Issue 1, April 2011 the Manchester Historian The students are revolting! A look at student protest, past and present Current Affairs, p.3

Manchester’s secret past A behind the scenes tour of your city Local History, p.6

Ancient Rome Pompeii’s brothels and an imfamous emperor Feature, pp.7 - 10

Manchester’s Whitworth Hall The Manchester What do you really know Museum Uncovering the truth about your university? behind THAT crab A guide to historic buildings and Reviews, p.14 lecturers University History, p.4 the Manchester Historian 2.

Contents Editor’s Note 3. Student Protest, a history Juliette Donaldson, Florence Holmes, Current Affairs Frankie Williams

Hello and welcome to the brand new history 4. Profiles on Samuel Alexander departmental newspaper; The Manchester Historian. & A.J.P Taylor We’re really excited about this new project, which will hopefully continue long after the three of us have University History graduated! Essentially, we wanted to establish a History community, and use the paper as a tool to promote stronger ties between students, staff, the 5. The Peterloo Massacre & the university and the city itself. This is, after all, your meeting of Rolls & Royce home for the next few years, so you might as well know something about its past!

6. Map of Manchester’s secret This paper is an entirely student led effort, with past undergrads from all three years involved – see it as a platform for you to share your interests with the entire Spotlight on your city history department!

If Manchester’s long and turbulent past tickles your fancy, take a look at pages 5 and 6 to find out more. 7. The colourful life of Emperor For you Ancient Historians out there, this issue’s Nero feature section is on the Romans, so put down your library books and dive into a world of deranged emperors and secret sexuality on pages 7 to 10. We 8-9. A history of Pompeii have a staff section containing an interview with the legendary Dr Max Jones, as well as research 10. Ten things you didn’t know updates on what your lecturers are really doing outside of our contact hours! There’s also a fantastic about the Romans reviews section, giving you the low down on all things Feature history; from the local Manchester museum to the Oscar winning “The King’s Speech”. And if that’s not enough to set your historical heart racing, we’ve also included a procrastination puzzle page to keep you 11-12. Interview with Dr Max amused when you’re in the library “doing work”!

Jones & staff research updates So, what are you waiting for? Get stuck in! Staff section If you want to get involved, or just fancy a chat about any of the articles, 13. Noticeboard contact us on: [email protected] [email protected] 14-15. Reviews [email protected] Love,

16. Procrastination Puzzle Page Juliette, Florence and Frankie 3. the Manchester Historian Current Affairs

student protestors and the harsh measures used by The Power of Protest police to restrain them. However, this brute force pales in comparison with that used in the past. Most A look at student protest throughout the ages. famous is the massacre of thousand of students Juliette Donaldson, Florence Holmes peacefully gathered in Tiananmen Square in 1989 & Frankie Williams by the Chinese authorities. Less well known is the case of Kostas Georgakis, a Greek student who, in protest against the dictatorial regime of Georgios You say cut back we say fight back! In the face of Papadopoulos, set himself on fire in 1970, education cuts and rising tuition fees you may becoming a burning emblem for the revolutionary have found yourself chanting these words in the cause. In the same year in America, four students nationwide marches that took place at the end were shot dead by the National Guard who had of last year. The storming of Millbank Tower by been deployed to dampen the protests at Kent State protestors will undoubtedly go down in history University in Ohio, where students protesting against as an iconic moment of government defiance and US involvement in the Vietnam War had taken to police brutality, fitting in with the worldwide arson and looting. Two of the students killed were revolutionary fervour of the past twelve not protestors, but simply caught in the cross fire as months. Students the world over, from here in they walked to class. Manchester to those risking their lives in North Africa, have been locked in conflict with their For as long as there have been students there has respective governments in protest against austerity been student protest. In 1229 the first university and tyranny. activists took to the streets of Paris to protest the deaths of a number of fellow students. However, But how does this fit in an historical context? throughout history student revolts have not always Although it is common knowledge that students had such noble motivation. The well named 1766 and revolution go hand in hand in modern events, Great Butter Rebellion saw students at Harvard what you may not realise is that in protesting you University walking out in protest against the poor are continuing a tradition of student activism that quality of butter in the University canteen. The has been almost a thousand years in the making. butter was soon upgraded.

