Slavery and the archive: research and curation placement
Student placement project
- Project supervisors
Dr Liberty Paterson (lead supervisor) and Dr Philippa Hellawell (co-supervisor)
- 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
14 December 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.
Project description
The National Archives holds a vast array of records related to the history of transatlantic slavery. These records are the focus of PASSAGE, a collaborative research project led by The National Archives and funded by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
In June 2027, the PASSAGE team are hosting a major international conference titled ‘Slavery and the Archive’. As part of this, we are looking to reinterpret a curatorial space within The National Archives in close relation to the conference themes. The Cabinet Table displays facsimiles of records relating to 20 prime ministers of the 20th century. In the past, it has been curated to display records relating to the first 20 women in Cabinet.
In collaboration with the PASSAGE project team, the placement holder will devise a new document-based display using the table. The display will feature documents relevant and sensitive to the histories of transatlantic slavery preserved in the archive. It does not have to relate to the British Cabinet or government directly and may include more creative curatorial approaches, such as community-led work.
Activities include
The placement holder will carry out research, including identifying relevant records, and produce interpretation for 'The Cabinet Table' display.