James Cronan

What brought you to Teesside University?

I wanted a course that would allow me to concentrate on both French and history, which wasn't the case with many humanities courses. At Teesside, after your first year you studied a broader range of subjects including sociology and the 'History of Ideas', which was basically Philosophy.

What was your course like?

The course was excellent. The history modules included the emergence of modern Europe and England in the late medieval period.

My dissertation provided an interesting conversation point at interviews - I wrote about the use and abuse of myth within three plays by the French playwright Jean Anouilh.

What was your favourite module?

My favourite module was history, rather than being textbook and lecture led, we examined real documents, such as fifteenth century wills, inventories and court cases. We were encouraged to think beyond the standard 'who', 'what', 'where' and 'when' history questions and to look at the 'how' and the 'why', and examine social impact. It was fascinating reading old historical documents, and as well as helping with my palaeography skills, it set me up for the job that I would eventually get with the Public Record Office (PRO).

I also enjoyed the French literature modules. My tutor brought to life dry novels by Flaubert, Stendhal and Zola making them exciting and fresh.

Did you do any work experience?

My course included a year overseas. I wanted to teach and I was lucky enough to get a place as an English assistant in a secondary school in Villeurbanne, near Lyon. The opportunity really sparked my interest in teaching and I also made some extra money teaching English to adults in a local community centre.

What was your social life like when you were studying at Teesside University?

I was often in the Students' Union bar and various nearby pubs.

I was a student in the 1980s and I joined the heavy rock society, for those with an interest in the 'hair rock' of groups like Bon Jovi and Aerosmith. Myself and fellow students also formed a Cathedral society and visited beautiful historic churches across the UK, our favourite jaunts were to Whitby and York, which we would visit once a month.

What have you done since graduating?

After graduating, I went on to do a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) and taught briefly at a school in east London, but my heart wasn't really in it. At graduation I mentioned to my tutor that I was interested in a career in archives and he encouraged me to go down that route. I applied to County Record Offices across England and Wales for a paid placement, so that I could get enough experience to go on one of the postgraduate archives courses in London. The PRO took me on as a paid editor and I also applied for a permanent job in the reader services department. I was able to study for a Certificate of Archives and Records Management in-house, and have been at the PRO, which later became The National Archives, for over 25 years. I now work as a records specialist, Modern Overseas Records.

Did your time at Teesside University help you to achieve your goals?

Yes it did. I was encouraged to follow my dreams and given some excellent advice. My course was sufficiently broad-based to allow me to choose a number of career paths, but what undoubtedly helped me to secure my position at the archives was my tutor, Tony Pollard. I was very lucky to have such good tutors.


James Cronan showing the Treaty of Windsor to the President of Portugal.