The start of the movement in Britain is This year has already seen revolution in the considered to be marked in 1967, where the first Middle East, North Africa as well as the marches right sit-in was held at the London School of here in Britain, all upheld broadly by the students Economics over the unfair suspension of two themselves. But what of the future of student protest? students. Its success was followed by a national Earlier this year a fresh generation was seen to take anti-racism rally held in the same year, attended by interest in politics, quoting Dumbledore, rather than over 100,000 protestors. From the 1960’s onwards, Che Guevara, as their icon. The German state of issues including the Vietnam War and racism Hesse recently revoked its tuition fees in response to became the focal point for student activism. nationwide unrest, proving the continued strength This tradition continued into the late 1980’s and of student activism. The melting pot of culture, class early 1990’s, where students joined the public in and political views at university will forever ensure taking to the streets several times against the that the words ‘student’ and ‘protest’ will always be introduction of poll tax by the Thatcher intertwined. government. The largest of these protests, on the 31 March 1990 in London, saw mass rioting in Whitehall and Trafalgar square, with approximately 200,000 protestors demonstrating their resentment toward the tax.

Headlines on the recent demonstrations in London focussed on the thuggish antics of the the Manchester Historian 4. University history

producing some of the most Behind the bust influential philosophical works of the twentieth century. A closer look at the life of the SAHC namesake, Samuel Alexander. He became a legendary professor Samantha Brill at Manchester (I hope you notice the connection here!), Humanities students have three things in won an Order of Merit, common. The first thing is a vague awareness of a became a prominent Zionist bronze bust in the Samuel Alexander building. The and feminist, and left all his money to universities, other two things: procrastination and an urge to not having troubled to get married. giggle at the word ‘bust’. This column is about the first thing. The statue is of Samuel Alexander, by And why the bust in the humanities foyer? Here Epstein. I know what you’re thinking: if only I are my theories: first, of course, because it’s knew all about Alexander’s life and work! valuable/interesting (likely); second, because there was nowhere else to store it (possible/ Fortunately for you, I googled him. He was worth it. unlikely); and third, so that Alexander’s intimidating Alexander impresses: a broke Australian Jew who overachievement (which we now know all about) came to England in 1877, who then managed to would inspire procrastinating students to stop get a scholarship to an anti-semitic Oxford, before laughing at the word ‘bust’, and get some work done.

Manchester’s most famous lecturer

An examaniation of the life of Britain’s most controversial historian, A.J.P. Taylor. Manchester University and Magdalen College, Oxford Aditya Iyer in 1936 and 1938 respectively, where students would actually arrive an hour early so that they could get a AJP Taylor, born in Lancashire on 25 March seat in the packed auditorium. 1906, was undoubtedly one of the finest historians of all time, and should be treated by He received virtually every honour that the academic the modern day undergraduate as a godlike world could bestow upon him, and yet maintained an being on par with the Horrible History series. infamous independence that rankled all of his peers and government (with actions like espousing, at the Perhaps the most admirable trait of Taylor’s height of the Cold War, an Anglo-Soviet alliance). was his abstinence from the almost perverse delight that most historians appear to derive from His works were both informative and amusing, with making their essays as incomprehensible as possible Taylor drawing upon his journalistic experience as (a sad fact which often leads many bemused students a foreign affairs correspondent for the Manchester to seek the comfort of the bottle); Taylor’s clear and Guardian to combine historical analysis with humour narrative driven historical analyses and articles were and wit; a winning combination. In short, he was renowned for conveying complicated and often undoubtedly the most influential and important controversial ideas easily. British historian of the 20th Century.

The Marxist influenced scholar enjoyed his status as Want to find out more about Taylor? Turn to page 15 being “The People’s Historian”, a title gained from his for a review of his lecture series. extensive television interviews and documentaries on the BBC as well as legendary lectures delivered at 5. the Manchester Historian Spotlight on your city

accident. He brought experience in the When Rolls met Royce automobile trade to the table, having established one of the first car dealerships in Britain in 1903. A local event with a global impact. Royce was a founder and director of F.H. Royce and Jemma Gibson Company, based in Hulme, making electrical fittings, then dynamos and cranes before deciding to start making cars. Take a walk up the steps to the Midland Hotel on Peter Street and look to your right. There you’ll At their meeting in Manchester, Rolls was impressed see a sculpture and plaque dedicated to the most by the three cars Royce had made and in December significant meeting to have ever taken place there. agreed to take all of the cars he made, which would The list of celebrities, worthies and even royalty be branded ‘Rolls-Royce’. The combination of Rolls’s who have frequented the Midland goes on and on, wealth and Royce’s engineering expertise proved but the visit by Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick a success, and in 1906 Rolls-Royce Limited was Royce in 4th May 1904 undoubtedly marked the established. start of a new era for the automotive industry. It was here that they decided to make ‘the best car in Today, Rolls - Royce still remains a symbol of British the world’. industry and luxury, despite being owned by BMW. Beyond the badge on the cars, the company bears Rolls was an aviator and balloonist, later gaining little resemblance to that with its roots in infamy as the first Britain to be killed in a flying Manchester and that little meeting in May 1904.

