ENGLAND: THE OTHER WITHIN

PRM Teaching Part 2

Alison Petch,
Researcher 'The Other Within' project

References to teaching in the Annual Reports

The extracts given below are taken straight from the published Annual Reports of the Museum which have been published annually between 1893 and this year and are all the references to teaching in the Museum's Annual Reports

Section 1 - Annual Reports 1893 to 1941-2
Section 2 - Annual Reports 1942-3 to 1954-5
Section 3 - Annual Reports 1955-6 to 1963-4
Section 4 - Annual Reports 1964-5 to 1982-3
Section 5 - Annual Reports 1983-4 to 1992-3
Section 6 - Annual Reports 1993-4 to 2005-6

Please note that these edited extracts from the Annual Reports omit almost all mention to teaching outside of the mainstream Diploma / Masters teaching in the Pitt Rivers Museum. In addition to the activities recorded here staff supervised research students, lectured at other institutions, and lectured to visiting groups and schoolchildren.

1942-3 Teaching, as always, held first claim on our attention. The Curator’s one-year course on the Origins of Civilization and one-term course on Race, Culture, and Environment, and special tuition were given to students of the Honour School of Geography, and much informal advice to research students. At the request of pupils in the Geography School Miss Blackwood enlarged her Ethnological Survey of the World to two lectures weekly throughout the year, and in connexion with this and the Curator’s revised lectures made and added about 500 lantern slides to our permanent collection. Our thanks are due to Mrs. Murray Chapman for lending negatives from the New Hebrides, Mr. G. E. Harvey for Burmese negatives, and to Professor Champion for the gift of Malayan photographs.

1943-4 The Curator and Demonstrator continued to teach students reading for the Honour School of Geography, and to give much informal information to research students from many parts of the country. The Curator gave his usual course on the ‘Origins of Civilization’ and on ‘Race, Culture, and Environment’, continued to serve as Secretary to Heads of the Science Departments, and gave lectures in Hilary and Trinity Terms for Professor Beazley’s course on ‘Archaeology and History’ in the Ashmolean Museum. Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly throughout the year, giving her usual Ethnological Survey to students of the Honour School of Geography, paying extra attention this year to Africa, which was their special area, and to Europe, and read a paper to the Oxford Social Studies Association on ‘What is Anthropology, and why do we study it?’ In connexion with this work, and with the Curator’s lectures, she made over 350 lantern-slides for our rapidly growing collection, and cleaned and rebound more than 300 others in a collection which we recently acquired.

1944-5 The Curator gave his one-year course on the Origins of Civilization to students from the Honour School of Geography and of Modern History, and gave short courses twice on the same subject to Cadets of the Royal Corps of Signals. The usual course on Race, Culture, and Environment was given in Trinity Term, and throughout the year advice was given by letter or in person to Research Students. Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in all three terms to students of the Honour School of Geography and of Modern History, and others, giving her usual Ethnological Survey of the World, this time with special attention to Oceania. In addition to giving much help to Research Students, she gave a special class on Skeletal Anatomy at the request of the Oxford University Archaeological Society, and another on Anthropological Method to four students about to do fieldwork in Burma and elsewhere.

1945-6 In both years, the Curator gave his one-year course on the ‘Origins of Civilization’ and one-term course on ‘Race, Culture, and Environment;, and in one year gave a short course on Origins to Cadets of the Royal Corps of Signals. Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly throughout both years; in the first, giving a general survey of the world, and in the second, devoting a term each to Europe, Aboriginal America, and Africa. In the latter two terms of each year she also gave a course of lectures on the prescribed special areas of Malaya and Indonesia, Melanesia, and New Guinea. She also arranged special classes for the Oxford Archaeological Society, and for students about to do field work in Burma. Like the Curator, she assisted research students from various parts of the world as the need arose. Mr. Bradford gave a one-term course on ‘Air Photography and Environmental Studies’. Mr. Turner lectured to the Ashmolean Natural History Society in October 1946, on ‘Native American Contributions to our Food and Industry’.
The Curator and Miss Blackwood examined for the Diploma in Anthropology and acted as judges for the degree of D.Sc.

