Playground of politics Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union Society Bodleian Library Trainees Project Showcase To visit the library or Union see: http://www.oxford-union.org/library/murals For more information on the trainees see: http://oxfordtrainees.wordpress.com/ And for more information on the Union traineeship: http://cateatous.wordpress.com/

1. Playground of politics Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union Society

2. The Oxford Union Society Founded in 1823 as the Union Debating Society Broader base for debate and reading than the University or colleges then allowed Independent from the University

3. The debates To debate “the historical previous to the to the present century and the philosophical exclusive to religion”. Avoided current of controversial topics First debate: “Was the revolution under Cromwell to be attributed to the tyrannical conduct of Charles, or to the democratic spirit of the times?” Good test of nerve, oratory, powers of persuasion, wit and panache

4. Met in students’ rooms Rented rooms on the High Street Acquired own site in 1853 between St. Michael Street and Frewin Court and built the first debating chamber Current Debating Chamber built in 1878 The buildings

5. “ A special place in the history of the nation” Five prime ministers Party leaders Cabinet members Commonwealth leaders Diplomats Religious figures Literary and theatrical figures Broadcasting and media figures

6. What? 16-page booklet Then and now Brief and engaging The Union and its buildings To be sold to visitors to the Union

7. Why? Complement and add to current murals booklet Raise profile More on history of buildings Income has one!

9. More research Research Writing Planning Layout and printing Process

10. Challenges Amount of information Writing 16-pages in a shared office! OHC refurbishment Writing 16 pages OHC refurbishment

11. The Old Library Collected books from 1825 Decorated by the Pre-Raphaelites Now more than 40,000 items Attracts hundreds of visitors a year

18. Playground of politics Writing a brief history of the Oxford Union Society