By the afternoon confusion and conflict between the The Peterloo protestors and the cavalrymen led to a charge on the people. The protestors who were, in Henry Hunt’s Massacre words, “armed with no other weapon but that of a self-approving conscience” suffered 11 deaths, and One of the most iconic events in the battle for upwards of 400 injured participants in the process. universal suffrage occurred in Manchester. Sophia White & Jonathon Holt LEGACY: OVERVIEW: Historians acknowledge that Peterloo was hugely The Peterloo Massacre was the escalation of public influential in ordinary people winning the right the friction following the Napoleaonic Wars. vote, it highlighted the desire of the ordinary man to be active in politics, led to the rise of the Chartist The massacre was given the name ‘Peterloo’ in Movement, and also resulted in the establishment of an ironic comparison to the Battle of Waterloo, the Manchester Guardian newspaper. intended to mock the soldiers who attacked unarmed civilians.

It occured during a period of immense political tension and mass protests, where fewer than 2% of the population had the vote.

THE EVENT: On 16th August 1819 anywhere from 60,000 to 80,000 protestors congregated to hear famed orator Henry Hunt speak in St. Peter’s Field. Hunt advocated parliamentary reform; a desire shared by the urban poor. the Manchester Historian 6. Spotlight on your city Manchester’s hidden history A look at our city’s historical hotspots Alice McArdle, David Gardner & Anthony Burgess Hannah Hyndman Famous for being the author of the dystopian novel A Clockwork Orange, Burgess grew up in Moss Side. In 2008, Top of the Pops The Times placed him number 17 on The very first edition their list of ‘The 50 Greatest Authors was broadcast from a Since 1945’. converted church studio The Football League 1888 in Rusholme on New The Royal Buildings in Piccadilly Gardens, which are Year’s Day 1964. currently home to Burger King and Primark, witnessed the formal foundation of the football league. The league was formerly named and created in the Royal Buildings where 12 clubs were organised into the first league.

The world’s first programmable computer 1948 Commonwealth Games 2002 Created at the Victoria University of The main venue for the Games Manchester, the computer would not Did was the City of Manchester resemble what we consider one to be Stadium which was purpose built today. It was the basis from which you for the Games and hosted all the the Ferranti Mark 1 was built, which athletics events and the opening was the world’s first commercially ceremonies. The stadium formed available computer. know..? the centrepiece of an area known as Sportcity. The Aquatics Centre was also purpose built for the games. Manchester Ship Canal Built from 1887-1894, at a cost of £15 million (£1.27 billion as of today). Before the canal was built goods had to be transported by road or rail to Liverpool docks where tolls and harbour dues were reducing profitability. The canal’s creation started a rivalry between the cities.

IRA bombing 1996 The Free Trade Hall The IRA detonated a bomb in the Manchester It was once a political centre Arndale Shopping Centre, injuring 200 people. The but in June 1976 The Sex bomb destroyed the area which is now occupied by Pistols played an influential Selfridges and Marks and Spencers. The bombing led gig to a crowd of about to regeneration of the nearby area with the creation of 40 people who included a The Printworks and the Triangle. young Morrisey and both the future Joy Division and Buzzcocks, who would put Chetham’s library the Manchester music scene The revolutionary Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels met on the map. one another in the alcove of its reading room in July and August 1845. 7. the Manchester Historian The Romans

This temper is evident in his personal life: murdering both his mother and mistress. He seemed determined Hero or Zero? to live a life of excess but it seems necessary to ask was Emperor Nero is as infamous for his brutal measures he really a genuinely bad creature or a simply victim of and unstable mental health as his politics. But what circumstance and blood line? about the man himself? The Manchester Historian sets out to uncover the man behind the madness. Although mainly remembered for his cruelty, it ought Eleanor Johnson not to be forgotten that Nero inspired architects and writers during his reign. Nero was very much a “What an artist dies in me?” The famous last words supporter of culture and artists – his last words of Emperor Nero: an individual so convinced of his suggest he considered himself one of them. talents that he thought his death was a tragedy for Certainly, Nero’s involvement in architecture within mankind – not a man known for his modesty. Ancient Rome was one of his few triumphs.

