Output details

Hidden Histories of Exploration: Researching the RGS-IBG Collections: This output is a multi-media exhibition, comprising four main elements: physical displays in the RGS Pavilion Gallery and Foyle Reading Room (15th October to 10th December 2009); a project website and online exhibition (2009-present); a companion volume and catalogue (published 2009); and a traveling exhibition available for hire from the RGS-IBG (2010-present). The output presents research on the collections of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), focused on the agency of indigenous peoples and intermediaries in the history of exploration. The portfolio of evidence submitted has three main parts: the project website and online exhibition (accessible at http://hiddenhistories.rgs.org); the companion volume and catalogue (Driver F and Jones L 2009. Hidden Histories of Exploration. Researching the RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Holloway, University of London in association with the Royal Geographical Society [with IBG], London. ISBN: 978-1-905846-30-6); and a peer-reviewed journal article reflecting on the physical exhibition (Driver F 2013 ‘Hidden histories made visible? Reflections on a geographical exhibition’, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, NS 38 (3), 420-435).

‘Hidden Histories of Exploration: Researching the RGS-IBG Collections’: This output presents research on the collections of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), including manuscripts, books, maps and atlases, artefacts, artworks, photography and film. The research focused on the agency of indigenous peoples and intermediaries in the history of exploration. It had four main aims: to develop the understanding of exploration as a collective experience of work, involving many different kinds of relationships; to evaluate the (in)visibility and recognition of the contributions made by local inhabitants and intermediaries to the work of exploration; to re-interpret the visual archive of exploration, in terms of its capacity to represent the agency of locals and intermediaries; and to demonstrate the potential to open up the RGS-IBG Collections to new forms of exploration.

The research was supported by an AHRC Museums, Galleries, Archives and Libraries (MGAL) Research Grant (2008-9; Driver PI, Jones RA). This built upon an AHRC/RGS-IBG Collaborative Doctoral Award (2005-7: Driver PI, Jones PhD student). The research was presented as a multi-media exhibition, comprising four main elements: physical displays in the RGS Pavilion Gallery and Foyle Reading Room (15th October to 10th December 2009); a project website and online exhibition (2009-present); a companion volume and catalogue (published 2009); and a travelling exhibition available for hire from the RGS-IBG (2010-present).

The portfolio of evidence submitted has three main parts: the project website and online exhibition (accessible at http://hiddenhistories.rgs.org); the companion volume and catalogue (Driver & Jones 2009 Hidden Histories of Exploration. Researching the RGS-IBG Collections, Royal Holloway, University of London in association with the Royal Geographical Society [with IBG], London); and a peer-reviewed journal article reflecting on the physical exhibition (Driver 2013 ‘Hidden histories made visible? Reflections on a geographical exhibition’, Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, NS 38 (3), 420-435).

This is the output of an AHRC Research Grant Hidden Histories of Exploration: Exhibiting Geographical Collections (2008-9: Driver PI, Jones RA), which in turn built upon an AHRC / RGS-IBG Collaborative Doctoral Award (2005-7: Driver PI, Jones PhD Student). The output is a multi-media exhibition. The portfolio of evidence includes a peer-reviewed journal article of 10,189 words, a book of 16,766 words, and a substantial website (including 30 webpages, further multiple image galleries, audio pages, film resource and downloadable resources). In our judgement this scale of research and the scope of the output are appropriate for double weighting.