News, stories and updates from Hull History Centre Home Blog Themes Monday, 29 November 2021 Commemorating the November Uprising, 29 November 1830 - Poland The Hull Literary Association of the Friends of Poland The Literary Association of the Friends of Poland is a British organisation of solidarity with Poles, founded in Feb 1832 in the United Kingdom by the Scottish poet, Thomas Campbell and German lawyer, Adolphus Bach. The main purpose of goal of the Society was to sustain the interest of British public opinion in the Polish question after the failure of the November Uprising [Nov 1830-Oct 1831] which began on 29 November 1830. Its members included many influential British political figures, such as Sir Francis Burnett [a reformist politician], Patrick Stuart [Whig MP for Lancaster] and Daniel O’Connell [The Liberator]. There were a number of regional associations created in 1832 to support the main association in London – one of these being the Hull Literary Association of the Friends of Poland. When news of the anti-Russian uprising in the Kingdom of Poland reached London in late December 1830, most of the British population had no knowledge of the political situation in ”Congress Poland”, let alone the history behind it. Despite near universal sympathy for the liberal principles behind the Polish rebellion, it took some time for the British society to gain a deeper understanding of the struggle. Although the uprising itself lasted only ten months, the Russian Army having quelled it by October 1831, British interest in Poland continued. Polish exiles and British friends of Poland sought to foster on-going interests in the 1830s and 1840s by spreading knowledge about Polish history, culture and political demands. The Hull Literary Polish Record [L.052.075], the newsletter of the Hull Literary Association of the Friends of Poland [see photo 1] was one of the mediums used to promote Poland – others forms included public meetings, publications and newspaper articles. The initial wave of British sympathy for Poland was great – so much so that Leonard Niedwiecki, one of the Polish exiles who arrived in Britain after the defeat of the November Uprising, noted in mid 1833 – “In London everything Polish is adored”. Photo 1 - The Hull Literary Polish Record [L.052.075] However, at the same time, all that championing and pro-Polish propaganda did not result in any official support for the cause of Poland. The Polish Question, in spite of its popularity, remained on the margins of British politics. Poland was regarded as a distant land divided between Russia, Prussia and Austria. British politicians were mindful that, despite occasional differences, all three powers were ready to defend any attempts to restore Polish Independence. The internal situation within Britain also played an important part – the economic hardships of the “hungry forties” made the British public more interested in home affairs. The previous support for the Polish exiles in Britain started to decline and indeed face criticism. The Times newspaper on 11 November 1843 published a letter which stated “For Liberalism’s sake, have our own distressed countrymen no claim on a “Liberal’s” sympathy? Let the Poles seek relief in Poland, or wherever they can get it but not in England”. This waning in interest is demonstrated by the Hull Literary Association of the Friends of Poland [Aug 1832-Jan 1835]. It would appear that this Association only existed between 1832 and 1835. Photos 2 and 3 - Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Hull However, it is evident today that that Hull does still have strong ties with Poland with lots of Polish shops, bakeries and restaurants being prevalent. There is also a branch of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland [see photos 2 & 3] in Hull which was opened in May 2019 at the University of Hull which also houses a Polish Community Centre. As a regular of my local Polish Bakery, I am happy to see the connection flourish! Caoimhe West, Reader Assistant, Unlocking the Treasures Project at Monday, November 29, 2021 1 comment: Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Labels: Unlocking the Treasures Location: Hull, UK Thursday, 4 November 2021 Torches and Bonfires With November the 5th coming up, here at Hull University Archives we thought a warming wander through student bonfire nights past might be a nice diversion. So we turned to the University of Hull’s student newspapers for inspiration. And it was only then that the serendipity of the situation struck us – the first student magazine was aptly (for our purpose) named The Torch! Front cover of the first issue of The Torch Lighting the Torch First issued in December 1928, it has gone through several iterations, initially as The Torch, then as Torchlight, and it continues to this day as HullFire. These names draw inspiration from the University’s motto: Extract from the Third Annual Report of the University College of Hull, 1928-29 From the Latin for ‘Bearing the torch’, our motto is a play on the name of the University’s first benefactor, Thomas R. Ferens. At the beginning of the first issue of The Torch is a foreword written by the University’s principal. This sets the tone and highlights the hopes of those involved for the future of the University: Foreword from first issue of The Torch, Dec 1928 The Principal’s message is echoed in a short poem included at the end of the first issue: Poem from the first issue of The Torch, Dec 1928 And so The Torch was lit. But back to our original