Cleary Fellowship - My Research Trip in a Nutshell

As explained in my dissertation abstract, I am investigating the motivations for building American Collegiate Gothic architecture.  My project requires on-site analysis of college built environments. Because the architecture and layouts at Oxford and Cambridge colleges were (and still are) the antecedents for many Collegiate Gothic designs in the United States, it was imperative to begin my investigation in England. The T. Anne Cleary Fellowship made this research possible.

I was already attending an international conference in Dublin for PhD candidates studying architecture in mid-May, so it made sense to stay overseas and complete my dissertation research in England. After hearing that I received the Cleary fellowship at the end of April, I had two weeks to put together a research trip that would last about three weeks.

Any busy graduate student finishing the semester will tell you that this is a monstrous feat. I made use of all my contacts that had connections with Fellows and Librarians at Oxford and Cambridge. I was lucky enough to have the assistance of an University of Iowa alum living in London, who knows a few art and architectural historians working or currently attending school at Oxford and Cambridge. He was a lifesaver.

I also put myself on the line, contacting Librarians at each of the colleges I needed to investigate. Each college at Oxford and Cambridge is autonomous, so one must contact each to gain access to their grounds and facilities. Contacting the Librarians and putting myself at their mercy was my greatest advantage in my travels, and I recommend that every researcher become friends with Librarians and Archivists. They are generally very friendly and enjoy hosting those interested in the material they practically live with on a daily basis. Even if I did not ask for archival resources, they frequently retrieved items that might interest me and allowed me complete access. 

View of Oxford (mostly All Souls College) from the Sheldonian's cupola, photo by Mary R. Springer

Two major complications thwarted my research, yet somehow, I overcame both:

1. Exams

Selwyn College, Cambridge. Notice the sign that states, "Examinations Taking Place. Please Be Quiet."

When I attended the conference in Dublin, I became closely acquainted with a fellow presenter who received her MA in architectural history from St. John's College in Cambridge. She mentioned that it was currently Exam Term at Oxford and Cambridge. Exam Term (known as Trinity Term at Oxford) is a term devoted entirely to the study and taking of examinations over course material from that academic year. Now that I have experienced it first-hand, my conclusions are that it is extremely stressful for the entire city because of the following: students are furiously studying, administrators have no patience for outsiders (especially tourists), and entire colleges close down to outsiders without notice. During this time, I could tell that colleges were especially impatient with tourists, and there were so many tourists.



Christ College, Cambridge, photo by Mary R. Springer, by permission of the Master and Fellows of the College

Side note: As a scholar using a camera for research purposes, I found it extremely frustrating being confused as a tourist . I had to confirm my identity as a scholar with permission to be on the college grounds multiple times.

I knew about the taking of exams before my departure,  but I did not know to what extent this might affect my investigation. The university or college websites were not clear about closures, though most stated that a college might close without any notice. Obviously, this information was not helpful.


Queens' College, Cambridge, photo by Mary R. Springer, by permission of the Master and Fellows of the College

Those who attended Oxford or Cambridge that I met at the conference in Dublin suggested that I try to befriend the Porters at the college, contact the Librarians at the college, or pretend I am a student and enter the premises.  I chose to contact the Librarians. I constructed my letter to indicate my awareness of the stressful time, my position as a student myself, and my willingness to be quick and quiet in my visit. I also happened to acquire a letter of introduction from the Office of the President at the University of Iowa, which assisted my cause as a legitimate and serious scholar.  Surprisingly, I was able to gain access to every single college I needed to visit. Quite a few colleagues of mine were shocked by this news, considering the stressful exam period. Granted, I did not get to see every inch of the college grounds, but I studied the architectural features necessary to my investigation.

2. Weather

St. John's College, Oxford, photo by Mary R. Springer, by permission of the Master and Fellows of the College

It rained. And rained. And rained some more. Photography is a necessary component to my research (I took more than 5,700 photographs of architecture), so you can imagine why the rain was a deterrent in my investigation. I became quite skilled in holding simultaneously the umbrella, the camera, and the lens cleaner. I went through two umbrellas during my entire trip. I also became well-acquainted with my camera's manual controls so that I could take the best pictures of architecture in the poorest light.

 

Street View of New College, Oxford, Victorian addition, photo by Mary R. Springer

~~~~~

 

I learned much more on this trip than I could have ever expected, and my dissertation will be much more well-informed. I have already made a significant adjustment to a major argument regarding the motivations for building in the American Collegiate Gothic (no spoilers!). 

I could not conceive a successful dissertation without conducting research at Oxford and Cambridge. Additionally, the number of contacts I made during my visits to more than thirty-five colleges is invaluable  to my growth as an architectural historian. I am now processing the surplus of photographs, notes, materials, and resources that I acquired during my trip.

Click here to read my next Cleary post discussing my research in Oxford.