1946-7 The Curator gave his usual course on Origins of Civilization in all three terms, and supervised practical work, in which he was greatly assisted by Mr. Bradford and Sir Francis Knowles, who continued to give invaluable assistance in the technology of stone implements, sorting over hundredweights, I had almost said tons, in the course of the year. ... Miss Blackwood gave an Ethnological Survey of Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, twice weekly throughout the year, and in two terms lectured weekly on the special areas of Malaya, Indonesia, and Melanesia, in addition to supervising practical work once weekly with the help of Mr. Bradford. ... Mr. Bradford lectured on ‘Humanity from the Air’ in one term, and in the other terms assisted the Curator and Miss Blackwood weekly in practical work, into which he has successfully introduced the drawing of objects. He has also lectured to the Prehistoric Society on ‘Neolithic Communities in South Italy in the Light of Aerial Photography’, and given a broadcast talk on ‘Prehistoric Sites in Dorset’ in the Series entitled ‘The Archaeologist’.

1947-8 Teaching, as usual, occupied much of our time. The Curator gave his usual course once weekly on The Origins of Civilization; Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms on Lands and Peoples, dealing with Hunters and Herders in the first Term, and with Cultivators in the second. In the Trinity Term she lectured once weekly on 'The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America', and once weekly on the 'Material Culture of East Africa', the special area chosen by the Board of Faculty for intensive study. Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in Michaelmas Term on Anthropology and History, once weekly in Hilary Term on The Growth of Urban Civilization, and once weekly in Trinity Term on Nomad Empires of Asia. Mr. Bradford also assisted Miss Blackwood in Practical work in Ethnology for Diploma students throughout the year, and the Curator in practical work in Archaeology and Technology. In both courses he successfully introduced drawing, which is much enjoyed, and shows good results in the Diploma Examination. Sir Francis Knowles continued to give instruction in drawing stone implements. For the first time, students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography attended Miss Blackwood’s lectures on Lands and Peoples, and were given special tuition by Mr. Bradford. The Curator was one of the Examiners at the first examination in this new Preliminary, and both the Curator and Miss Blackwood examined for the Diploma of Anthropology.

1948-9 The Museum has so organized its teaching and routine that Mr. Bradford can be away until November, but absence of a Demonstrator from our small Staff emphasizes the need for at least one more Demonstrator, as our teaching programme and routine work are heavy, and since field-work is vital to us, it is desirable that Demonstrators should take turns in being away, two always being in residence, while one is in the field. ... Teaching occupied more time than usual as the number of students is regularly increasing. Fourteen students for the Diploma in Anthropology, twenty-seven from the Department of Geography (of whom sixteen were reading Ethnology for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School), and thirty-one other students attended lectures or received tuition in the Department. The Curator gave his ‘Origins of Civilization’ once weekly throughout the year, and examined in the Tripos in Anthropology and Archaeology for the University of Cambridge. Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in all three Terms: on ‘Lands and Peoples (Hunters and Herders) ‘ in Michaelmas Term, and on ‘Lands and Peoples (Cultivators)’ in Hilary Term, to students for the Diploma and for the Preliminary in Geography. In Trinity Term she gave ‘The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America’ once weekly, and ‘Material Culture of East Africa’, the special area for the Diploma Examination, once a week to Diploma and Colonial Students and others. In Michaelmas and Hilary Terms she conducted practical work with Mr. Bradford once weekly for Diploma students, and alone gave practical instruction to Geography students twice weekly after her lectures. She acted as Moderator for the Preliminary Examination in Geography, and examined for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Cambridge. Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly throughout the year: on ‘Nomad Empires of Asia’ in Hilary Term, and on ‘City, Village, and Field in Eastern Asia’ in Trinity Term; assisted Miss Blackwood in practical work in Ethnology in two Terms; and in all three Terms, with the Curator and Sir Francis Knowles, assisted in the practical work in Archaeology and Technology for Diploma students, both her and Sir Francis teaching drawing with very successful results in the examination. He was responsible in all three Terms for tutorial work for the Preliminary Examination in Geography, and in Trinity Term served as a Moderator. Other lectures and demonstrations given by Mr. Bradford were `An Aerial Survey of Prehistoric and Roman Agriculture in Southern Italy’ to the Society of Antiquaries, `The First Farmers in Italy’ to the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, `Archaeology in the Making’ for the Faculty of Anthropology and Archaeology in the University of Cambridge, followed later by demonstrations to their students on a visit to Oxford, and `The Uses of Air Photography’ for the Herbertson Society.

