Education and route in:
Degree in Archaeology and Masters in Museum Studies, whilst volunteering at a local museum
I was more interested in the different ways artefacts could be brought to the public than I was in digging them up
I’ve been employed at the RAF Museum for almost two and half years, working in the Department of Research. As well as carrying out research for enquirers, our department takes care of the archive and library collections, which form a large part of the Museum’s overall collection. The material is varied and wide-ranging, covering all aspects of RAF history and the history of flight, from the 1900s to the present day.
So, how did I come to work in museums? I studied Archaeology at university and decided that I’d rather work with the objects once they’d been excavated. I was more interested in the different ways artefacts could be brought to the public than I was in digging them up. I had also spent several years volunteering at a small museum and really enjoyed the atmosphere there and the type of work. As my degree neared completion I set about researching entry paths into the museums sector and decided to do a Masters in Museum Studies. Rather than stay away for another year, I opted for a distance-learning course, so I could continue my voluntary work at a local museum. In the meantime I started job hunting.
I am keen to keep up my professional development and keep abreast of changes in the sector, by participating in short courses and attending workshops. I want to do a PhD eventually, but only after a few more years of practical experience. I hope to become more involved in the interpretation side of the sector, understanding what visitors get out of museums and how best to provide this. Something creative, on the exhibition side of things would also be good.
What’s next?
Contrary to popular belief, not all museum jobs require a post-graduate qualification in museum or heritage studies and I got several interviews from my application efforts. I eventually got called to interview by the RAF Museum and was successful, even though I hadn’t completed my Masters. I found that doing the Masters alongside an actual career in museums was beneficial and I am sure it helped me gain my eventual qualification.
The nicest part of the job is researching information about somebody’s relative, because even the smallest detail can mean the world. There are obviously some parts of the job that are not as exciting or interesting as others, but even these are vitally important to bringing our collections to the attention of the public.
As well as the collections of the ‘great and good’, we have a large amount of material from ordinary folk who served with the RAF at various points in its history. This is what makes the collections fascinating – you get to know all aspects of life in the RAF, from the ground up, wartime and peacetime, the fantastically brave to the more mundane side of Service life. The archive is full of great stories and you get to meet some amazing people.