The Open Museum
at the National Maritime Museum

Napoleonic News Desk

by Paul Chamberlain

The Open Museum has a number of interesting courses lined up for the coming months. Some have, unsurprisingly, a strong Nelson theme, while others are of more interest to the general naval historian. The venue is the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, SE10 9NF. Contact details for all the courses are as follows: Telephone: 020 8312 6747/6648 Website: www.nmm.ac.uk/openmuseum Email: Openmuseum@nmm.ac.uk

Rank and Style: Naval Uniforms Explored
Wed. 27th Oct. 2004, 10.30 – 16.15

The NMM has an unrivalled collection of naval uniforms and accessories. It offers interesting insights into styles of dress, their relationship to the civilian fashions of the day and the status of the wearer. Participants will have the opportunity for a guided visit to the Museum’s stores and textile conservation studio.

Nelson’s Contemporaries
Tuesdays 10.30 – 12.30, Eight weeks 25th January – 15th March 2005

Nelson, the most famous of British admirals, holds centre stage in the story of the maritime struggle against Revolutionary and Napoleonic France. His contemporaries, commanding fleets and squadrons across the globe, are just as important when it comes to understanding the war at sea. This seminar brings together the stories of these other admirals. Many of them never served with Nelson, yet their contribution, though not as spectacular, was nevertheless vital to Britain’s success at sea.

How to Trace the History of Ships
Saturday 5th Feb. 2005, 10.30 – 16.15

This one-day ‘taster’ course has been designed with the novice researcher in mind. If you want to find out more about the history of a particular ship (or ships) and are not sure where to begin, this is the course for you. Museum staff will provide a beginner’s guide to the resources available at the NMM and beyond.

The Nelson Letters
Wednesday 9th Feb. 2005, 10.30 – 16.15

Nelson wrote marvellous letters that bring him vividly to life, especially when read aloud. A large collection of hitherto unpublished letters has recently been rediscovered in the National Maritime Museum and archives all over the world. These letters, together with other relics and paintings in the great Nelson collection of the NMM and the Royal Naval Museum, form the inspiration for this course, which will explore aspects of Nelson’s fascinating and many-faceted character and endeavour to explain why he was such a successful and much-loved leader.

Napoleonic News Desk

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