Imperial War Museum Duxford - Press Release

Imperial War Museum Duxford and the University of Cambridge are collaborating to present an exciting range of day-schools for spring 2010, offering learning experiences that stimulate and inspire.

Memorialising the Great War, on Thursday 18 February 2010, revisits the work of the poets, artists and sculptors of the FirstWorld War. In the light of recent revisionist criticism, it will explore whether their testimony has really contributed to a distorted myth of the GreatWar.

Popular culture in World War II, commencing on Tuesday 13 April 2010, discusses the impact of distinctive aspects of popular culture in Britain from 1939 to 1945 - from ITMA (It’s That Man Again) on the wireless, to the thrilling patriotism of In Which We Serve at the picture house to the heart-warming sound of Vera Lynn singing We’ll Meet Again. This bullish propaganda, which created a collective wartime community spirit, is explored, appreciated and analysed alongside the enduring popularity of 1940s culture.

If you’ve ever thought about writing your family history or your own past experiences, the Writing history course is for you! Led by Midge Gilles, a freelance journalist and author of six non-fiction books, including biographies of Amy Johnson and Marie Lloyd, this course will give you the skills you need to put those memories down on paper for posterity. Writing history commences on Wednesday 7 April 2010.

The 20th century was dominated by war which, in turn, brought about social change in a widespread and expeditious manner. Art reflected this change in society, documenting the horror of war and consequential socio-demographic developments. By examining the work of 20th century artists, this course will show how society influenced art, and vice versa. War, peace and social change in 20th century art commences on Monday 12 April 2010.

If your family were involved in the military, then Tracking down your military ancestors will provide you with the basic research skills to unearth the original records relating to your military forebears. This course will look at the availability of records from the English Civil War up to the 1940s, the best resources to use and how to identify your military ancestor. Case studies and copies of original documents will be used and there will be use of the archives held at the Imperial War Museum. Tracking down your military ancestors commences on Thursday 15 April 2010.

Develop your passion for learning with these engrossing courses, presented by expert tutors from one of the world’s great universities and held at a unique, nationallyrecognised Museum.

Memorialising the Great War is held on Thursday 18 February 2010.

Popular culture in World War II is held over five sessions, on Tuesday 13 April, Tuesday 27 April, Tuesday 11 May, Tuesday 25 May and Tuesday 8 June 2010.

Writing history is held over five sessions, on Wednesday 7 April, Wednesday 21 April, Wednesday 5 May,Wednesday 19 May and Wednesday 2 June 2010.

War, peace and social change in 20th century art is held over five sessions, on Monday 12 April, Monday 19 April, Monday 26 April, Monday 10 May and Monday 17 May 2010.

Tracking down your military ancestors is held over five sessions, on Thursday 15 April, Thursday 29 April, Thursday 13 May, Thursday 27 May and Thursday 10 June 2010. For further information, go to www.cont-ed.cam.ac.uk or call 01223 746 222.

Imperial War Museum Duxford is just south of Cambridge at junction 10 of the M11. Ample free parking is available. For a full list of Duxford’s air shows and other exciting events in 2009, including half term activities for families, visit www.iwm.org.uk/duxford or telephone 01223 835 000.