Personal-Histories Project: Recent Episodes
Cambridge University
The Personal-Histories Project is an on-going, educational, oral-histories research effort spearheaded by Pamela Jane Smith of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research at Cambridge University. Each year, during term, senior scientists are invited to share their memories and life stories. Through their recollections, we better understand twentieth-century science and the development of anthropology and archaeology. Featured in the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 films are Colin Renfrew, Mike Schiffer, Paul Mellars, Meg Conkey, Henrietta Moore, Alison Wylie, Richard Bradley, Chris Stringer, Meave Leakey and David Attenborough.
26th April 2016
Trinity College Cambridge
Panellists Sogo Akintaro Mónica Moreno Figueroa Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan Lola Olufemi Johanna Riha Njoki Wamai
Richelle George, Pamela Jane Smith, Gabrielle Zemsky, THANK Trinity College Cambridge McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research Thriplow Charitable Trust Cambridge University Student Union
Film edited by Pamela Jane Smith
We were so honoured that, on 12 October 2009, Sir David Attenborough spoke at our Personal Histories of Media and Archaeology about his young life as a producer of the famed 1950s BBC programme, “Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral”.
His good friends and well-known colleagues, Ray Sutcliffe, Anna Benson Gyles and David Collison joined Sir David with memories of archaeology on camera. Their stories were uproarious, memorable and warm-hearted, infused with clear personal recollections which had not been recorded before.
We are so honoured!
We hope you enjoy our belated film that was filmed in 2009 by the young Greek filmmaker, Silas Michalakas.
Organised by Pamela Jane Smith with over 40 volunteers.
Histories from People of Colour in Cambridge
26th April 2016, Trinity College, Cambridge
Panellists: Njoki Wamai Johanna Rita Mónica Moreno Figueroa Lola Olufemi Sogo Akintaro Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan
This video follows a seminar about the history of the McDonald Institute. The seminar was part of the Centennial celebrations for the Arch & Anth Tripos in February 2015
Here is a clip of Ian Tattersall talking about the Duckworth Laboratory. 27-28th February 2015 Magdalene College, Cambridge With thanks to: The Thriplow Charitable Trust The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research The Master and Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge Our many anonymous donors Pamela Jane Smith All of our volunteers James Bull and Lucy Parker (Filming & Editing)
Tony Robinson's Personal Histories was filmed at the University of Cambridge by the Personal Histories Project film crew, Sarah McEvoy and Kostas Chondros, on 11th February 2013 and was funded by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the Thriplow Charitable Trust as well as by many private donors.
Contact Jamie Cameron or Pamela at pjs1011@cam.ac.uk for more information about our oral-history research. Or 'like' our Facebook page.
This film is dedicated to Pamela Jane Smith's late husband, Thurstan Shaw.
The organisers would like to thank all the discussants for their great personal stories: Sue Laflin, Phil Barker, Paul Reilly, Nick Ryan, Clive Orton, Irwin Scollar, John Wilcock, Hans Kamermans and Gary Lock. We would also like to thank Gary Lock for moderating the session. The CAA organising committee and CAA members are thanked for their help and support. The SUSUtv team (Dom Kullander, Alastair Mogford, Jamie Chadd, Cassie Robinson, Constantin Placking, Lauren Baker) did a great job recording the session and interviews, the editing was done by Dom Kullander, we are very grateful for their stellar work. The Personal Histories project team is thanked for their inspiration and guidance. The CAA Personal Histories session was organised by Tom Brughmans, Gareth Beale and Pamela Jane Smith.
The Personal Histories Project Presents
Charles Higham speaking at the Bone Room's Past, 'Revolution' in Palaeoeconomic Studies
2rd November 2011
Among the participants were Geoff Bailey, Annie Grant, Tony Legge, Derek Sturdy, Ruth Whitehouse, Graeme Barker, Iain Davidson, Robin Dennell, Andy Garrard, Judith Rodden, David Harris David Kay, Ian Glover, Tina Greenfield, Tamsin O'Connell, Jacqui Mulville, Dale Serjeantson, James Barrett, Barbara Isaac, Charles Turner, Geoffrey King, Nick Winder, Claudio Vita-Finzi, John Bintliff, Helen Higgs, Jamie Cameron, Kevin Edwards, Chris Hunt, John Nandris, Caroline Grigson, Juliet Clutton-Brock and Jan Bay-Peterson.
We thank our Personal Histories film crew, Sarah McEvoy, Kostas Chondros, CU-TV's Will Wadsworth and Katie McAllister. This film was edited by Sarah McEvoy.
The Project is funded by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the Newton Trust, the Roberts Fund, the Thriplow Charitable Trust, Tamsin O'Connell and the Dorothy Garrod Isotope Laboratory at the University of Cambridge,and by John Pickles and many other private donors. Contact Pamela Jane Smith at pjs1011@cam.ac.uk for more information.
The Personal Histories Project presents
Jane Goodall, introduced by William McGrew, speaking at the Oral History of Primatology at Cambridge. Other panellists included Robert Hinde and Richard Wrangham. Together they remembered the beginnings and development of primatology during decades of research. Robert Hinde's and Richard Wrangham's segments will be added shortly.
This Personal Histories was filmed at the University of Cambridge by the Project's student film crew on 28th April 2011 and funded by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, the Newton Trust, the Roberts Fund, the Thriplow Charitable Trust and by many private donors. Contact Pamela Jane Smith and Emily Walker at pjs1011@cam.ac.uk for more information.
Professor Colin Renfrew from the University of Cambridge, Professor Mike Schiffer from the University of Arizona and Professor Ezra Zubrow of the State University of New York remember their personal and historical involvement with the development of the New Archaeology during the 1950s and 1960s. Also speaking are Disney Professor Graeme Barker and Professor Paul Mellars from Cambridge, Professors Robin Dennell and Marek Zvelebil from the University of Sheffield and Professor Rob Foley from the Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies. The retrospective, oral-historical discussion was held at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, on the 23rd October 2006.
An oral history of TAG through 31 years is presented by the two original founders of TAG, Professor Colin Renfrew, Cambridge, and Professor Andrew Fleming, University of Wales, and Professor Richard Bradley from the University of Reading, Professor Clive Gamble, Royal Holloway, University of London, Professor Timothy Darvill from Bournemouth University, Duncan Brown from the Southampton City Council and Professor Tim Champion from the University of Southampton recounting their memories. The session was filmed at the Southampton Theoretical Archaeology Group on the 16th December 2008.
Four of most eminent scholars in archaeology, William Wyse Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, Henrietta Moore, Professor Meg Conkey from University of California at Berkeley, Professor Ruth Tringham also from Berkeley and Professor Alison Wylie from the University of Washington recount and analyse their memories and young experiences as they pioneered early 'post-processual' symbolic, gendered and structural approaches to archaeological analyses during the 1970s. The discussion was held at the University of Cambridge on the 22rd October 2007.
A montage comprised of clips from the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 Personal Histories Panels
Professors Meave Leakey, Chris Stringer, Leslie Aiello, David Pilbeam and Adam Kuper share their life histories and memories of their own research into the origins of our species.