SSNS Seminar – All in a Day’s Work: Memories of working life captured in Scottish Ethnography

The SSNS Seminar Series continues on Tuesday 24th March 2026 with Katie Shepherd for her talk on ‘All in a Day’s Work: Memories of working life captured in Scottish Ethnography.’

This is a free, ticketed event; please register below.

Abstract:

Fieldwork interns working for the Regional Ethnology of Scotland Project recently produced a booklet which captures memories of working life in 20th century Scotland  – a broad topic that allowed participants to speak about their careers and industries, social lives in and out of work, alternative streams of income and even unpaid labour.
Working with a group of participants from a community group based at the John Gray Centre in Haddington, the final product is a co-authored collection of vernacular and informative interviews that at times are emotional and poignant, as memories left untouched for years were rekindled through the ethnographical interview process.

Bio:

Katie is a recent graduate of the University of Edinburgh with a Master of Musicology degree, having previously studied at the University of Aberdeen for a Bachelor of Music. Katie’s research interests coalesce on communities (both physical and digital) and on the place of arts, culture and heritage in personal wellbeing and identity. During her studies in Edinburgh, Katie undertook a fieldwork internship with the Regional Ethnology of Scotland Archive Project where her passion for community engagement was harnessed in the creation of an oral ethnography project. Katie currently works as an Information Advisor in a community library, facilitating research endeavours, community groups and local authority services. She is also a trustee of Forfar Music Group, a charity committed to widening participation in creative expression through inclusive music facilities and workshops.

Registration below. Details for the Zoom meeting will be emailed in advance of the seminar.