He may have been convinced of his own worth but The people of the Roman Empire could only deal historians have crowned him the dubious honour of with Nero’s cruelty for so long and in the year 68 Nero “worst emperor of all time”. His dramatic last words faced a rebellion caused by his tax policies. In the face befit an individual who led an extraordinary life – of a rebellion he could not defeat Nero committed whether he was causing fires, ordering his mother’s suicide. Emperor Nero will always be remembered for demise (which he managed on the third attempt), his egotistical nature and scandalous personal life. kicking his pregnant wife to death or winning In the end it is his vices and scandal which makes him chariot competitions he didn’t even participate in – it immortal. quickly becomes apparent how Nero earned his bad reputation.

Probably one of the more humorous elements of Nero’s personality was the fact that he fancied himself as a singer. As he became more and more interested in music he became convinced that he himself had musical qualities of genius. So blinded by his own narcissism, he was sure he was Rome’s answer to Pavarotti. And (unfortunately for Rome) Nero’s attitude was if you’ve got it flaunt it, and boy did he flaunt it! The saying “the show must go on” springs to mind when thinking of Nero’s performances, he continued through, what he considered minor interruptions, such as earthquakes.

Nero was a regular on the competition circuit, de- spite his performances often resembing something close to a bad X-factor audition. Some audience members even pretended to die so they could be Did you know... although Nero famously carried out without offending the delicate Nero. ‘fiddled while Rome burned’ this is in fact just a rumour, with the fiddle not being invented for The term “hot tempered” is an understatement to say another thousand years. the least, he was alleged to have burned down parts of Rome and blamed it on the Christians – a fiery temperament indeed. the Manchester Historian 8. The Romans Pompeii; not so different Studying the relics of Pompeii has uncovered evidence providing not only a window into the past, but also a reflection of the present.

Steve Jones

When reading about history, it’s easy to forget about the ordinary person on the street. That is, slogan: ‘Not as good as Rome’s, still tops off a meal!’ unless you are looking at Pompeii. The perfectly The house of a trading company has written on preserved Roman ruin contains so much evidence the floor at the entrance ‘Salve, Lucru’, translating of normal people doing the things we still do to ‘welcome, money’. Businesses seem to have every day that it reveals a past not so different from had a lot more self-deprecating humour about our present. them than they do today. I doubt Primark would write on its floor, ‘welcome, cheap child labour’. Consider that famous fresco of the man and woman. They’re probably recently married. The On the exterior of the House of Menander, there is man is holding a rolled up parchment - it bares graffiti that reads ‘Satura was here on September 3rd’. striking resemblance to a graduation picture such It’s such a stereotypically youthful thing to do, and as we will have at the end of university. It looks still goes on all the time today. Have a look on the just like a family photo you might have on your web for the slightly ruder, brothel-related snippets. mantelpiece. When you read about things like ‘peasants’ and There are also wine jars that have been found that ‘slaves’, they can mash together in your mind as an bear the pun Vesuvinum, combining the word indistinguishable mass. Pompeii provides a fantastic Vesuvius with vinum, for wine. Kind of like KP eyeglass on the individual’s life in the Roman Empire, peanut’s slogan, ‘pure snacktivity’. You almost and it turns out that we had a lot in common all expect the wine jar to have a Sainsbury’s basics-esque along. A brief history of Pompeii

24th August 79 AD Vesuvius erupts, obliterating Pompeii and 600/700 BC its sister city Herculaneum. The eruption Pompeii founded by released a hundred thousand times the the Oscans thermal energy emitted by the Hiroshima bombing

Pompeii prospers, in the 1599 AD ensuring centuries, with After centuries forgotten population reaching 20,000 under rubble, Pompeii is by 79 AD unearthed accidentally 9. the Manchester Historian

