PhD student curates ‘Legacies of the First World War’ exhibition

School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies student, Jo Williams, has curated a new exhibition, University of Leeds: Legacies of the First World War.

On display in Parkinson Court from 22nd October, the exhibition tells the stories of some of those commemorated by the memorial as well as setting out various aspects of life at the University during the conflict. Developments in agriculture, chemistry, textiles, medicine and cultural life are examined, as well as the role of women and the Officer Training Corps (OTC) through the war years.

The names of 25 men from Leeds who served in the war have been added to the University’s Brotherton War Memorial. The stories of the men, who all had connections to the University, were uncovered by community researcher David Stowe as part of the University’s Legacies of War project during the preliminary research for the exhibition in Parkinson Court.

The exhibition and the rededication service form part of the University’s Legacies of War centenary project.

Professor Alison Fell, who leads the project, said:

'The diversity of University staff and students’ responses to the war that we have uncovered reflects the extent to which few people remained untouched by the conflict and its legacies.

'The rededication, exhibition and concert on 22 October provided a series of important opportunities for people to both learn about and reflect on the centenary of the First World War.'