Website!

Our Study website will be published in the next few weeks.  This 'taster' site will let people know who we are and what we are doing.  It  will enable people to get in touch and will hopefully encourage participation.  

The site will initially carry clips from some of the interviews which have been conducted and which give a flavour of the themes being covered.  The Study website will also be the place where we publish the results of aspects of our documentary research, such as transcribed manuscripts and primary sources.  The site also carries a comprehensive guide to resources available for the study of life and society in Dumfries and Galloway.

Over time, as material is added to these strands of the website, a comprehensive account of life and society in Dumfires and Galloway will be given.

As soon as the site is published we will let you all know.

Fieldworker Gathering

On Saturday 9 March 2013 members of the Study Team met with some of those who have undertaken fieldwork to reflect on their work.

So far, 58 people (28 men and 30 women) have been interviewed by 16 fieldworkers. The ages of interviewees range form 21 years to 95 years old.

Extracts from interviews already conducted were introduced by each fieldworker.  This was followed by reflections from the group on what had been heard.  Listening in a group proved to be an interesting exercise in its own right as the subsequent discussion drew-out aspects of the recordings not otherwise obviously apparent.  In addition, the great detail contained in the brief extracts listened to at the gathering demonstrated the value of conducting this type of work in that we are already capturing a lot of information on life and society across Dumfries & Galloway.  

Some themes which have yet to come-up in interviews are those which can be termed, in broad terms, folk life, such as traditional narrative, custom & belief etc.  This probably stems from the necessary focus so far on the functions of life and society.  As work continues, fieldworkers can open-up their interviews to allow for coverage of the non-functional or the internal world of individuals.

In thinking about what should be done with the material being collected it was noted that whatever is done, the material should be made as widely and freely available as possible. One way in which this might be achieved will be by working with schools to offer the material as a resource for them to use as part of Curriculum for Excellence.   

The intention of the EERC to mount road shows in which the material is presented as a small exhibition was considered a good idea – especially if such road shows were held in the places where the recordings were made. 

The success of short publications such as the EERC’s Flashbacks series and those of the Stranraer and District Local History Trust suggests that this would be a good additional way in which to disseminate results. 

Almost all fieldworkers intend to conduct further interviews and would be interested in preparing transcriptions of interview recordings after suitable training and guidance.

This was a stimulating and encouraging gathering which provided an opportunity to meet and share ideas.  Another such event will be held shortly for those who were unable to attend. 

Dumfries Training Day

On Saturday 21 April we held the second training day for those interested in carrying out oral history interviews.  On arrival at the venue we were quite surprised to see how we were billed.  No matter how ambitious our project is, we had never previously imagined it as a tribute to Swedish pop music!

The day went very well, with those in attendance full of ideas and questions.  Alison Burgess of Dumfries and Galloway Libraries, Information and Archives gave an excellent presentation on her experience of recording in the region.  As part of this presentation, Alison played some sound clips which really brought to life what the interviewees were talking about.

Fieldwork by those involved in the training days has now begun and we will keep you posted on developments, including on the development of the Study website.

Newton Stewart

On a beautiful sunny Wednesday afternoon in March, 17 folk joined the D&G Study team to learn  more about how to conduct fieldwork interviews.  Those in attendance carried-out practice interviews using the digital recorders which will be used during the Study.  As well as using the equipment, the practicalities and ethics of conducting recorded interviews were discussed.  In addition, local ethnologist, broadcaster and artist, Alyne Jones, gave a flavour of some of her work in recording life and society in Dumfries & Galloway over the years.

This was a very enjoyable day in which ideas were shared and the work of the D&G Study got underway in a meaningful way.  The first recording sessions are now being organised and we are very much looking forward to the next training day in Dumfries. We'll keep you posted on progress.

Training Days

After full review of detailed feedback following the public meetings held at the end of last year, we are now ready to embark upon the next phase of activity.  A great many people have indicated their interest in being involved in recording oral history across Dumfries and Galloway.  This is very positive as we see oral history as being a key part of our endeavour to provide a full account of life and society across the region.

We therefore intend to hold 2 training days at which speakers will discuss the value of oral history; the ethics and practises involved in conducting oral history interviews; and, their personal experience of oral history undertaken within Dumfries & Galloway. Following this, there will be an opportunity to see and handle the recording equipment to be used during the Study.  There will also be an opportunity to chat with members of the Study team over a cup of tea or coffee.

Those who have noted their interest in the Study have been notified about the training days but a limited number of places remain open to anyone else who might be interested in attending.  If you feel that you might like to attend, please get in touch.

The first event will take place on Wednesday 28 March 2012, 1-5pm at the Bruce Hotel, Newton Stewart.  the second event will take place on Saturday 21 April 2012, 1-5pm at the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries.

Public Meetings

The European Ethnological Research Centre (EERC) has now embarked upon a major new project to study the changing everyday life of the people of Dumfries and Galloway, over the centuries. This ambitious study, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, will result in substantial publications in a variety of formats. It seeks to bring together research carried out by Dumfries and Galloway  inhabitants, academics and others sharing interests in such topics as the family, occupations, farming, land management, industry, population movement, communications, local administration, sports, place-names, religion, emigration and immigration, language, literature, folklore, art, music and song, and intellectual life. In short, whatever affected the lives of the folk as described, wherever possible, in their own voice.

The results of this research will be published in a variety of outputs, such as additions to our Flashbacks series and multi-authored books.  We also intend, in due course, to hold public events, such as concerts and exhibitions, in which the results of research will be disseminated.  

As the Study progresses we intend to publish a dedicated website to provide news about progress and to post the results of research from across Dumfries & Galloway.  In the meantime news and developments will be posted here so please keep an eye on these pages.

The Study is designed to be participative, with the people of Dumfries and Galloway being involved as opportunities arise.  With this in mind, public meetings were held on Saturday 15 October 2011 in Langholm and on Saturday 22 October in New Galloway.  At these meetings the aims of the Study were outlined and views taken as to what themes should be included in the Study.  Feed back was very positive and it is clear that there is a range of people who wish to be involved in helping meet the aims of the Study.  The EERC is currently reflecting on this feedback and will soon be contacting those who expressed an interest.

If you would like to be involved in the Project in any way please let us know.  We are keen to involve as many people as possible so please feel free to let your friends, family and neighbours know about the Project.

Please contact us at:

telephone:       0131 650 4160 or 0131 650 3626

email:              mark.mulhern@ed.ac.uk or kenneth.veitch@ed.ac.uk

post:                European Ethnological Research Centre

                        Celtic & Scottish Studies

                        University of Edinburgh

                        27 George Square

                        Edinburgh

                        EH8 9LD

website:          http://www.celtscot.ed.ac.uk/EERC_home.htm