Hear from a Volunteer - Catriona
“The Museum holds an extensive archive of material relating to all aspects of Charles Lapworth's life including his research, teaching, and consultancy work; as well as giving an insight into his personal life and the social history of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
I have been a volunteer with the museum for five years, mainly in the archives but also have had the opportunity to be involved in other activities, such as contributing to the Object of the Month series.
I participated in the recent Unlocking Lapworth's Legacy Project, funded by Archives Revealed, which catalogued the archive material. It proved to be surprisingly relevant and relatable to modern concerns. For example, letters dealing with the significant mental and physical health problems Lapworth lived with throughout his long and highly successful career.
Any communication captures a moment in time but there is a particular pleasure to be gained from holding a handwritten letter and reading what one of Lapworth's closest academic collaborators has written concerning a request for some 'geological gossip ', the 19th century equivalent of a water cooler moment or perhaps WhatsApp message.”