Playground of politics Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union
Project showcase, Catherine Mackay, Oxford Union Library -
Dec 13, 2014
Playground of politics
Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union Society
Bodleian Library Trainees Project Showcase
To visit the library or Union see: http://www.oxford-union.org/library/murals
For more information on the trainees see: http://oxfordtrainees.wordpress.com/
And for more information on the Union traineeship: http://cateatous.wordpress.com/
Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union Society
Bodleian Library Trainees Project Showcase
To visit the library or Union see: http://www.oxford-union.org/library/murals
For more information on the trainees see: http://oxfordtrainees.wordpress.com/
And for more information on the Union traineeship: http://cateatous.wordpress.com/
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Transcript
Playground of politicsWriting a brief history of the
Oxford Union Society
The Oxford Union SocietyFounded in 1823 as the Union Debating Society
Broader base for debate and readingthan the University or collegesthen allowed
Independent fromthe University
The debatesTo debate “the historical previous to the to the present century and the philosophical exclusive to religion”.
Avoided current of controversial topics
First debate: “Was the revolution under Cromwell to be attributed to the tyrannical conduct of Charles, or to the democratic spirit of the times?”
Good test of nerve, oratory, powers of persuasion, wit and panache
Met in students’ rooms
Rented rooms on the High Street
Acquired own site in 1853between St. Michael Streetand Frewin Court and builtthe first debating chamber
Current Debating Chamberbuilt in 1878
The buildings
Five prime ministers
Party leaders
Cabinet members
Commonwealth leaders
Diplomats
Religious figures
Literary and theatricalfigures
Broadcasting and media figures
“A special place in the history of the nation”
What?
16-page booklet
Then and now
Brief and engaging
The Union and its buildings
To be sold to visitors to the Union
Why?
Complement and add to current murals booklet
Raise profile
More on history of buildings Income
has one!
Sources
Previous Union histories
Archival material
Union members
Oxfordshire History Centre
Union stack holdings
Bodleian Library
College libraries
More research
Research
Writing
Planning
Layout and printing
Process
Challenges
Amount of information
Writing 16-pages in a shared office!
OHC refurbishment
Writing 16 pages
OHC refurbishment
The Old Library
Collected books from 1825
Decorated by the Pre-Raphaelites
Now more than 40,000 items
Attracts hundreds of visitors a year
Explore: Oxford Union LibraryTuesday 20 September 2011, 10.00-11.30
Playground of politicsWriting a brief history of the
Oxford Union Society
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