About the case study
The Parliamentary Archives, Tyne and Wear Archives and the Discovery Museum explored the legacy of radical politics in the North East of England, focusing on a series of influential political figures. The politicians explored were Jack Lawson, Ellen Wilkinson, Sir Joseph Cowen and Earl Grey. Between them, they affected social change on legislation relating to poverty, unemployment, women's rights, universal suffrage and political reform.
This project was undertaken by two school groups from Sacred Heart School and Gosforth Academy. Participants worked with Tyne and Wear Archives, the Discovery Museum and the Parliamentary Archives over a period of two months. During this time, the group had workshops at their schools and the Discovery Museum, where they were introduced to archival materials and given the opportunity to document their findings.
The group visited Parliament for a day, where they toured the Archives, then attended a workshop in the archives in which they undertook research using records held in the Parliamentary Archives. After these visits, students were encouraged to create a response to their experiences and findings.
The project ended with a final event at the Discovery Museum bringing both schools, their families and other local community members together to share their responses. Responses included a reconstruction of the Jarrow March in lego and a cake in the shape of the act room at the Parliamentary Archives.