The National Archives

Today I went to the National Archives as part of my job for the Westminster Archives. The World War I project I have helped to research is coming together, and we spent today taking digital photos of the original documents. These will appear in the education packet that is distributed to the local Westminster school districts. Fun and exciting, no?
Spending the day at the National Archives was pretty cool, even if we were only taking digital pictures the entire time. To begin with, I officially have an ID for the Archives that is good for three years. Somehow I managed to look like a 40 year old librarian in my photo - hott. After acquiring a Reader's Ticket (the ID), came the surprisingly difficult process of locating which documents needed to be ordered so that the other interns and I could look at the originals. I swear I felt like such a dolt. I think my face was a giant question mark the entire time. By the end of the day I did get to see some of the documents that I needed to see, though I am by no means done. Least to say, a few more trips to the National Archives will be in my future very soon. Not that I'm complaining mind you - this place is Sweet. It's HUGE and houses more documents than ever be read in a lifetime, including one of the original signed copies of the Declaration of Independence and one of only 3 surviving original Magna Cartas. And it has a coffee shop. Beat that.

One of the documents concerning Private Thomas Highgate, the first British soldier to be shot at dawn for desertion during WWI. He is currently my pet project for the Westminster Archives. Very interesting story, very sad. Below is his will.

The Naked Bike Race and Terry Jones

Having experienced living in London for a few weeks, I have to say that this city will offer up entertainment for every sort. Two weeks ago my friends and I attended the Annual International Naked Bike Race, who consists of, you guessed it, naked people riding bikes. And they were. Naked that is. See video below for confirmation.


Supposedly it's a protest against dependence on oil and what not, but I think people get more of kick out of the hedonistic thrill of being legally naked in public. Another great thing about London is that a place such as Hyde Park can go from being exclusively available to the aristocracy to hosting a protest in the buff.

This past Thursday I was also able to attend a lecture given by Terry Jones (of Monty Python fame) on 'Was Richard II Mad?' The lecture was not only entertaining but quite educational too. I had no clue that he was a serious historian, and it was nice to attend an event that was focused on history and not politics or economics. (Us, with Terry Jones)

And, to appease my little history dork soul, there was the past year's worth of Historian magazines, so I grabed half a dozen of those up pretty quickly. Nice tube reading material. I just finished an article entitled 'Daddy, What Did You Do in the Hundred Years War?' Oh yeah, I am that cool. It mentioned that one of the researchers on this project (about the military during the 100 years war) specialized some of his graduate work studying the military under Richard II from 1388-1389. With a job description like that how can you not love academics?

How working at the Archives lands me at the Chelsea Football Club

The Westminster Archives runs a program for year 5 and year 6 students that gets students to study World War II via football (soccer). One of the big thrills for the kids is a visit to the Chelsea Football Club, where they get to tour the stadium, meet a real Chelsea Pensioner, and meet the co-Author and illustrator of the book Billy the Kid, of which the program is based around. As one of the head co-ordinators intern, it's a pretty decent way to spend the day. I help usher the kids from one part of the program to the next, get a free lunch, and as much coffee as I can drink. My professor was quite jealous when he heard where I get to spend part of my week; if only I was into football. This experience has made me realize though that if I'm going to survive a year in England, I'm going to have to pick a team and start watching football. I think my judging criteria will consist of who has the hottest players. This method has worked well in the past...

The CFC Stadium

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon

(Hyde Park)

Today we went to Hyde Park for a picnic, and couldn't have asked for a better day. For perhaps the first time since we've been here there wasn't a cloud in the sky. At home an 80 degree day wouldn't have been that bad, but for some reason 80 degrees feels like the high 90s in London. I personally think it has to do with conditioning and the lack of AC; the Brits just don't know what to do with warm weather when they are quite comfortable in the 60s! I was assured during orientation that a gross examination of the weather was one sure sign of becoming British. I think I just proved their point...

(Casey is whining that he doesn't want his picture taken, but Pam's all smiles)

Honestly though Hyde Park is gorgeous, and had I remembered to bring a book with me I could have layed in the sun all day. One of the best parts was the angry arabic that we could hear coming through a loudspeaker across the field. Through the two hours or so that we were there the crowd in that corner intensified to practically a mob. I would have like to have understood what was being said - the crowd seemed quite enthralled.

Next we headed off to the National Portrait Gallery, which was very cool. There were a lot of dead white kings up on the walls wearing more impressive high heels than I'll ever likely get the chance to wear. One of my favorites was George III, because he pulled off looking oh so sheak in endagered fur. Oh to be a Hanoverian King.

(George III)

The National Portrait Gallery is slightly different than the American version in DC. For one, George Washington gets a wall to himself in the states, whereas in London he gets a 1 foot x 1 foot headshot and a description which gives equal recognition to his role in the French & Indian war as it does to his role as 1st President of the United States. There is something to be said for wandering from room to room where the history on the walls stretches out over centuries.

Outside the National Gallery there was a Korean festival being held called Dana. We stopped to watch one of the performances, which involved these huge xylophone-esque intstruments that were played via ping pong paddles. The music though different was very good, and the performers were excellent. There were two women playing the xylophone-esque instruements who had more defined arm muscles than Madonna. All in all not a bad way to spend the day.

Working at the Archives

This summer I will be interning at the City of Westminster Archives, and already I am discovering that this is a hip place to be. Well, for a dorky history major, it's a hip place to be. My first day there I was shown a document issued in 1592 by Elizabeth I, containing an intact royal seal much like the one above. Besides being beyond cool and extremely rare, the detail in the seal was really very good for being made of beeswax and having survived 516 years. The document was written in Latin or else I would also be waxing poetically as to the information the document contained - something to do with land I believe. It is a somewhat surreal experience to have contact with the same documents countless people throughout history have been in contact with. It lends a little intimacy to the study of history that textbooks are very much lacking.

The Archives themselves house three plus floors of documents, records, maps, seals, images and much more, and staffed by a wonderfully nice group of people. My first day we had a conversation that began with Queen Ann, dived into the Stuarts for a bit, touched upon the Mad Hanoverian king and ended with an animated discussion of Queen Elizabeth II, British politics, and the likelihood of Camilla becoming Queen. Tomorrow I begin an inventory in the very cold storage rooms - so much for summer clothing!

Living in London

Living in London is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I had assumed London would be a European version of New York City, but it's really more like a free for all of neighborhoods and boroughs jammed together in any which way. Here I was expecting sky scrapers at every turn and instead I get this lovely view out my kitchen window. I say kitchen window, but it's also the dinning room window, the library window, and the hallway window. Another great tidbit about living in a major city - space is at a premium. My flat this summer makes my freshman dorm room look rather luxurious.

Living in a place where I can cook my meals, take a shower, and write this blog all within a five foot area is worth it when my daily commute is almost like a site seeing tour. They just do not have fun old school buildings like this one back in my college town. Speaking of cool sites: The London Bridge, Parliament, and the Victoria & Albert Museum .

Unfortunatly our three hour panoramic tour of London was on a very overcast day - at least it didn't rain. Besides not speaking the language (there are enough differences, trust me), dealing with different currency, crossing the street so that you're alive at the other side, and attempting not to stick out as too much of a foreigner, settling into London has gone smoother than expected. We were even stopped and asked directions the other day! Now we just need to gain enough experience to back up our answers, although I'm sure the bloke figured out where he was going eventually.