DATS outing to the Marks and Spencer Archive, 24th May

We would like to invite you an exciting afternoon looking at the Marks and Spencer’s Archive, courtesy of Archive and Outreach Officer Katie Cameron. Katie has kindly offered to give DATS members a special guided tour of the Exhibition and the Strong room, and will get a few special items out of storage just for us to explore!

You can find out more about the archive and their permanent exhibition here: https://marksintime.marksandspencer.com/home. In terms of location, the archive is located on the University of Leeds Campus so is very central and accessible. The full address for working out travel is: M&S Company Archive, Michael Marks Building, University of Leeds, LS2 9JT (sat nav LS2 9LP). Please note that there is no parking on site. There are two blue badge spaces, otherwise there is on-street parking on the streets off Royal Park Road (5-10mins walk). The Achive is 5 minutes in a taxi or 25 minutes walk uphill from the train station, or the No. 56 bus stops nearby.

The event will start at 2pm, with the tour and look at the objects lasting around 2 hours in total. There is no charge for the event apart from getting yourselves there and refreshments will be served afterwards. And, as if you needed any more incentive, Katie has promised some M&S Cake!

The event can take up to 15 people, but if there is more interest Katie is willing to split the group into two sets.

If you would like to attend this event, then please email me at curator@QUILTMUSEUM.ORG.UK to let me know, and I will collate a list together of attendees. We need to know if you wish to attend by the 10th of May please.

Thanks everyone, and I look forward to seeing some of you then!

Additional visit to ULITA in the morning of 24th May.

In addition to the visit to the Marks and Spencer Archive on the 24th May, Jill Winder from ULITA has offered a drop in session at their archive between 11am and 1pm, for those travelling to Leeds and wanting to make more of the day. You will have an opportunity to see their latest exhibition, ‘Katagami – the craft of the Japanese stencil’ and Jill will bring out other items from the archive for DATS members to view on the mezzanine floor. This session is designed to offer attendees flexibility and can be at your own leisure. Admission is free, but please note the exhibition does close across lunchtime.

ULITA is housed in St. Wilfred’s Chapel on the Western Campus of the University of Leeds, LS2 9JT. ULITA and the M&A Archive are next to each other on the Leeds campus, which makes visiting both very easy. Jill has also mentioned that there will be a Russian exhibition in the Treasures Gallery (library and archive) in the Parkinson Building. So all in all, could be a jam-packed day!

A huge thank you to Jill for offering us an extra activity and a chance to see some of their fabulous collection.

Heather
Curator
DATS Northern Rep