Enslaved histories in the archive: research and interpretation for The Wake memorial
Student placement project
- Project supervisors
- Department
Research, Grants and Academic Engagement
- Maximum number of student placements available on the project per academic year
One
- Level of study
Open to PhD students only
- Deadline for Expressions of Interest from students
30 November 2026 (17:00)
- Specific knowledge and/or skills required for the placement:
Interest in and understanding of the history of transatlantic slavery.
Ability to distil complex academic research into accessible and engaging written content for public audiences.
Ability to read and transcribe eighteenth and nineteenth century manuscripts is desirable.
Project description
The artist Khaleb Brooks has been working with Dr Liberty Paterson at The National Archives to research names of enslaved people that will be engraved within The Wake, London’s New Memorial to Victims of Transatlantic Slavery commissioned by The Mayor of London. The Wake will be outside the London Museum Docklands in West India Quay in 2027.
Khaleb and Liberty have put together a list naming over 1,000 people enslaved across the Atlantic World, largely drawn from records at The National Archives. The individuals named commemorate enslaved people involved in historic acts of resistance, as well as personal stories of survival. In order to engage the public with the histories of the enslaved people named within The Wake, we are looking to deepen the archival research and create interpretation materials.
The placement holder will work with our team to produce transcriptions of archival documents and accessible summaries of the histories they hold. They will be encouraged to develop their own research focus using the archival sources identified, including writing a selection of biographies. This is a unique opportunity to carry out and interpret archival research that will have a meaningful public legacy.
Activities include:
- Transcriptions of archival documents and accessible summaries of the histories they hold.
- Development of individual research focus using the archival sources identified, including writing a selection of biographies.