An interview with Ellen and Louise
A young person’s view: An interview with Ellen and Louise
By Ellen Molnar and Louise Moracchini, Look Again Project Volunteers
Louise and Ellen are both student volunteers at The Salisbury Museum. This interview provides a little insight into what we do here, and why we do it.
When did you join the museum as a volunteer?
Ellen: July 2018, in the summer between Year 10 and Year 11.
Louise: January this year! I’m quite new.
Why did you become a volunteer?
E: I needed something to do for my volunteering section for my Silver Duke of Edinburgh, and I love history and want to do it at university, so the museum seemed like the perfect place.
L: I only recently decided I wanted to do history at university, so I was looking for some history experience that would use the skills I already have. When I heard about volunteering at the museum through Ellen, it sounded like a great opportunity.
What do you do here?
E: A lot of things! I write posts for the Look Again Project Instagram account, and I’ve helped in the Costume stores, as well as with making design choices for the gallery and writing them up. I help out at children’s holiday workshops during the holidays too. At the moment, I’m writing blog posts for the Look Again blog.
L: I’m an aspiring journalist, so I write a lot! Before now, it was information about the artefacts that are going to be displayed in the Look Again project, and now it’s work for the museum blog, just like this article.
What is the Look Again project?
E: The Look Again Project is aimed at re-cataloguing and designing the Museum’s Fashion Gallery, all with the help of different groups of young people.
L: As suggested by the name, the project focuses on taking another look at fashion history in Salisbury. We often overlook how important the role of fashion is in our local history, and this project explores this gap further.
What do you like about being a volunteer?
E: I like the variety of things and how many opportunities there are! And everyone at the Museum is lovely and great to work with. It’s a great community to be a part of
L: I love learning more about our local history. It’s amazing how much I might have missed without being a volunteer here, Salisbury never ceases to surprise me!
How has working on the [look again] project helped develop your personal skills?
E: I think the Project has helped me to gain confidence and get better at talking to new people, as well as teaching me a lot about working on projects and all the different considerations that have to be taken into account, and how museums work
L: Although I write alone, I’ve learnt a lot about tailoring my work to the ethos of the project and the team, not to mention starting from scratch on museum work as a concept. I’ve become better at working with others on the big picture, but also more independent in my individual tasks.
What’s one of the most interesting things you’ve seen/learnt while working here?
E: The highlights of things I’ve done have probably been seeing some of Queen Victoria’s underwear, and trying on replicas of some of the dresses in the gallery. I think the most interesting things have been talking to the Arts Society Volunteers in the stores about the items they’ve been cataloguing and learning more about historical fashion, which is actually super interesting. I’ve learnt a lot about techniques and movements
L: One of my favourite artefacts is Princess Obolenskaya’s purple dress. Not only is the dress beautiful, but it tells an incredible story of the woman behind it. I love that fashion history makes the fabric so human.
Has your perception of Salisbury’s history changed?
E: So much! I have so much more of an understanding of things that have happened in and around Salisbury and what its role was more widely historically but also what happened in the city itself. I’d never really known much about local history until I started at the Museum and it’s shown me just how interesting some of Salisbury’s is, especially with regards to Anglo-Saxons which is ones of my favourite periods of history.
L: I have to admit that before now my view of Salisbury’s history was reasonably shallow, but the interaction of people’s individual histories within the work here has sparked my interest in the famous faces that have graced our city!
What’s your next step?
E: I’m currently doing my A-levels, and when lockdown ends, I’d like to go back to the museum and continue volunteering until I hopefully go to university next year to do history. I’d love to go to Oxford or York.
L: I am also an A-level student, and like Ellen, I’m also hoping to go on to do history at university next year. After that, who knows? But I’d definitely like to keep on writing!
What advice would you give to new volunteers starting at the museum?
E: I think I’d say make the most of all the opportunities you have because there’s so much great stuff to get involved in. And don’t worry if it takes you a while to learn your way around!
L: Speak to everybody and be friendly! The volunteers are all lovely, and you’ll learn the most from those who are a bit more experienced. In that vein, don’t be afraid to ask questions, we’re always happy to answer.