The Gordon Russell Story – Museum-in-a-Box

New Stories, New Audiences funding for gathering oral histories

Following a grant from the Association of Independent Museums (AIM)  and the National Heritage Lottery Fund (NHLF), during the spring and summer of 2024 the Gordon Russell Design Museum and Broadway Museum & Art Gallery worked together to record interviews with local past employees of Gordon Russell Ltd.

The grant allowed the museums to engage an experienced oral historian to undertake nine key interviews which will be added to the Museums’ archives. The interviewees recalled their childhoods living in the area, how they started work, the sounds, smells and memories of a workplace that no longer exists.

In addition to these key interviews, the AIM grant funded the recruitment and training of local volunteers in oral history interview techniques. The grant also meant we could purchase recording equipment which will be retained by the Museums so the volunteers can continue to add interviews to the Broadway village Museums’ archives.

Nine edited interviews will be available to listen to in both museums through the new Museum-in-a-Box technology that have been purchased with the grant. Visitors will be able to choose which interview they would like to hear. Please do come in to listen to these wonderful past stories.

The Gordon Russell Design Museum and the Broadway Museum & Art Gallery were delighted to receive this grant. They would like to express their appreciation to both the AIM team for their support, the NHLF for its generosity, and look forward to welcoming interested Lottery players who have helped make this project happen.