The “Phallacy” of Pompeii The eruption of Pompeii is one of classical civilisation’s most documented events. This It is perhaps unsurprising that the only definite article uncovers the secret sexuality embedded brothel in Pompeii is also its most popular tourist in Roman society attraction. But the reality perhaps does not fit with Michael Butterworth our preconceptions and is much less glamorous, with just a few rooms, small and dark, virtually When the excavation of Pompeii began in earnest prison cells. in the 18th Century alongside the various wonders uncovered came a number of artefacts that greatly While the modern reaction to the erotic in Pompeii, worried the gentleman archeologists. one of horror coupled with fascination, points to our own preoccupations, these images do provide some They had uncovered a great number ofinsight into the Roman world. The preeminence of extraordinary and risqué sexual images, phallic phallic imagery coupled with images of male fantasy, objects ranging from carvings to wind chimes. point to a society dominated not by sex, but by men. Many of these items were deemed inappropriate for display and this situation was formalized when In many of the artefacts, and in much of the the ‘Secret Museum’ was established in 1819 in architecture, these images portray an erotic world Naples, locking explicit items together and away geared for the pleasure of men, sex is power and from ‘unsuitable’ persons. through its image what it is clearly displayed is the male dominance of the sexual sphere and the The segregation and prohibiting of thesemasculine nature of Rome. Pompeii offers many finds in reality re-eroticized these artefacts wonderful insights into the Roman world and divorcing them from their original context. This has indeed our own. perhaps helped to fuel our modern conception of Roman society as sex obsessed and even debauched. For more information on this topic I recommend However, perhaps this reflects more our own the wonderful Radio 4 programme ‘Secret Museum’ societal preoccupations than it gives a true picture available through BBC online. of Roman life.

Present day 1860 AD Pompeii is one of the most popular tourist Systematic excavations begin attractions in Italy, attracting around 2.6 million on Pompeii visitors a year

1995 AD Area around Vesuvius declared a national park the Manchester Historian 10. The Romans 10 things you never knew about the Romans

Alexis Pantelides, Florence Holmes, Juliette Donaldson and Frankie Williams

The Romans used powdered mouse brains as toothpaste. I.

Julius Caesar gave us our modern calendar of 12 months. Originally there were only 10 months, running from March to December, but then they added two more. This meant that II. September (from the Latin for seven) became the 9th month. October (from the Latin for eight) is now the 10th. This is shown also in November (nine) and December (10).

III. Sometimes, if Roman parents didn’t like their children, they sold them to be slaves.

Emperor Caligula (AD 12 – AD 41) made his favourite horse Incitatus not only a Roman I V. citizen but also a member of the Senate.

The Romans needed solid foundations for a lighthouse at the mouth of the River Tiber V. near Rome. So they sank a ship loaded with lentils and built the lighthouse on top of it.

The Romans started the marital tradition of dressing brides in white and the groom VI. carrying the wife over the threshold of their new home.

Alongside their more famous ingenuity, the Romans also invented: caesarians, the postal VII. system, street lighting, steam engines and umbrellas.

A vomitorium was not a room where Romans vomited in order to continue eating. VIII. It was the passage through which the crowds could enter and leave the amphitheatre.

While the toga was predominantly associated with free-born Roman citizens; it was also IX. worn by prostitutes; who were deemed unfit to wear the traditional female garment; the stolas.

When the Romans built Hadrian’s wall, a moat was built not only around the outside of the wall, but also around the inside. The exact purpose of the inside moat has never been X. determined, as only a few years later the Romans decided to fill it in. This cost them a million days of pointless labour. 11. the Manchester Historian Staff Section Interview with Dr Max Jones Katerina Vlkova & Christopher How did you end up coming to MacMahon Manchester?

