Behind the scenes at the museum

Story by Nikky Wilson

April 2005 sees the beginning of a new course for Burngreave residents offering the chance to develop the skills needed to investigate the living history of the area.

To find out more about the course and what it’s like to work in a museum I met Kim Streets, Burngreave resident and Curator of Social History at Weston Park Museum.

For Kim it all started with an interest in history.

“I was always fascinated by history, especially those stories from people whose voices aren’t often heard. After doing a degree in history, I volunteered at Kelham Island Museum for a year and then got a job as a documentation assistant for Lincolnshire Museums. I came back to Sheffield as an assistant curator in 1991.”

So what does a curator actually do?

“Most of my work involves looking after the museum’s social history collection. I receive donations, document and record them, gather information about who used them and when, and finally use the objects and stories in new displays and exhibitions. Most of these objects are not rare or valuable but what matters are the stories they can tell us about the people who owned them.

“This is what’s so exciting about the job! People’s histories are so diverse, sometimes they can be peculiar – like the bed that one man from Wincobank kept because an incendiary bomb had landed in the middle of it – sometimes they can be very moving, but they’re always fascinating.”

As an originator of the Burngreave Voices project, Kim is passionate about finding ways to tell the stories of people living in Burngreave.

“Once I got to know the collection, I realised what was missing were the stories of people from this area. Maybe it’s because people don’t feel they have anything important to say or contribute, but in fact they do: everyone has a story to tell!”

And what about the new course?

“One of the reasons for running this course is to bring to light some of the hidden histories of Burngreave residents and to recognise their contribution to the life of the city past and present. Students will learn the skills needed to interview people, so, in effect, they’ll be doing their own first-hand research. This could involve talking to their family members, or thinking about their own experiences. It will emphasise skills such as listening, reading and using the internet, but will also teach students how to record an interview as well as some basic photography techniques. The opportunity for work experience will also help to make it all real for the students, so that they get a chance to see for themselves what goes on in a museum, gallery or library.”

And the final word from Kim:

“Working in a museum is such a fantastic thing to do! I love my job and feel it’s a real privilege to be in receipt of so much family history.”

Burngreave Voices and Sheffield College: Our Stories Celebrated Creating a History of Burngreave

A new course to

• Investigate the history of the area

• Record stories of local residents

• Gain work experience and develop study skills

A free 12-week course: Tuesdays, 9.30am–3.00pm at the Graves Art Gallery and Millennium Galleries starting Tuesday 12th April 2005.

Childcare and travel costs will be reimbursed.