April 17, 2025, by Arts Placements

Behind the scenes as a Special Collections Assistant

Second year Archaeology student, Hannah Gregg, looks back on her placement with Manuscripts and Special Collections which she undertook as part of the Placement Module.

My expectations…

Like going into any new environment, I was extremely apprehensive before starting, especially as I’d never had experience in the archives before. Moreover, my role as a special collection assistant working with the British Military Government in Berlin’s newspaper archive required German language skills. Despite practising and learning German in school and as a hobby for 6 years, I hadn’t tested my skills in a working environment, so I worried about my ability. Furthermore, Germany after World War 2, was not something I was well-educated in.  To prepare, I spent time reading about the East and West divide to familiarise myself. After reminding myself that I had the necessary skills to complete the tasks, I started with an optimistic mindset.

Fortunately, Ursula, my supervisor, made my experience significantly better.  She was consistently helpful and able to answer any questions I had. Before my placement, I found that I struggled to ask for help in learning environments; however, Ursula made this effortless as she was supportive and continuously praised the work I was completing, which made me eager to continue my placement!

In the beginning…

My first day was nerve-racking but it didn’t take long for me to feel comfortable after having a tour of the campus and meeting the staff that make the special collections function so effectively! In my second week, I met the Conservator to practice and learn about care and handling. This session taught me how to properly take care of the books and materials in the special collections to preserve them for years to come.

What work did I complete while on placement?

I spent most of my time reading the papers and familiarising myself with the leading personalities of the GDR (East Germany) and FRG (West Germany).  I numbered each cutting and assigned it a unique document reference number to use in the catalogue. The title of the newspaper and its relevant information, like what newspaper it was from, who it was about, and when it was published, were entered into a spreadsheet.

Most of the collection was from East Germany. I researched many figures and created short bibliographies of enemies of the state as well as those who were key in the upkeep of the GDR until Germany’s reunification and I colour-coded to make it more accessible.

This experience has broadened my horizons concerning my future career path. It has been crucial in expanding my research and problem-solving skills, as there were times when I struggled and had to search through books and websites to find accurate information. Furthermore, my German language skills have developed significantly and my reading ability has improved after becoming familiar with new vocabulary through the newspapers. It was an enjoyable experience, and the knowledge I have gained is invaluable to my future.

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