Dr. Max Jones is a senior lecturer in Modern I went through a series of posts at Cambridge - I was History at the University of Manchester. His research a post-graduate student, then I had a junior research and teaching focuses primarily on nineteenth- and fellowship and then a teaching fellowship, as Director twentieth-century British history, with particular of Studies at Christ’s College. I’d just had my contract interest, among others, in heroism, gender and renewed at Cambridge for another 3 years, but didn’t masculinity; monarchy, empire and national identity; want to get trapped in that particular job where you’re and exploration and technology. We interviewed very much a teaching workhorse. I’m thankful a post Max to uncover what history means to him. at Manchester came up at the right time. People often don’t appreciate how few jobs are available When did your interest in history begin? in academia; each year there are only a handful of positions that come up in your field, so your choices I think my love of history came from my family really; are very limited. We tell our PhD students not to my dad was very interested in history, and studied be too picky! You have to apply for everything and history at University. This interest also came from the seize opportunities when they present themselves. combination of being read stories and visiting places I wanted to go to a university that had a dynamic of historical interest. From my childhood, I remember research culture, and Manchester was attractive as the loving being read stories that had a context in history, department had a real strength in the sort of cultural such as the Greek myths or stories about the Vikings. history that I’m interested in. Manchester definitely We’d visit castles in Wales on holiday, such as Harlech seemed to have a real strength in this field, with a and Conway, while I was living in London. Although pioneering MA in Cultural History which is still in my academic life I’ve focused on modern history, going strong. my initial interest came from exciting adventure stories from earlier periods. Why do you think it’s so important that future generations continue to study Is that why you did the research on the history? British explorer, Captain Robert Falcon It’s always struck me that you cannot understand Scott, and his Antarctic mission? the world around you unless you understand where that world came from. Having some awareness of When my book about Captain Scott came out in 2003 history is an essential prerequisite for having some I did various interviews, and one of them asked me political awareness, and what you find is that in times to think about which books I’d enjoyed as a child. I of austerity and conflict such awareness rises. At the hadn’t really thought about it before, and made the moment we have very real and sharp disagreements connection between the stories I loved as a child about how to fund universities and what role the and why I was drawn to studying this mythic story state should play in education; these questions have of Scott of the Antarctic, which has a classic quest a history themselves. It is also essential to see the narrative structure. My kids are 8 and 11 now, and historical roots of the current unrest in Libya, the I’ve read them some of the books that were read to Middle-East and Palestine. There are global conflicts me and they’ve also really enjoyed them! More by and disagreements and to understand them, and accident than design, my interest in Scott has been certainly if you want to intervene in these conflicts, rejuvenated over the last 18 months by a series of you have to understand their history. There are many speaking invitations, not least to a conference on people who have read or been touched by Captain Antarctic visions in Tasmania. Scott’s story, and one of the aims of my research is to show how Captain Scott’s story was part of the broader history of the British empire. the Manchester Historian 12. Staff Section Staff News

Many History staff promote the value of history beyond the academy, and this page will let you know some of the things were up to outside the university.

In addition to teaching, all History staff engage in research and publication. Recent highlights include:

- Leif Jerram, Streetlife: The Untold History of Europe’s Twentieth Century (Oxford UP, 2011)

- Peter Gatrell, Free World? The Campaign to Save the World’s Refugees, 1956–1963 (Cambridge UP, 2011).

Frank Mort gave talks to the Sohemian Society and the Gays the Word Bookshop in January and February about his new book, Capital Affairs (Yale UP, 2010).

Chris Godden has been interviewed on the decline of the cotton industry for a new BBC Radio Manchester documentary on the city’s history, which will be broadcast in April.

Ana Carden Coyne gave a public lecture ‘Venus in Satin: Fashion, Dance and the Modern Erotic Body’ at the Sydney Festival in January. Google - Coyne “venus in satin” - to check out the MP3.

Max Jones appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live with Tony Livesey in March to chat about defining moments of the twentieth century. He is also currently working on a documentary about Scott of the Antarctic with the BBC.

Leif Jerram is on Radio 4’s Thinking Aloud on 6th April talking about how cities shape our lives in all sorts of ways we don’t realise. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer.

Charlotte Wildman attracted a large public audience to Withington Library in March to speak about ‘Women, Shopping and Citizenship in Manchester Between The Wars’. The talk was filmed by MA War, Culture & History student Daniel Harrison and History PhD student Ben Knowles. MA students on the WCH programme film documentaries, which will be screened at the Imperial War Museum – North in the autumn. Watch this space for further details!

Hannah Barker has been working hard on the Manchester City Council Strategy Group to promote the history of Manchester and its region. She’s on the committee which decides who gets a commemorative plaque.

Staff Trivia

How well do you know your lecturers? Test yourself with the trivia, and see that there’s more to academia then just books!