purpose… Remember, remember the 5th of November In the third issue of The Torch we find our first reference to bonfire night. A report describes the events: Report ‘The Fifth of November’ from The Torch, Dec 1929 With such fun to be enjoyed, and perhaps a late night dancing, the following morning appears to have been a bit of a come down. The very next piece in the issue seems to have been inspired by a ‘morning after…’ type feeling in one of the magazine contributors: Short story ‘Please to Remember’ from The Torch, Dec 1929 (part 1) Short story ‘Please to Remember’ from The Torch, Dec 1929 (part 2) Skipping a few years, we find that celebrations have moved on and now include a torchlight procession through the village of Cottingham. Photograph of students carrying torches from Torchlight, 21 Nov 1958 Though a nice idea in principle, the sight of a large group of students boldly parading through the streets seems to have inspired a town and gown type rivalry with the local youth: Report ‘Damp squibs during the procession from Torchlight, 21 Nov 1958 But a year on and things seem to have calmed down, with no mention of any such unpleasantness being repeated: Festivities on Fifth of November from Torchlight, 17 Nov 1959 If you’ve enjoyed this brief spotlight on the University of Hull's early student magazines, why not visit the History Centre to discover what else they can tell you... at Thursday, November 04, 2021 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Labels: Awareness Days and Anniversaries Monday, 11 October 2021 University of Hull - The Early Years To mark the University of Hull's birthday, this blog post explores the early history of our City's university, so here goes... Portrait of T.R. Ferens [U PHO] On 2 February 1925, local philanthropist and entrepreneur Thomas Robinson Ferens held a lunch for a group of Hull’s leading civic figures at his home, Holderness House. During the lunch, he announced his intention of providing a financial gift to establish a university in Hull. He confirmed his intention in a letter written the same day to the Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor A.D. Willoughby, the text of this letter read: My dear Lord Mayor, The need of provision for high learning in Hull, has greatly impressed me, and I have taken the opportunity of consulting University Professors and other friends, in regard to the matter, and I have decided to set aside for the purpose of forming a nucleus of a University College for Hull the sum of £250,000. Very shortly I am going from home for a few weeks and on my return I propose calling together a few local friends interested in education to formulate plans. With kind regards, I am sincerely yours, Thomas R. Ferens. With this gift (and with the subsequent hard work of a lot of people), a longstanding civic desire to establish a university in the city became a real possibility. Just three years later, on 11 October 1928, the first staff and students arrived at the Cottingham Road campus and the University College of Hull (later renamed as the University Of Hull) was born. Unfortunately, we don’t know if Ferens’ letter to Willoughby survives. It was still in existence in the 1970s when T.W. Bamford wrote an institutional history of the university, but the author gives no indication in his book as to how he came by the letter or where it was kept. Minutes of first meeting of the University of Hull [U REG] Fortunately, plenty of other records have survived and are now preserved at Hull History Centre. Since the earliest years of its existence, the University of Hull has created and kept records that document its own history and development. The minutes above represent the first ever meeting of the organizing board, which oversaw the foundation and construction of the university. The minutes are taken from a volume of proceedings, and are the earliest known official record created by the university. Aside from a complete series of minutes, the university’s records include congregation programmes documenting degree ceremonies and former graduates, syllabuses and course descriptions, personnel files for key former members of staff, and back issues of student magazines and newspapers. First photograph album of the University [U PHO] But one of our personal favourites is a large photograph album, which is stuffed full of fantastic early prints from the 1920s and 1930s. So we thought we would use it to take a brief look at the first years of the university… Cottingham Road campus site, prior to building work beginning In addition to providing £250,000, Ferens purchased three fields, comprising 18.756 acres in total. He donated the land to the Hull Corporation, intending that the Corporation would then grant the land to the Organising Board, which had been appointed to establish a University College in Hull. This photograph shows the Cottingham Road campus site, including the fields donated by Ferens, around 1927, before any building work started. After some negotiations, and a few issues with the Board of Education, the transfer of land took place in October 1927. But by this time construction work had already begun on the site. Foundation stone laying ceremony, 24 August 1927 The first pile had been driven over a month earlier, during a ceremony held on the 24 August 1927 and led by the wife of Arthur Eustace Morgan, who would be the first Principal of the University College of Hull. Eight months later on the 28 April 1928, the foundation stone was officially laid during a very prestigious ceremony