Online Memory Box: Rusholme and Victoria Park

South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) runs from 18th July to 17th August 2020 and aims to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian history and culture, and build an understanding of the diverse heritage that continues to link UK with South Asia. This week’s online memory box takes a look at Rusholme and Victoria Park and celebrates the influence of South Asian culture in Manchester. The focus is on the Curry Mile area, with glimpses into the surrounding streets. More on Platt Fields will be included in a future memory box.

The memory boxes can be used as a starting point in discovering your family history, finding out what your family’s childhood was like, looking back at the area where they grew up, discovering their fondest childhood memories and maybe uncover some hidden gems.  Sharing memories of days gone by can bring families closer together, listening to elderly relatives can be a comfort for families as they gain an insight into their life stories.  

Below you will find a collection of images from Rusholme and Victoria Park, alongside 6 worksheets. The worksheets are set around 6 themes: Industry, Place, Health and Living Conditions, Pastimes, Radical Thinking and Communities. Using the worksheets as prompts to start up a conversation, write down your findings on a piece of paper, or if you prefer type into a tablet or PC.  

Dig out your old photos too, these can also be a brilliant resource to trigger fond memories of family times. We would love to expand our South Asian Heritage collection and welcome you to share your photographs and memories with us. Your findings can also be shared on social media, either as comments on our Facebook page or on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #ArchivesPlusMemorybox

Instagram manclib_archives

Twitter @archivesplus

Facebook @archivesplus

If you are unable to share your photos and stories online, when the libraries reopen fully, bring copies of your family memories into your local library.  In the coming year we will produce an exhibition in your local library of selected submissions, shared both online and in person.  

Please make sure that if you share any information with us that the person you have spoken to is happy for you to share it with Archives+. When sharing your findings try to avoid sharing too much personal information such as surnames and date of birth as these details can identify your loved ones.

Resources:

Unlocking Your Sound Archive have produced a blog about conducting oral history interviews with family members. The audio clips included in this online memory box have been kindly supplied by Unlocking Your Sound Archive. 

Manchester Local Image Collection

Archives+ Flickr

Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre

NSPCC Staying safe online guide for children.

Age UK Staying safe online guide for older people

We hope you have enjoyed looking back at the photographs of Rusholme and Victoria Park. More areas will be covered each week and if you would like to see more images, don’t forget to check out the photograph albums on Flickr and the Manchester Local Image Collection .