Which stalwart of the Manchester History Department is a competitive tennis player? You’ll never guess, so here’s a clue: We are the Knights who say NI(ck). 13. the Manchester Historian Advertisements Noticeboard

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The History, Classics and PMH Ball Upendo

From the timeless style of Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, get Upendo is a student run Charity ready to get dressed up to the nines for an evening of dancing, started and based at the University decadence and more! We are rolling out the red carpet and pulling of Manchester. We aim to build a out all the stops for this year’s ball... It’s going to be big. We want sustainable, ethical and community to celebrate the end of this year in style. integrated children’s home in Mwanza, Tanzania, and have almost DATE: Sunday 15th May - keep it free! finished the first building. We are LOCATION: This year’s event will be staged at the 4 * Renaissance looking for people to help run the Hotel right in the centre of town. charity, organise fundraisers, and TICKETS: £40 volunteer (for free) in Tanzania. Find us on Facebook, at www.upendo.org. This includes: uk, or contact Carly, Matt and James **Champagne Reception at [email protected]. **4 course meal **Half a bottle of wine Want to write for the Manchester **Jazz band Historian? **Fun casino And many more surprises on the night! E-mail: florence.holmes@student. manchester.ac.uk before the end Non-historians/classics/PMH are welcome too so feel feel to of the Easter holidays and we’ll let bring your friends along! Pick out your ball gowns and dust off you know about our next meeting. those dinner jackets and get ready for a fabulous night of food, Next issue is going to be even music, entertainment and glamour! bigger and better, so get involved!

Want to advertise in the next issue? E-mail [email protected] the Manchester Historian 14. Reviews The Manchester Museum You walk past it every day, but what lies behind the wall of the Manchester Museum, and what is the story behind that infamous As anyone living on the route between Edinburgh crab? and Manchester in 1872 will testify, the origins of Priya Changela & Peter Cakebread the centerpiece of the Natural History section are as weird as they are unique. After being bought by There are many urban myths surroundingBelle Vue Zoo, Mahajarah, the Indian elephant was Manchester. It’s been said that Hitler had unable to travel by train and set off by foot across admired the Midlands Hotel in St Peter’s Square Scotland and Northern England to Manchester. so much that he was willing to make it the After ten days he reached Manchester and, headquarters for Nazi occupation in the North West. after ten years of service to the zoo, died and was Equally, there are many myths surrounding donated to the Museum. He is flanked by a collection the University of Manchester Museum. One of of materials from throughout the natural world the first things heard, as a fresher, was that the cleverly and attractively annotated in an exam giant spider crab, which has become something shorthand style. close to a university mascot, originated from the sewers of Manchester after a ‘toxic spill’. Actually, Manchester’s large Bantu speaking community are it came from Japan in the early twentieth century. depicted through the palm leaf baskets and ivory But the myth became part of an identity, and in tusks of the Congo. These day to day cultural objects this way the crab has become an integral part of are a depiction of the greater theme of migration and the university. Likewise, what we discovered is that are intended to relate to the history of the people the museum is a symbol of the university and city. living in Manchester.

It originated in 1821 thanks to the Manchester Following the natural history collection is the Natural History Society and moved to the Egyptian section. This includes a number of university in 1868. The museum has local as Mummies, with the exposed feet of a four well as international connections. With the 2012 thousand-year-old Egyptian, providing a reminder London Olympics approaching, a series of displays of the humanity of the corpse. Not to be outdone the from different cultures are touring Britain with next section presents the visitor with the full-size the intention of improving cultural diversity. skeleton of a Tyrannosaurus Rex ‘Stan’, probably the Manchester is currently the lucky recipient of the most impressive predator of all time. But for size the China collection. Behind the exhibition lies an Sperm Whale probably steals the award for the most undertone of cultural connections and diplomatic substantial exhibit. relations between Manchester and China. If being face to face with some of the greatest The centerpiece of the exhibition is a chime bell creatures and most beautiful creations in the donated by the municipal government of history of the planet appeals then the museum Wuhan, Manchester’s sister city in China. 2011 is a genuinely enjoyable place to go. However, it marks the 25th anniversary of the friendship is not these attention-grabbing exhibits that best agreement signed by the two cities in 1986. With represent the museum. From weapons used by the artefacts ranging from the Shang to the Ming Native Americans to a collection of extinct birds, Dynasties visitors can see a variety of objects this museum seems to offer a physical manifestation culminating from China’s wide and varied history. of the history and diversity of the University and The beauty and variety of the Chinese culture comes City of Manchester. Perhaps it is in this way that it out most prominently in the shadow puppets or the offers the greatest interest to the Manchester porcelain flutes. historian. 15. the Manchester Historian

