College’s early years, and the self-guided tour of the College buildings.

Additionally the Archive underpinned many other 2019 projects, illustrating the importance of documenting our history. It was also recognised beyond the College: numerous items were loaned to Cambridge University Library’s exhibition, The Rising Tide: Women at Cambridge since 1869. On display from October 2019 to March 2020, it explored the lived experience of women at Cambridge, the fight for equal educational rights, and the careers of some of the women who shaped the institution and the wider world.

The Lawrence Room also enjoyed a high profile this year with the publication of The Lawrence Room at Girton College. This collaborative book delves into the story of some of the objects in the museum and the changing ways in which they have been displayed and curated. ‘Secrets of the Lawrence Room’, a panel discussion hosted during the Girton150 Festival weekend, explored the book further. The panellists, Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern (former Mistress), Dr Dorothy Thompson (Life Fellow in Classics) and Frances Gandy (Life Fellow) spoke about their individual chapters. A spirited question session followed, with audience members expressing the hope that the Lawrence Room could develop further outreach activities and continue to make curatorship as transparent as possible. The Lawrence Room also featured in The Rising Tide exhibition lectures hosted by the University Library: Dr Hazel Mills (the College Historian), Imogen Gunn (Girton College Museum Consultant) and Dorothy Thompson spoke about the women in and behind the collections.

The Girton150 Festival saw the unveiling of a new portrait in the People’s Portraits exhibition—‘The Boxer’ by David Caldwell. David spoke engagingly about his subject, Anthony, who at the time of the portrait was keen to return to peak physical fitness and get back in the ring. This was followed by a powerful and thought-provoking talk by Simeon Barclay, Artist-in-Residence 2018–19, about the portrayal of black men, particularly in sport, in the media. Portraiture was also explored generally at the Festival with the panel discussion, Representing People: Portraits of all kinds. Chaired by Frances Gandy, the panellists were portrait painter Daphne Todd; photographer Ingrid Pollard; sculptor Paul de Monchaux; and political cartoonist Martin Rowson. The session aimed to compare and contrast different approaches in methodology and purpose in the art of depicting people. The audience was intrigued to learn that you don’t have to like your subject to depict that person successfully.

‘The Boxer’ and Artist David Caldwell

Dr Ben Griffin delivers his talk on ‘The Rising Tide: Women at Cambridge’

Dr Tim Pestell talks Vikings

Celebrations continued at the September 2019 Roll of Alumni weekend. The Library talk was given by Dr Ben Griffin (History Fellow), who spoke about co-curating The Rising Tide and explained that it does not focus solely on great women but looks at patterns of inclusion and exclusion right up to the present day. The Lawrence Room talk was given by Dr Tim Pestell (AngloSaxon, Norse and Celtic, 1987), Senior Curator of Archaeology, Norwich Castle Museum. He looked at new evidence for the Viking Age in East Anglia and explored ways in which archaeology is stimulating Viking research as more artefacts are discovered, particularly by metal detecting.

The annual People’s Portrait reception saw the unveiling by Anthony Connolly of his portrait of Dr Victoria Bateman. Victoria, Fellow of Gonville and Caius College, spoke about how she uses her body in art and protest to challenge the way women are judged, to fight for women’s bodily autonomy, and to campaign against Brexit. A lively discussion followed, raising questions about the history of the female nude and the male gaze. The Gardens talk, Girton’s Orchard: its history and importance in a regional context was given by Dr Roland Randall (Life Fellow in Geography) and Paul Read, Co-Chair of Orchards East. They spoke about the history of orchards (including Girton’s orchard, first planted in the late 19th century) and their importance for insect and bird conservation. Paul also talked about his newly completed project, a comprehensive online catalogue for apple, plum, pear, and cobnut identification (www.fruitid.com).

L-R Dr Victoria Bateman, the new portrait, Anthony Connolly

The College’s wider commitment to art was also celebrated this year. Simeon Barclay’s end-of-residency exhibition, Poetic Dissonance, has been on display in College. His black and white photographs reflect on the social life, ceremonies, rituals and traditions that give Girton its distinctive identity. We were sorry to see Simeon leave but pleased to welcome Luke Burton as Artist-in-Residence for 2019–20. Behind the scenes we continue the work of cataloguing, preserving, restoring and displaying our collections. In particular the People’s Portraits exhibition was rejuvenated this year with a new hanging scheme. Altogether 27 portraits were rehung down the College’s central ‘Cloister corridor’ and in and around the new café, thus bringing the exhibition into the very heart of the College. It can now be seen and enjoyed by all who visit the College.

Artist in Residence 2018-19, Simeon Barclay’s end of year exhibition ‘Poetic Dissonance’

This has been a busy and exciting year for our heritage collections. We look forward to continuing to promote our collections in the upcoming year, and we hope to welcome you to our events in 2020.