Decades of Youth: Growing Up In Twentieth Century Leeds

Our next Community History display at Abbey House Museum will focus on what it was like to be a young person growing up in different eras. It will be curated with Abbey House’s Vintage Youth Group,  who are all between 13 and 24 years old. 

Share your memories!
The Vintage Youth Group want to hear from you and your memories of being between 13 and 24 in different decades, from the 1940s and 50s, through the 60s and 70s, to the 80s, 90s and Noughties.

The big question we want to answer is: how has the experience of being a young person in Leeds changed?

We want your comments and memories, but also any photos you may have of yourselves as young people to form part of a montage in the exhibition.  We also want your memories to inform what objects we put on display.

Tell us about your teenage years
We'd like to know what was important to you when you were young? Was it getting your first job, or furthering your studies?

Were you socialising out with friends?  Listening to the latest music? Were you dedicated follower of the latest fashion?  What hobbies and interests did you have?

Did you undertake National Service or were you letting your hair down?  Were you among the first wave of 18 year olds casting your vote? Finding love? Setting up home?

Teddy boy, Glam chick, Mod, Rocker, Punk, Disco diva, Goth, Britpop fan or true individual, we want to hear from you.

How to share your memories:
Post your memories in the comments section below, on our Facebook page, via Twitter, or email me at Patrick.Bourne@leeds.gov.uk

We’d also love to see any pictures of you in your ‘era’ so don't be shy in sharing them with us on social media! We have an Instagram account @leedsmuseumsandgalleries, so do tag us in any photos. 

The Decades of Youth display will launch on July 30 2016 at Abbey House Museum.

Women's History Season at Leeds City Museum

This March and April we are putting on our first season of talks, events and study days relating specifically to women’s history.

Why are we holding these events?
 Traditionally history has focussed on the lives of those that were thought of as the important figures in society – politicians, rulers, soldiers etc. – but the vast majority of those were men. In recent years there has been a real growth in interest in social history, and in particular looking at more general experiences of life. This has included a huge growth in interest in how women have lived their lives over the centuries.

Rather than just hold a one off event for International Women’s Day we thought it might be nice to bring together museum colleagues and other speakers and researchers from organisations across Leeds to put on a whole season looking at different aspects of women’s history.

What are the talks on?
Whilst it is by no means an exhaustive selection of topics, we do have a good range from a Medieval Women Study Day to a talk on the history of Girl Guiding, via a range of topics including votes for women, gender in natural history galleries, and even Jewish fashion.

Our first talk is on March 1st at 2pm, Leeds City Museum. Janet Douglas will be speaking about Isabella Ford: Socialism, Feminism and Peace.

Find out more!
If you fancy joining us for any of the events and want to find out more you can visit our special Women’s History website. Each drop down list at the bottom of the page takes you to a list of either events, talks, or study days.

 Events and talks are free and on a drop in basis. There is a charge for study days (which includes lunch in our café), and places do need to be booked in advance with Leeds City Museum as they are limited.