Speaker: Michael Heaney
Percy Manning (1870-1917) was an extraordinary collector of all things Oxfordshire; his diverse interests ranged from archaeology and local buildings history to cricket and Morris dancing. Manning was interested in all periods of history and prehistory, collecting stone age tools, Roman coins, medieval tiles, and relics of ways of life that were disappearing in his own day, such as decorated police truncheons and local pottery. He moved beyond material objects to uncover and document superstitions, folklore and customs. Although he was working to the old county boundaries, there is also a considerable amount of material relating to Berkshire hidden in the collections. The talk will look at his life and work and take a special look at the Berkshire elements.
Michael Heaney is a well-known researcher into folk music and folklore who has published widely on the subject. He combines this with extensive knowledge of the collections in the Bodleian Library where he spent his professional career. He is a Editor of and chief contributor to the book Percy Manning: The Man Who Collected Oxfordshire. Folk Music Journal (2017) and curated the centenary display on Manning at the Bodleian Library.
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