and the content and language of the lecturer is very Taylor lecture series accessible and Taylor is a likeable and engaging presenter. A review of the engaging lecture series fronted by Manchester’s most famous history professor The lectures were hugely popular at the time and Adam Collins this must be down in no small part to Taylor himself, who manages to come across as sincere, The first thing to notice when watching a televised yet also affable and endearing at the same time. lecture by AJP Taylor is how different the style of this history programme is when compared with the After watching the piece I felt as though I had just historical programmes on today. been involved in an interesting, short lecture and it left me wondering if this series was on today Minimalism rules, with a plain black background whether it would be as popular as it once was. Those and the lecturer the only objects in shot for 30 with a free half-hour to spare could do a lot worse minutes. No music and no cutaway scenes, maps or than giving it a try. illustrations. This may look out of date and perhaps Series available on BBC iPlayer. a little tedious at first glance, stick with it though

Firth’s moving portrayal of the relatively untold The King’s Speech story of one man, George IV (Bertie), trapped not just by his own stammer, but also by accident of birth The oscar winning picture that gives history a in his attempts to overcome his speech impediment voice. and win the affections of an Empire he was never Jack Kelly supposed to rule.

It’s a story made for Hollywood: one shy younger The film appears to have avoided much of the prince, another playboy-like elder brother. Throw in temptation for Hollywood dramatisation to a social climbing American divorcee, an abdication recreate for the most part an accurate and crisis and a war that would test a nation and its moving portrayal of one of the most remarkable reluctant new monarch to the edge, it’s not difficult and forgotten episodes of British history, a story to see how The King’s Speech won this year’s Best that, in itself, is worth an Oscar. Film Oscar. See the King’s Speech at the cinema now.

The episode I watched focused on numerous Horrible Histories periods in History such as Cavemen, Romans, We all remember the children’s books, but Tudors and more. The show is clever in that it offers what will a history undergraduate make of the short but information filled segments about each period whilst avoiding the style of an educational television series?? film, you may see in a classroom. Instead it uses a Eamonn O’Brien mixture of animation and acting to inject humour, action, a bit of gore and at one point singing to As historians I think we can all remember our really draw in the audience. childhood bookshelves filled with Horrible Histories; from the Rotten Romans to the I have to admit I enjoyed watching the show, which Shocking 60’s. We enjoyed them because they made I hope says more about the programme than about history accessible beyond the classroom, free from me, and I’m sure it will attract many more young, homework and nagging teachers! Now, a new budding historians into not just studying but generation of historians can merely sit back and enjoying History on the whole. gain some of this experience by watching it on CBBC. Episodes available on BBC iPlayer the Manchester Historian 16. Procrastination puzzle page

Bored in the library? Want to put off doing that seminar reading for just a few more minutes? Then look no further! Get off Facebook and have a crack at our wordsearch, themed for this issue. Then, to put you back in that working mindset, have a look at the staff helpful hints for essay success.

E H B M A U G U S P E S E E S D H C P C E B E I N K Y E T N F U O Y AJP TAYLOR Y T Q E P L U K Z Q J T Z A R E I HORRIBLE HISTORIES O T Y L E I P D Y Q I J E R M E L MANCHESTER R M E H W P G Y Z J N D I R L O R MAX JONES S V W D R U S B R B V B P G L E R MUSEUM L M Y J R J W S L J L X Q B T O W NERO L A I Y S G J F G E W K S S K A O PETERLOO O X Y G M Z W E H N I I E P M O P POMPEII R J T F C W P I V Q I H G K L L M PROTEST Z O X X K R S H P L C K J B S B U ROLLS ROYCE U N C Y O T P W F N X W E P P D E ROMANS G E J T O M Z N A P B Z T H P N S SAMUEL ALEXANDER N S E R O O X M N R T T Y B T B U THE KINGS SPEECH P S I L R M A A J P T A Y L O R M T E R E D N A X E L A L E U M A S S H N A H K B B G Q F D R Q Q X S

Staff Top Tips:

The JRUL subscribes to a great range of electronic resources, many of which are underused by students.

Have you used OXFORD REFERENCE ONLINE? (JRUL > Databases > O)?

This database gives you access to over 100 reference works published by Oxford University Press, from the Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages to the Oxford Companion to British History.

If a lecturer’s mentioned something you want to follow up, use OXFORD REFERENCE ONLINE: “Who were the Lollards?” “When did Britain leave the Gold Standard?” etc.

Great, too, for getting background information for your essays.

And all the entries have citation references, which you can copy and paste into your work!