led by the Archbishop of York and attended by the Duke and Duchess of York. The photograph above shows, in seat order, the Archbishop of York, the Duchess of York, President Ferens, Prince Albert the Duke of York (later King George VI), and Principal Morgan. Duke of York laying the foundation stone And here we can see the Duke of York laying the official foundation stone during that very same ceremony. Science Block under construction, 1929 Only two buildings existed on the campus site when the University College of Hull opened to students on the 11 October 1928. The first of these buildings was the Science Block (now known as the Cohen Building), which you can see here under construction in 1928… Arts Block under construction, 1928 The second building was the Arts Block (now known as the Venn Building), which you can see here shortly after completion in 1928. The two buildings were designed by W.A. Forsyth and Partners in the Neo-Georgian style, and would later be categorized as a group of architectural significance by Historic England. They are both now Grade II listed buildings. Needler Hall, 1929 Two further buildings are of importance to the early history of the university. During the initial planning work, members of the Organising Board took the decision that students enrolled at the University College must be resident, unless living at home or unless there were exceptional circumstances. This policy necessitated the provision of halls of residence for students. Two buildings were purchased in Cottingham during the early part of 1928, this was because there was no time or money left to construct purpose built halls before the university was scheduled to open. One of the buildings was known as Northfields, and was renamed Needler Hall. It can be seen here in this photograph as is looked around 1929 when the university’s first students were resident there. Thwaite Hall, 1929 The other building purchased for use as a halls of residence was Thwaite Hall in Cottingham, seen here around the same time. Male students were housed in Needler Hall, whilst Thwaite Hall was used to house female students. Needler Hall dining room, 1929 A warden was appointed to live at each of the halls of residence, and it was the job of these wardens to oversee the running of the buildings and the welfare of the students living there. Meals were served in common dining rooms and dinners were formal affairs, with students being required to wear academic gowns. Thwaite Hall common room, 1929 Common room space was also provided in each halls of residence, so that students could mix and relax together in their leisure time. However, this was still a segregated affair, with female students’ having their own common room at Thwaite Hall. Guildhall, Lowgate, Hull, 1920s [U DX336/34/4] But what about the early academic departments? In 1927, upon hearing that the University of Leeds wished to cease law training in Hull, the Yorkshire Board of Legal Studies approached the Organising Board to ask if the University College would take over law training in the city. Grants were secured to appoint a lecturer in Law, and James Louis Montrose took up post on the 1 October 1927. A Legal Studies course started on the 20 October 1927, and was taught in the Law Society Hall and in the Guildhall. This represents the University College’s first functioning department and course. Workers Association Rally on campus, Jun 1928 Around the same time, the Workers Educational Association approached the Organising Board and asked for the appointment of a tutor so that Adult Education classes could begin as soon as possible. The Organising Board appointed Professor T.H. Searls who took up post on the 1 January 1928. Extra-mural students' visit to campus, 1929 The Department of Adult Education was one of the major successes in the early years of the University College. The department operated extra-mural courses in the local area and across the wider Yorkshire region. These were courses run by the University College but teaching was carried out off campus. First staff and students of the University, 1928 Activities in the Law and Adult Education departments had begun before staff and students were able to take up residence on campus. On the 6 October 1928, administrative staff, who had been operating out of Maritime Buildings in the centre of the city, became the first members of staff to move to the University College site on Cottingham Road. They were followed on the 11 October 1928 by sixteen members of academic staff (including the Principal who also served as a professor of English), 2 assistant teaching staff members, and around 39 students. Student working in the Zoology lab, 1929 These early academic staff and students represented fourteen academic departments in total; these being Adult Education, Botany, Chemistry, Classics, English, French, Geography, German, History, Law, Mathematics, Philosophy and Psychology, Physics, and Zoology. Students and technicians working in the Advanced Physics lab, 1929 Students working in the Fisheries lab, 1929 Science subjects were particularly popular. Geography room with map consultation table, 1929 Teaching spaces were small compared to modern standards, but then the student population was very small at the time, around just 39 students in the beginning. Typical lecture theatre, 1929 And this photograph shows us what a typical lecture theatre would have looked like in the early days, complete with slide projector to aid the tutor when delivering lectures. Official opening of the