1949-50 In addition to activities already mentioned, the Curator lectured once weekly in all three terms on Origins of Civilization ... Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in Michaelmas Term on Hunters and Herders, and twice weekly on Cultivators in Hilary Term, these lectures being attended by students taking Ethnology in the Preliminary Examination for the Honour School of Geography as well as by our own Diploma and some research students. In Trinity Term she lectured once weekly on Aztec, Maya, and Inca, and their Predecessors, and once weekly on the Material Culture of S.E. Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya, the Special Area prescribed for Diploma students. In Michaelmas Term and Hilary she supervised practical work with Mr. Bradford for Diploma students, and as usual gave special demonstrations to our own students or visiting research students. ... In Hilary Term Mr. Bradford gave weekly lectures on Nomad Empires of Asia, and in Trinity Term on City, Village, and Field in Eastern Asia, as well as two lectures for the Professor of European Archaeology on The Settled Peasantries in Italy, Greece, and the Balkans, and one lecture to the University Anthropological society on Fieldwork and Excavation in S.E. Italy, 1949: The Neolithic Results. During Hilary and Trinity Terms he gave practical instruction, together with Miss Blackwood and Sir Francis Knowles, on archaeological and ethnological draughtsmanship, identification of material, interpretation of air photographs, social data from maps, and recognition of physical types, gave weekly tutorials to 24 students from the School of Geography during Hilary Term, 8 being assigned to Mr. Roberts of the Department of Human Anatomy, and as Moderator, examined the whole group for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. He also continued supervision of two candidates for the D.Phil. ... We are very happy to tell our readers that on 1 October 1951, Mr. W. C. Brice will join our staff as University Demonstrator and Lecturer.

1950-1 Among other activities, the Curator lectured once weekly in all three terms, on `The Origins of Civilization,’ and continued as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology and Interviewer of Research Students, and as Secretary to the Heads of Science Departments. ... Miss Blackwood gave an `Ethnological Survey’ twice weekly in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms to students for the Diploma in Anthropology and to those taking Ethnology in the Preliminary Examination of the Honour School of Geography, as well as to some research students. In both of these terms she collaborated with Mr. Bradford weekly in sessions of practical work for Diploma students, and gave regular shorter sessions of practical work to students for the Preliminary Examination in Geography, as well as a considerable number of informal demonstrations to research workers and others when required. During Michaelmas Term she gave three lectures on `Arts and Industries of Colonial Africa’ to Colonial Serve Cadets, and in Trinity Term lectured once weekly on ‘The Higher Civilization of Pre-Conquest America’. ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in all three terms, on ‘Nomad Empires of Asia’ in Michaelmas Term. on `City, Village, and Field in Eastern Asia’ in Hilary Term, and in Trinity Term gave two lectures each on `The Arts of Primitive Peoples, an Introduction’, and on `Trade Goods and Trade Ornaments: an Historical Summary with Special Reference to Africa’. He gave practical classes in all three terms, and taught drawing to the students. He also gave tutorials to 31 pupils for the Preliminary Examination in Geography in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, and acted as Moderator for the Preliminary in Trinity Term, in succession to Miss Blackwood who served in Hilary Term. Other lectures given were ‘The Apennines in Pre-history’ at the Institute of Archaeology, University of London, ‘Fieldwork and Excavation in Apulia’ at the Ashmolean Museum, and an account of recent work in Apulia by his Expedition to the University Anthropological Society.

