Telling the story: Women's activism in our collections

Poet and peace activist Beth Junor joins curator Hannah Grout to share stories of her activism and the experience of donating her archive to the Library.

Told through the unique objects she has donated to the Library, in this event Beth will share stories from her lifetime of peace activism and consider how these are still so relevant today.

The vibrant anti-nuclear protests at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp in the 1980s and 1990s had a great impact on our culture and politics. It remains one of the largest feminist protests in history, yet the contribution of Scottish women is often overlooked.

Beth's archive includes material from that time, capturing an incredible record of the women's experiences. We are currently celebrating this archive with a display in our Treasures exhibition.

This rare conversation between donor and curator will explore how the protest material has been collected and preserved. They will discuss what it is like to give a hugely personal part of your life to the public, and how this material can influence political and environmental movements today.

The event is a chance to view and engage with Beth's archive, and discover first-hand the extraordinary stories of women's activism that are part of our collective cultural memory.

About the Speakers

Beth Junor is a poet, gallerist and activist. She has been involved in peace and justice activism for over four decades, including at Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp. She edited and introduced the letters of Valda Grieve and co-edited an anthology of poems from wars. Her poetry collections include 'A Full Moon Cycle' (2001) and 'Twelve Poems'.

Hannah Grout is Assistant Curator on the Scottish Women Waging Peace Project at the National Library of Scotland.