University College of Hull, 10 Oct 1929 With the teaching spaces now in use, the official opening of the university took place on the 10th October 1929, a full year after the first students and staff arrived on campus. Present at the ceremony were Principal Morgan, Thomas Ferens, H.R.H. Prince George (later the Duke of Kent), and Benno Pearlman in his role as the Lord Mayor of Hull. Staff and students on campus, Jun 1935 Next followed a period of slow though steady expansion. The University College welcomed further local students from the city of Hull and the wider region. Students with Foreign Secretary, Arthur Hendserson, 1933 The university attracted noteworthy guests to come to speak to the students, such as the Foreign Secretary Arthur Henderson in 1933. First football team, 1929 Extra-curricular activities started to take place and sports teams were formed. Early members of the Dramatic Society, 1930 And it wasn’t just sports that began to flourish. A dramatic society was established, with members putting on plays for the entertainment of themselves, and the other students and staff. This society was particularly active in the early years and started a long tradition of drama and theatre at the university. First generation of University of Hull Students, 1933 And so the University of Hull was established with a first generation of students who graduated in 1933. This was just a brief introduction but there’s much more to the history of our city’s university. If you want to find out more for yourself, why not arrange a visit to the History Centre to see what you can discover? Claire Weatherall, Archivist at Monday, October 11, 2021 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Labels: Awareness Days and Anniversaries Friday, 8 October 2021 Early library provision in Hull: The James Reckitt Library and the Adaptation of Public Library provision in Hull (Pt.2) In December 1892 polling was carried out to adapt the Public Libraries Act in Hull. It was a close run vote. Those in favour won by 942 votes with 13,139 in favour, while 12,197 were against. True to his promise, James Reckitt handed over the now named James Reckitt Public Library to the newly formed Public Libraries Committee of Hull Corporation on 2nd October 1893. James Reckitt’s vision of free public libraries in Hull had eventually won, overcoming four previous rejections. On 16th November 1893 the committee of the former East Hull Free Library met for the final time. James Reckitt thanked the Committee members for the last five years. Thanks were echoed by Councillor’s Holden and Morrill for the committee’s services since its foundation five years earlier in September 1888. The meeting was signed off for the final time by James Reckitt. The final signing of the James Reckitt Public Library General Committee in October 1893 [Ref: L SP/18] There is little doubt that James Reckitt was a man ahead of his time. He was one of the first in Hull to understand matters that affected the town’s working classes. He had a sense of duty and responsibility not only the welfare of his employees but also its townsfolk. His understanding of social issues led to James Reckitt to also support hospitals and children’s homes in Hull. His lasting legacy, however, is that of library provision in Hull. He realised the importance that libraries had, and the role their played for the community, who without access to such buildings, many had almost no access to books, education and who, if at all, could scarcely read. Today, libraries are, and continue to be important in Hull. On top of the existing services they continue to evolve, offering new, innovate services, they are open to everyone and make positive contributions to the communities in which they serve. Image of the James Reckitt Public Library from the General Minutes of the James Public Library Committee [Ref: L SP/18] Undoubtedly without James Reckitt library provision may have taken a while longer to succeed. Sadly, the James Reckitt Library is now closed. The building still exists but has since been turned into flats, the outside a reminder of its important role of library provision in years gone by. There is little doubt that such a building is as important to Hull’s heritage as Wilberforce House, the Old Grammar School, Ye Olde White Harte and Hull’s oldest domestic buildings dating back to the fifteenth century on Scale Lane. Despite being no longer a library, James Reckitt and the subsequent trust that bears his name, continue to this day to support Hull’s public libraries. The language may have changed but libraries very existence is to provide inclusion for all in the love of reading and learning, to ensure social mobility and community cohesion for those in which they serve. To date the James Reckitt Library Trust has provided almost £4 million towards various projects and activities, not only to improve literacy and encourage the love of reading but also to aid library sustainability for future generations. Neil Chadwick, Project Officer - Unlocking the Treasures at Friday, October 08, 2021 No comments: Email This BlogThis! Share to Twitter Share to Facebook Share to Pinterest Labels: Unlocking the Treasures Location: Hull, UK Older Posts Home Subscribe to: Posts (Atom) Hull History Centre Hull History Centre houses the collections of Hull City Archives, Hull Local Studies Library and Hull University Archives. Visit our website to find out more, or search our online catalogue to discover the collections. 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