Mapping Modernity: The London Postal Map

Press

21 June 2012

The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) and The Critical & Historical Studies Programme at the Royal College of Art are looking to appoint a student to undertake a PhD by thesis on the History and Development of the London Postal Map. This studentship is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council Collaborative Doctoral Award scheme.

This research aims to investigate a hugely significant but largely under-researched and unappreciated contribution to the modern history of London, the London Postal Map, first implemented in 1856. It will examine the circumstances that surrounded its introduction, with the aim of establishing the significance of its contribution to the modernisation of London in the Nineteenth Century.

This was most likely the first attempt ever made to impose a logical and coherent diagram onto the formless sprawl of London with the aim of gaining order and allowing efficient operations to take place within the rapidly expanding and crowded city. The research will assess the importance of the Postal Map in terms of conceiving possible futures for London, and of imposing models of order and control upon it.

Adrian Steel, Director of the BPMA commented:

“The BPMA is delighted to be offering this exciting new PhD studentship, focussing on a previously little explored area of our collections; The London Postal Map. Our archive holds over 700 maps covering the period 1757-c.1990 and showing the circulation of mail for all parts of Great Britain.”

This studentship will start in October and further information on eligibility requirements is available from here: http://www.rca.ac.uk/Default.aspx?ContentID=161457&GroupID=161452 .

The closing date for applications is 6 July.

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