Glasgow Women's Library » Inverness

Oral history from women in the Highlands

Morag — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:51:45 +0000

Oral history workshop at Women's Work in the Highlands

In December 2009, we held a conference in partnership with WEA women@work, Women’s Work in the Highlands. Women from all over the Highlands gathered for a wonderful day which included introductory oral history workshops. This recording and the transcription below is an example of some of the fascinating stories and memories that were recorded.

Runaway Bride (mp3)

Runaway Bride

P2: [...] And upholding the name of the family. My great grandmother, that’s my mothers grandmother, was a fascinating women. She was a Rowntree, she was part of the original Rowntree family in Yorkshire. But she did the unforgivable, and she ran off with the Irish groom.

P1: Oh no.

P2: And married him. And had 14 children. And she was totally excommunicated by the Rowntree family. As far as I know, anyway. And it wasn’t talked about. My mother mentioned it to me, but as a child I used to want to more because I liked Rowntree chocolate. That’s probably why I inherited this state. And she just wouldn’t. No, no, no. And nobody would speak to her about it either. Her mother never mentioned it her grandmother never mentioned it. And the Irish groom, I mean I have got photographs of them both, but I would loved to have met him. But he drank. So my great grandmother had a business head on her, and she had number of different businesses. One was a jointing car business. Taxi cab service. And as fast as she made the money, he drank it. And then in his mid 40s, apparently, when he was in the pub, or the bar, with the men, the Salvation Army came in and he didn’t touch a drop after that. He just never ever drank after that. And it’s absolutely amazing. And I see these two photos and I think, I wish I could have met you. But my mother could tell me nothing about them. Apart from the stories that she had of her childhood with him. Because he was an old reprobate – I’d loved to have met him. But I mean, it’s just not talked about. And I remember as a child asking my great aunts – my spinster great aunts – in Ireland about great grandma, it was ‘Sshhhh. Don’t talk about that.’ That was me well and truly told off. I think all of our, all our families have secrets they do not talk about. You know.

Summer Walks in Inverness for Women and their Families

Morag — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:30:09 +0000

Come along for a short introductory walk around the beautiful Merkinch local nature reserve right in the heart of Inverness. Children’s bug hunt and other learning activities with Highland Council Ranger Service, wildlife spotting and the chance to record what you discover with digital cameras. Tea/coffee at the Old Ferry ticket office. Suitable for all ages. Free of charge but bring a packed lunch.

11.30 – 2.30pm – meet at Old Ferry ticket office. Prior booking essential. For more information contact Morag smith on 0141 248 9969.

Your Women’s Library in the Highlands

Morag — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:00:40 +0000

This national lifelong learning event, organised by WEA women@Work project, is an informal introductory workshop on Glasgow Women’s Library. Aimed at women in the Inverness area, it will include a fun quiz on women’s achievements, past and present(with prizes!) and a short presentation about the women’s library and the activities and learning we are offering women in Scotland.

Date: Wednesday 3rd February 12noon-2pm

Venue: Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

Women’s Work in the Highlands

Morag — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:24:20 +0000

Library staff and volunteers went on a road trip to Inverness just before Christmas to participate in the Women’s Work in the Highlands conference. This day event, organised in partnership by WEA Scotland, GWL and the Highland Archive Centre, was a chance to explore and celebrate the working lives of Highland women. There were inspirational speakers such as Margaret Bennet who took us through a history of women’s work in song and there was a wealth of beautiful images and fascinating histories from the story of women in the Highlands.

GWL's information stall

Morag, Nisha and Hannah from the library staff team, Jean, one of our volunteer tour guides, and Nikky and Shauna our artists-in-residence all helped to organise workshops and a talk about the library and it’s move towards becoming the Women’s Library of Scotland. We also had an information stall and showed some silent film footage, courtesy of the Scottish Screen Archive, of working women from the past.

The workshops included a talk about developing a women’s history walk where conference delegates had the chance to literally put Highland women of past and present on the map and an oral history workshop.

Oral History workshop

It was a busy but hugely enjoyable day – and we made it back just before the snows started! Our involvement in this event forms part of the new National Lifelong Learning programme which is taking the work of the Women’s Library across Scotland.