Exploring the Prize Papers, a global early modern archive
About this image
The Prize Papers Project is part of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Lower Saxony. It is based at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and The National Archives.
Student placement project
- Project supervisors
Oliver Finnegan
- Department
Collections Expertise and Engagement
- Maximum number of student placements available on the project per academic year
Three
- Level of study
Open to PhD students only
- Deadline for Expressions of Interest from students
Applications for this placement have now closed
- Specific knowledge and/or skills required for the placement:
Competency in one or more of the following languages: French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian
Project description
The Prize Papers, a once obscure series of High Court of Admiralty records, comprise of around 500,000 letters and documents taken from ships between 1652 and 1815. Originating from across the world and written in more than 20 languages, they reveal the everyday realities of European colonialism, global trade, migration, seafaring, and warfare at sea.
The collection includes family and love letters, as well as full personal archives of sailors and passengers, featuring materials as varied as sheet music and fabric samples. The National Archives is undertaking a 20 year project with the University of Oldenburg to research and digitise the entire collection, which will be made available through an open access database.
Student placements are tailored to language skills and expertise. Core work involves examining previously unknown records and producing descriptions to support digitisation. Depending on a student’s findings and interests, further outputs may include online articles, talks, exhibition scoping, scientific analysis, or outreach to heritage and community organisations.
Placements also provide full palaeographical and archival training and can be completed onsite, online, or in a hybrid format.