I’ve avoided the temptation to title this with some ‘first time’ style innuendo so feel I have started well.
I could have perhaps done a little better; as a historian I am well practiced in the idea of research before writing. So naturally I have begun this blog having skim-read about 2 blogs ever.
Safe to say then, I am a little unsure of where to start. I have therefore decided to follow the advice of someone who spoils a good pair of curtains to make some dodgy looking dresses and culottes – to start at the very beginning, a very good place to start.
Late 2009 , in my room preparing for another dissertation library slog. Radio 4, with its laid back air and classless appeal, makes natural motivational listening. I tune in to a feature to hear someone energetically explaining his mission to save diaries for their uniqueness as a historical resource, for the intimate life details they contain.
I was inspired. He’d hit on everything I love about history - the human stories that make it so realistic, that allow you to imagine what life was actually like, not think in abstract political theories or of monarchs with bafflingly similar names (I mean who thought it was a good idea to have 6 King Georges? And 4 of them consecutively? Seriously?). Realism makes history just amazingly, hugely, interesting.
I jumped on my computer and let my inner stalker take the win - googled the radio show, found Irving Finkel was my guy then googled his name and found he worked at the British Museum and contacted him on his work email. Thank goodness for modern lack of privacy is all I can say.
I messaged saying I had heard the show and thought it was amazing and great and I'd love to be involved. A few days later my house mate was startled from her Helicopter Heroes trance by an excitable 'ohmygoodnessIrvingemailedbackandwantstotalkaboutDiariesI'mgonnagoemailhimbacknow.'
Since then I’ve been hounding Irving with emails asking for updates and making my own contributions as and when I can, one of which is this blog.
Others I will catch up on at a later date.
So thats the story. Not of Balamorey (my own wit amazes me). But of how I got to be involved with ‘that diary thing’- otherwise known as the effort to save a hugely important and unique historical resource from the recycle bin in order to inform and inspire later generations.
There’s alot more to say, but I want people to actually continue to read this blog, so for now, I shall leave you be.
