This year’s Prince Albert Summer Workshop is an opportunity for students who are beginning advanced study in history to develop their research skills with particular reference to using archival and artistic sources in Britain and Germany. It is organised in connection with the 32nd conference of the Prince Albert Society, which takes places immediately afterwards, and focuses on a German-British theme, this year being ‘Hannover – Coburg-Gotha – Windsor: problems and perspectives on comparative dynastic history’.
The first part of the workshop will focus on the use of archives and primary sources, and will guide students through a mini research project in German-British history. The second part will give participants the opportunity for some hands-on engagement with the world-class print collection at the Veste, Coburg.
The workshop will:
- introduce participants to the archival landscape in both Britain and Germany;
- raise theoretical concepts which underpin the organisation of archives and which can help the historical researcher make effective use of them;
- link theory to practice in the form of the mini-project;
- allow students to develop their new skills in a practical context;
- give students ‘hands on’ experience of using a variety of finding aids and source material of different kinds;
- develop source handling and palaeographic skills;
- offer a look behind the scenes at the State Archive in Coburg;
- give an inside view of a major print collection: its holdings, organisation and research possiblilties;
- explore the importance of image collections for the historian and the insights which can be obtained through understanding pictorial sources, especially drawings and prints;
- develop understanding and skills in using pictorial sources;
- be partly in English and partly in German.
Led by historian Dr. Oliver Walton and archivist Horst Gehringer who have experience of studying and teaching in both British and German universities and Dr. Christiane Wiebel-Roth, curator of the print collection at the Veste, the workshop will be a collaborative and constructive forum for discussion, and for practising all the techniques within the workshop.
Workshop participants are also invited to attend the Prince Albert Society Conference, which begins on the afternoon of 5 September. This, and the two evening dinners, will give students the chance to hear presentations, as well as meet both British and German academics.
The workshop benefits from the generous support of the Prince Albert Society and its sponsors, including the city of Coburg and the Coburg State Archives. As a result the Society will subsidise the workshop, and this will cover:
- the workshop itself, for which there will be no charge;
- accommodation for four nights (3, 4, 5, and 6 September), which will allow students to attend the Prince Albert Society’s annual conference;
- the dinners for the conference on 4 and 5 September.
Participants will need to meet their own travel costs as well as other meals and sundry expenses.
Venues: Ämtergebäude der Stadt Coburg, Steingasse 18, Coburg 96450, Germany
Kunstsammlungen der Veste Coburg, Veste Coburg, 96450 Coburg, Germany
Date: 4-5 September 2013
Address for applications: prinzalbertworkshop@yahoo.co.uk
Deadline for applications: 19 August 2013
There are 12 places available, which will be allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. Applications should reach the Society by email by 19 August 2013. Please state:
- your area of interest (period and topic);
- your university, degree programme and semester/year of study;
- the nights for which you require accommodation;
- whether you wish to attend the conference dinners.