Applications are now open for Oxford University students to undertake a remote micro-internship with Winchester Cathedral in June 2021.
Winchester Cathedral stands at the heart of historic Winchester, once the seat of Anglo-Saxon and Norman royal power, on the site of an early Christian church. It has been a place of worship for fifteen centuries. This Micro-Internship project focusses on one of the cathedral’s many treasures: the seventeenth-century Morley Library with its two remarkable Blaeu Globes.
The Morley Library is a hitherto under-explored collection of books that has the potential to provide exciting insights into the way in which the world was understood in seventeenth-century England. Books in the library include a 1611 King James Bible and first edition of Milton’s Paradise Lost, alongside Conrad Gesner’sHistoriae Animalium (Zurich, 1551-87) and Leonhart Fuchs’s De Historia Stirpium (Basel, 1543). The books on the shelves are complemented by two globes, purchased in 1685 from Willem Janson Blaeu, the distinguished Dutch cartographer.
This Micro-Internship opportunity will deepen the University of Oxford’s collaboration with Winchester Cathedral and provides a valuable opportunity for students to explore the real-world impact of historical research. The project will be co-supervised by Reverend Canon Dr Roland Riem (Vice-Dean & Canon Chancellor), Dr Oliver Cox (Heritage Engagement Fellow, University of Oxford) with additional support by Professor Nandini Das (Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture at TIDE Project Director) and Dr Lauren Working (Post-Doctoral Researcher, TIDE Project).
What you will do:
- Working remotely as part of a team, you will undertake desk based research using a range of online archives and resources to explore the books in the Morley Library and suggest potential storylines for Winchester Cathedral to share with their visitors. You will think creatively and imaginatively about ways to link the books on the shelves with the terrestrial and celestial Blaeu Globes.
- Use the published catalogue of the Morley Library (H. Wray, Books in the Library at Winchester Cathedral, v. 1 (1861/2), materials provided by the Winchester Cathedral team, and digitised examples of works in the Morley Library via Early English Books Online to map the global footprint of the books – what places do they discuss, what insights do they give into a seventeenth-century world view, how can they be linked to the Blaeu Globes?
- Produce – as a team – a final outline report which outlines key themes and opportunities for further research, and suggestions for ways of interpreting and presenting these stories to Winchester Cathedral’s visitors.
What you will gain:
- By the end of the internship you will have gained experience of synthesizing a wide range of archival and online information, along with an understanding of how to present this in a concise and engaging manner to inform strategic decisions regarding the interpretation of heritage sites.
- You will have the opportunity to present your findings at the end of the week to representatives from Winchester Cathedral and the TIDE Project.
Applicant Profile:
Candidates will be considered from any humanities or social science discipline, from second-year undergraduate level and above. Candidates must demonstrate good written communication skills, experience of using research material, an interest in the heritage sector and an ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
Further details & how to apply:
This placement will take place in Week 10 (Monday 28 June - Friday 2 July).
Students are required to commit to the full micro-internship - as with any professional placement - and any concerns about dates should be raised with the Internship Office in advance of making an application.
Application closing date: 1st June, 2021, 12pm.
Reference ID: AB289
For more information and to apply, visit the Careers Service website.
TORCH Heritage Programme
