Welcome! My name is Rose Bell, I have an MA in Public History from Royal Holloway University of London, with a focus on Oral History. My dissertation research focused on Mother and Baby Homes in 20th Century England. I’m a Californian, living in London, and loving the stories that are coming to me through this oral history based research.
My background is in academic administration and event planning before I decided to refocus my energy on history. I’ve always been drawn to the stories of women and the underprivileged. I’ve been a support counselor for victims of domestic and sexual assault, campaigned and fund-raised for organizations supporting such women, and directed and produced events and theatrical productions raising awareness to these issues. Having the opportunity to focus my attention on the oral histories of women who have spent time in mother and baby homes is honestly a dream come true, and I am honored every day that I get to bear witness to such personal histories.
Hey Rose! Followed the trail of breadcrumbs from fb and found your lovely blog. I really like the look and feel of it, the information, the whole shebang. Congrats, Oral Herstorian!
I loved your account of Ivy House. My grandmother had her first illegitimate baby there in 1901 and the Heritage Cente have sent me transcripts of the birth and her entry to Ivy House. In the end her family brought him up as a younger brother. She referred herself for “her trouble” from Hebden Bridge. Her father had an outfitters’ shop.
hi, just been reading about the unmarried mothers homes, I am trying to help a friend find her birth mother. My friend was born in Kelton Lodge Convent in Liverpool in 1961. We have tried all routes to get information about the birth mother(as we only know her name), even wrote to Nazareth House in London with birth certificate to show that was place of birth, it took 3 years for them to reply to say that she was never ther. Do you have any suggestion to where we could try please? thanks Laura x
Hello Rose,
I would love to speak to you about a project. What is the best way to get in touch?
Best wishes,
Kimberly
Kimberly,
Best to reach me via email:
oralherstorian@gmail.com