Who are you and what do you do?
Hello, my name is Ann-Marie (although my nickname, Annie, is used on this project because of the double-Ann-Marie confusion!). I’m a Research Fellow on the project, which means I get to spend my time going to archives, reading books, and writing. I’m the ephemera expert on the team, and I’m also interested in life writing (letters, diaries, memoirs, etc) and what they can tell us about how people used ephemera in the past.
Where do you live?
I live in Lancaster/the North West of England with my spouse and my research assistant, our cat, AC, who loves to sit on pieces of paper and watch me type.
Which interests, personal or professional, link you to this project?
My interests lie in First World War ephemera and what this can tell us about people’s everyday lives. My previous research focused on how people’s experiences of grief were shaped by everyday pieces of paper. In this project I’m interested in seeing how ephemera shaped everyday lives more generally, how we now remember the past through these pieces of paper, and how re-examining ephemera collections can lead to a deeper understanding of marginalised histories of war.
What kinds of ephemera would we find preserved in your home?
Everything! I’m particularly fond of ticket stubs, postcards, and scraps of significant paper (e.g. the takeout list for food ordered on a special date).
Do you have a favourite kind of historical ephemera?
This is a very difficult question for me, as I’m a bit of an ephemeral magpie. If I had to choose I’d say commemorative napkins. These were printed in the UK on thin decorative Japanese paper, and were sold during popular events in the early twentieth century. You can see an example of one here.
Any final words?
I’m always on the lookout for ephemera which can help us to understand marginalised experiences of war. Please get in touch if you have any leads, or just want to chat ephemera, I’d love to hear from you. I’m @AMFoster_ on Twitter or you can e-mail me: ann-marie2.foster[at]northumbria.ac.uk