Case Study
Our Criminal Ancestors: Engaging the public and the heritage sector through crime history and family ancestry
Based on its research excellence in crime history, the University of Hull is leading the way in public engagement and knowledge exchange. This project builds on a continuing collaboration with the heritage sector using a shared interest in our collective criminal past.
CHALLENGE
There has been a huge interest in family history and research recently, and television shows like Who Do You Think You Are have attracted large audiences in the UK and across the Atlantic. We have also seen a growth in the digitisation of archive records and the massive expansion of online datasets by companies like Ancestry and FindMyPast and more recently, a surge in the use of genetic or DNA genealogy kits to discover more about our past.
Within this digital expansion, many records relating to crime, policing and punishment have been made available, and the public are keen to find out more about the cases involving their own ancestors. We use the term 'criminal ancestors' broadly to include criminals, prisoners, but also those who worked in the criminal justice system, those who were suspects, victims or witnesses to crime.
Crime history can offer a way into researching past lives that are not otherwise available. It can be the window into the lives of those from the working class or lower socio-economic groups who have left little evidence (beyond birth, marriage, death). Witness statements or prison records can provide a valuable insight into society and everyday life. Understanding the wider social context in which ancestors committed crime and the operation of the criminal justice system can help a more nuanced understanding of the past.
APPROACH
The Criminal Ancestors project was set up initially and supported by two research grants from the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The first created a network with archives, museums and the heritage sector and the second aimed to work directly with the public. The ongoing project continues this collaboration between by Professor Helen Johnston at the University of Hull, and Professor Heather Shore (Manchester Metropolitan University).
Engaging with archives, museums and the heritage sector and with the public
Were any of your ancestors transported to Australia as punishment? What was it like to serve a prison sentence in the past? Perhaps your ancestor was held in a reformatory school? Or you discovered them on a 'habitual criminals register' - we provide simple, free guides to getting started with finding out about all of these questions.
Through a shared interest in our criminal past Helen and Heather have been successfully collaborating with archives, museums and the heritage sector, and with the public. They have collaborated with Hull History Centre, East Riding Archives, Ripon Museums Trust, Bradford Police Museum as well as leading events at Northallerton Archives, York Castle Museum and other regionally and nationally. The project features as a case study of good practice in The National Archives and History UK (2018) A Guide to Collaboration for Archives and Higher Education
Our Criminal Ancestors - Aims and Outcomes
The primary aims for the project are to:
- facilitate knowledge exchange between academics and the heritage sector to consider the preservation, presentation and dissemination of crime history
- encourage and facilitate the public to find, interpret and use archival records (digital and original form) to their 'criminal' ancestors.
- create open access website to help the public researching criminal ancestors - www.ourcriminalancestors.org
- create a sustainable public engagement tool for use in different regional settings with a variety of partners.
Working with Hull History Centre and East Riding Archives, the project team have created a Source Guide to help members of the public research their own criminal past.
IMPACT
Working with archives and museums across the region and beyond, the project team has been facilitating workshops with the public. Through these face to face workshops and the Criminal Ancestors website the project team aims to provide knowledge and skills to those looking to explore their criminal ancestors. Helen and her colleagues provide free advice, guides and insights into the history of crime, policing and punishment as well as case studies and blogs to help with research.
Helen’s research has proved invaluable when investigating criminal cases of the past. She has been interviewed on two episodes of the BBC series Murder, Mystery and my Family, an award-winning and popular series that reinvestigates a historic case which might have been a miscarriage of justice. Helen’s first appearance in April 2019 was with former colleague Dr Victoria Dawson, and investigated the case of Ethel Major, who was executed for murdering her husband, the only woman and the last person to be executed at Hull Prison. In December 2018, Helen was interviewed about the case of Louie Calvert.
Follow the Criminal Ancestors project at @ourcriminalpast.