1951-2 The Curator lectured once weekly in all three term on ‘The Origins of Civilization’ ... Miss Blackwood lectured in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms twice weekly to students for the Diploma in Anthropology and to students in the Honour School of Geography, her general title being 'Lands and Peoples', and the terminal titles being 'Hunters and Herders' and 'Cultivators'. In this last, she took the opportunity of asking Mr. Brice to give six lectures on areas of which he has had recent personal experience. With Mr. Brice, she gave practical classes to Geographers immediately after each lecture, and with Mr. Bradford and Mr. Brice gave practical classes once weekly to Diploma students. In Trinity Term she lectured once weekly on 'The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America', once weekly on 'Material Culture of East Africa', the special area for Diploma Students, and gave three lectures to Colonial Service Cadets on 'Arts and Industries of British Africa'. ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in Michaelmas Term on 'Nomad Empires of Asia', in Hilary Term on 'City, Village, and Field in Eastern Asia', and in Trinity Term on 'The Study of Tribal Art, and the Influence of Ancient and Modern Trade'. He gave 'Masterpieces of Tribal Art in the Pitt Rivers Museum' as his Presidential address to the Oxford University Anthropological Society, and also gave the lecture to the University Archaeological Society and to the Berkshire Archaeological Society. He also gave the Inaugural Lecture on 'The Iron Age in England' to the Training Excavation at Hunsbury, Northants., sponsored by the Council for British Archaeology. With Miss Blackwood and Mr. Brice he gave practical instruction to Diploma students throughout the year, and gave 42 tutorials to students taking Ethnology for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. He examined as Moderator in the Geography Preliminary, 36 out of 53 candidates choosing Ethnology, and examined for the Diploma in Anthropology. For the Board of the Faculty of Literae Humaniores he examined a candidate for the D.Phil. on 'Some Aspects of the Romano-British Rural System of the Lowland Zone'. ... In Michaelmas Term Mr. Brice lectured once weekly on 'Peoples and Customs of Asia Minor', in Hilary Term on 'Caravan Trade of Western Asia', and in Trinity Term on 'Nomadism in Anatolia'. Throughout the year he took part in all of the practical classes, tutored twelve students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography, and was an examiner in the Preliminary in Geography in June I952.

1952-3 During the year the curator lectured once weekly in all three terms on 'Origins of Civilization', and gave general direction to other teaching. Instruction was arranged by members of the staff for members of the Museums Association course who visited Oxford as part of their work for the Association's Diploma, and help given to other organizations and to people engaged in research. The curator continued to serve as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology and Interviewer of Research Students, and also to act as Secretary to Heads of the Science Departments. ... In Michaelmas and Hilary Terms Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly on 'Lands and Peoples', the first series being on 'Hunters and Herders', and the second on 'Cultivators'. Besides our diploma students, these were attended by 45 students for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. In Trinity Term she gave lectures once weekly on 'The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America', and once weekly on 'The Material Culture of East Africa' for diploma students. She also gave a course on 'Arts and Industries of British Africa' for Colonial Service Cadets. With Mr. Brice she gave a Practical Class twice weekly for two terms to Geography students, and with Mr. Bradford and Mr. Brice gave a Practical Class to diploma students once weekly in all three terms. In addition to assisting in the course for the Diploma of the Museums Association ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in all three terms, his titles being 'Nomad Empires of Asia', 'City, Village, and Field in Eastern Asia', and 'The Study of Tribal Art and the Consequences of Ancient and Modern Trade'. He also assisted in the Practical Classes each week, gave tutorials to 27 people, and examined for the Diploma in Anthropology. ... Mr. Brice lectured once weekly in all three terms, assisted twice weekly for two terms in the Practical Classes for Geography students, and once weekly throughout the year took part in the Practical Classes for Diploma students. He also took part in the Diploma course of the Museums Association. The titles of his lectures were 'Rural Arts and Crafts of the Middle East', 'Routes and Customs of Trade in the Levant', and 'Heterodox Peoples of Anatolia'. During the year he gave tutorials to I8 people, and examined for the Preliminary in Geography.

