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Unearthed letters reveal heartbreaking challenges faced by women during World War One

03 November 2015

 

A historian at Teesside University is leading a project to digitise recently discovered letters that were sent from women whose loved ones died in World War One.

Doctor Roisin Higgins, a Senior Lecturer in the School of Arts & Media, received a grant of £9,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will work to make the letters available online and uncover the stories of the women who penned them.

The 120 documents were found at Ormesby Hall in Middlesbrough and had been sent to Mary Pennyman, whose family then owned the property. She wrote back to the women, offering words of comfort and advice.

As well as offering financial and practical advice, Mary, whose own husband was fighting in the war, offered the women comfort and the chance to speak about their sons and husbands – the letters provide a personal insight into the loss they experienced and the struggles they were faced with.

Dr Higgins said: ‘The letters to Mary Pennyman provide a window into the thoughts and feelings of women who would otherwise remain unnoticed by history.

‘Researching the lives of the women who wrote them is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the cost of war and to build a picture of the challenges faced at the time and the strength it took to survive. Many commemorative projects focus on the dead but this one will focus on those who had to live on.’

The letters are currently housed at Teesside Archives but the three-year project will create an online platform so people can see the letters first hand and discover the stories behind them. A team of volunteers and two interns will gain valuable training and the opportunity to build skills as they help to catalogue, annotate and transcribe the letters as well as research the lives of the women who wrote them. A series of talks and exhibitions will also be held throughout the project.

First World War Minster Tracey Crouch said: 'Mrs Pennyman's collection of letters to bereaved women are a poignant reminder of the heartbreaking challenges faced by the women and families left behind during the First World War.

'Unearthing tragic but inspiring stories of strength and unity, these letters will preserve the legacy of these extraordinary women who sacrificed so much. I'm thrilled HLF grants are being used to support projects like this.’

Ivor Crowther, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North East, added: 'The Pennyman letters are an extraordinary discovery and provide an incredibly personal insight into the ultimate cost of the First World War. They convey a huge sense of loss, often jarring with practical concerns about pensions and the price of provisions – but this was the stark reality the writers faced. ‘We also get a glimpse into the strength of the human character and the places the women turned to for comfort – their faith, their pride in their loved ones, even the advice of a kind stranger. Their stories deserve to be heard.’


 
 
 
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