Postscript: my internship
My internship project at the Foyle Special Collection Library has opened my eyes to the history of 18th century print. When I first applied for the position, I was fascinated by the opportunity to investigate fairy and folk tales in a historical context; and whilst I knew nothing about chapbooks prior to the internship, I was immediately drawn in by the various stories contained within them.
The internship project focused on researching and publicising six bound volumes of chapbooks, totalling around 70 individual publications These chapbooks were re-catalogued by Special Collections staff in 2016 and reported to the English Short Title Catalogue (ESTC), by matching them to existing records or reporting them, with images of title pages, as new.
One of the aims of the internship was to showcase this research through public engagement activities. As the chapbooks were printed in areas close to the present-day Maughan Library and to promote the Library’s continued contribution towards the local community, I delivered a talk at nearby Shoe Lane Library, which was complemented by a display of reproductions. I also completed a blogpost and this online exhibition and have, through these activities, successfully engaged both academics and non-academics with these extraordinary materials.
Since my project was research-based, I was given access to the rare books housed in the Foyle Special Collections Library at King’s. The extensive collection of materials was important to the findings of my project. In addition, staff identified complementary activities: I attended a printing press workshop, hosted by Dr Brian Murray (Senior Lecturer in 19th century Literature at King’s), and Broadside Day, a conference focusing on cheap print and street literature. These events not only furthered my understanding of the history of print but provided me with the possibility to connect with historians who share these passions.
Whilst my internship centred on chapbooks, Katie Sambrook (Head of Special Collections) and Adam Ray (Special Collections Manager) also introduced me to the world of librarianship and its importance to historical research. In my time at the Foyle Special Collections Library, I was provided with sessions on cataloguing and digitisation which helped me appreciate their role and importance in the preservation of historical materials. This experience ultimately deepened my knowledge of the role of librarianship, whilst also helping to promote the historical significance of chapbooks in popular culture.
In this exhibition
- Introduction
- Women and 18th century print
- Female representations in chapbooks
- Further contexts
- Chapbooks at King's and beyond
- Postscript: my internship
- Select bibliography