1953-4 The Curator lectured in all three terms on 'Origins of Civilization', and continued to serve as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology and as Secretary to Heads of Science Departments. ... A short course was arranged for students taking the Diploma of the Museums Association, and the Curator contributed a lecture on metallurgical exhibits in the Museum. ... Apart from work on the catalogue, already mentioned, and assistance in editing Papers 6 and 7, Miss Blackwood lectured twice weekly in all three terms, and arranged and assisted in Practical Courses, both for students working for the Diploma in Anthropology, and for those taking ethnology in the Preliminary Examination for the Honour School of Geography, her subjects being 'Lands and Peoples', dealing with 'Hunters and Herders' in Michaelmas and 'Cultivators' in Hilary Terms, and in Trinity Term 'Aztec, Maya and Inca, and their Predecessors', and 'Material Culture of the Special Area for the Diploma'. She also gave a course for Colonial Service Cadets on 'Arts and Industries of British Africa', and a demonstration of ethnological techniques for the Diploma Course of the Museums Association, as well as a very large amount of assistance to various research workers. ... In addition to activities already mentioned, and good progress in cataloguing air photographs, Mr. Bradford lectured in all three terms once weekly, and assisted in Practical Courses. In Michaelmas his subject was 'Nomad Empires of Asia', in Hilary 'City, Village and Field in Eastern Asia', and in Trinity 'The Study and Archaeology of Tribal Art'. He also gave a lecture for the Museums Association Diploma. ... He served as Chairman of Examiner for the Diploma in Anthropology and as Examiner in the Preliminary for the Honour School of Geography, and taught twenty different pupils ethnology for the Honour School. ... Besides rearrangements of exhibitions already described, Mr. Brice lectured in each term once weekly and assisted in the Practical work. His subjects were 'Rural Economy of the Ancient Middle East', 'Commercial Traditions of S.W. Asia', and 'The Nomadic Tribes of Turkey' for the Diploma. For the School of Geography, he took part in the course of lectures on 'India and Pakistan' ... He supervised one D.Phil. student, and taught twenty-two students in ethnology for the Preliminary Examination for the Honour School of Geography.

1954-5 Apart from various activities noted above, and work on editing Numbers 7 and 8 of our Occasional Papers on Technology, the Curator lectured in all three terms on Origins of Civilization, took part in practical teaching, including a demonstration for candidates for the Diploma of the Museums Association, and continued to serve as Diploma Secretary for Anthropology, Interviewer of Research Students, and Secretary to Heads of Science Departments. It has been a year of putting everything to go and seeing that nothing comes to an end. ... Throughout the year [Blackwood] lectured twice a week, and gave a long practical class once weekly for the students for the Diploma in Anthropology, and two shorter practical classes twice weekly for students working for the Preliminary Examination in the Honour School of Geography. In the former she was assisted by Mr. Bradford and Mr. Brice, and in the latter by Mr. Brice. During Michaelmas and Hilary Terms, her general title was Lands and Peoples, the first term dealing with Hunters and Herders, and the second with Cultivators. These lectures were given both to Diploma and to Geography students. In Trinity Term, for Diploma students she gave The Higher Civilizations of Pre-Conquest America once weekly. She also gave four lectures and demonstrations on Some Arts and Industries of Malaya to Overseas Cadets going to Malaya, and three lectures and demonstrations on Some Arts and Industries of British Africa to Overseas Cadets going to Africa. ... Mr. Bradford lectured once weekly in all three terms, his Michaelmas lectures being on Nomad Empires of Asia, the Hilary lectures on The First Farmers in Europe, and the Trinity lectures on Peoples and Crafts in Britain in the First Millennium B.C. He also assisted in the weekly practical class in Ethnology, and gave a weekly practical class in Archaeology. ... In Michaelmas Term Mr. Brice lectured on Village Life in Ancient Anatolia, and assisted in practical classes. He then left us for a post in the University of Manchester where he will be free to work entirely on Near Eastern studies. During Hilary Term he came to Oxford one day a week to help with tutorial work and the supervision of research students.