| StorageSite | UCL Institute of Education |
| AdminHistory | The Geffrye Museum was opened in 1914 by the London County Council (LCC). In 1935 the administration of the Geffrye was transferred to the LCC Education Committee, who developed the museum as teaching resource. From 1939, the Curator, Molly Harrison who had previously worked as a teacher, developed the museum's education service and created 'leisure activities' which were held on weekends and school holidays and aimed to teach local working class children the art of 'self improvement'. By the 1960s, the Education Service at the Museum comprised two permanently seconded teachers who assisted Harrison, a Deputy Curator, and a large time of part-time staff qualified in various arts and craft skills and teaching. When the administration of the museum was transferred to the Inner London Education Authority in 1965, the education service was run by former teachers or practicing teachers who were usually seconded for one year, though their service could be extended by Harrison's request.
Gene Adams briefly worked part time on education work at the museum in 1959 but was later seconded to work full time at the museum in 1970 where she helped develop the museum's educational activities, especially in the art room. The two Curators at that time followed the pattern set out by Harrison and were expected to help with the large number of school visits. Adams secondment was extended to 1973-1974, and during this time she became the Teacher in Charge of the Art Room, due to her previous experience as an art teacher. Adams to develop her own activities which moved away from 'self improvement' and tried to improve the standard of the children's art as well as relate the activities intellectually to the objects in the museum and the history of the local area. Margaret MacDonald also worked with Gene Adams part time at the museum as an art teacher but was also a photographer in her spare time and took the many images of the activities. Many of the plays performed by the children during the activities were written by David Young, one of the local children who attended the activities for many years. |