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curator of history
Rebecca is responsible for documenting the NI Prison Service collection and other large collections associated with the Troubles and Beyond initiative.
Email RebeccaRebecca is one of our Curators of Modern History, working with the Ulster Museum collection and covering the period 1500-1968.
About Rebecca
Joining the museum in 2019, Rebecca has been in museums and heritage for around 10 years. During this time she has held roles at the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland doing Education and Outreach, visitor experience at Titanic Belfast and working as a Library Assistant for Libraries NI. She has also volunteered at HMS Caroline, National Trust and Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.
This year, Rebecca attended the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience European Symposium on Challenging Narratives, Fostering Empowerment and Collaborative Practice, speaking on a panel regarding the Challenges and Opportunities of Engagement with Communities on Contested Pasts.
Rebecca will be speaking at the Museums Association conference in November 2024 as part of a panel discussing the subject Challenging Approaches: Creating Exhibitions Exploring Emotive Subjects.
Exhibitions
Rebecca has co-curated a number of temporary exhibitions including Faces and Places showcasing images by French photographer Bernard Lesaing, the A Collector’s Story: Tom Hartley exhibition and most recently Drawing Support: Murals, Memory and Identity which is an exhibition of photographs by Bill Rolston.
Explore
Exhibition
The Troubles and Beyond
The history of Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to the present day
Temporary Exhibition
Drawing Support: Murals, Memory and Identity
The tradition of political mural painting here began in 1908, making it the longest, continuous example in the world.
Information
History Galleries
Learn and explore local and global stories in our History Galleries.
Q&A
How would you describe your research interests as a curator?
"I’m interested in women’s history and delving into those stories in our collection more. In terms of the Troubles collection, I find the ‘and Beyond’ element of our exhibition so interesting – understanding what life was really like for people during the conflict, from the music they listened to, to the celebrities they supported and the security measures that became embedded in ordinary life."
How would you describe what you do?
"I’m a Curator of Modern History for the Ulster Museum collection. That covers the period 1500-present day. So much happened in this time period, so the collection covers major events such as the Plantation of Ulster, the 1798 United Irishman rebellion, World War One and Two, the partition of Ireland and so on – but it also contains objects relating to everyday life, and really tells the human story of this place."
What do you look for in cultural institutions?
"I am just a massive history fan so anything linked with military history, women’s history and normally unseen stories interests me. I love learning stories about real people, I think its social history that makes history come to life.
I also look for inclusivity, accessibility and new ways that we are trying to be more sustainable."
