Historians spotlight changing attitudes to the Monarchy
Posted on 14 May 2007
For the first time, academics will study amateur footage of Royal visits to Yorkshire between the two World Wars to gauge how public opinion about the monarchy evolved.
The new project will ... highlight the importance of using film footage for historical discussion
Dr Mark Roodhouse
The Crown and People in Yorkshire 1918-1939 project will compare contemporary newsreels of Royal visits to Yorkshire with footage of the same events filmed by local people. It will investigate the size and behaviour of crowds at Royal visits from amateur footage and compare it with their portrayal in the mainstream media.
Dr Mark Roodhouse, of the University’s Department of History, said: "Between the Wars, the Monarchy’s political power had begun to decline and they enlisted the help of newsreel companies to promote their popularity."
The project will offer a studentship to a graduate who will work full or part-time towards a doctorate. The project, which is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), begins in October 2007 and is being run in collaboration with the Yorkshire Film Archive.
During the inter-war period the Royal Family made several visits to Yorkshire, including King George V’s Silver Jubilee tour in 1935 and King George VI’s visit in 1937. At the time, Yorkshire had a thriving film-based culture and Royal visits were popular subjects for amateur filmmakers. Films were recorded for both family and social use, as well as more official purposes.
The Yorkshire Film Archive contains more than 14,000 reels of film and video tape of the region. Films date from the late Nineteenth Century to the present day.
Dr Roodhouse added: "The new project will develop methods for studying film images of crowds, and to highlight the importance of using film footage for historical discussion."
Applicants for the studentship need a Bachelors degree and hold, or expect to complete, a Masters degree by September 2007 in a relevant subjects. Application forms are available at www.york.ac.uk/admin/gso/gsp/apply
Notes to editors:
- The Department of History at the University of York combines exciting and original research with the best traditions of stimulating and innovative teaching. Widely accepted as one of the foremost centres of historical research and practice in the UK, the Department numbers some thirty professional academic staff and approximately 800 undergraduate and graduate students. The Department is rated 'Excellent' in teaching and received a '5A' rating in the last Research Assessment Exercise
- The studentship is available to UK/EU students who have been resident in the UK for the last three years. More information on eligibility at www.ahrc.ac.uk/university_staff/postgrad/collaborative_doctoral_awards.asp
- More information on the Yorkshire Film Archive at www.yorkshirefilmarchive.com/
- Arts and Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £90 million to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from archaeology and English literature to design and dance. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,500 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute nearly a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.