The Bodleian Libraries have announced the appointment of Phillip Roberts as the Bern and Ronny Schwartz Curator of Photography. Phillip joins the Libraries from 7 March. He had been Associate Curator of Photography and Photographic Technology at the National Science and Media Museum (NSMM) since 2019.
Phillip holds PhDs from Cardiff University and the University of York. Before joining the NSMM he was Research Assistant (Science and Industry) at Birmingham Museums Trust. He sits on the board of directors for the Amber Collective and has published widely on the histories and cultures of photographic media. His PhD from the University of York (2018) was titled The Emergence of the Magic Lantern Trade in Nineteenth-Century England and that from Cardiff (2013) Cinema and control.
As part of the Bodleian Libraries Special Collections team, he will develop the Bodleian’s growing photography collection through strategic acquisitions, collaborate with specialist conservation staff and work with scholars in the University to help to make the collection accessible to students and researchers. The role also includes a major commitment to sharing our holdings with the public through exhibitions, public programmes and digitisation. The curatorship was made possible by a transformational gift from The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation.
On his appointment, Phillip Roberts, said: "I could not be more proud to be the Bodleian's Curator of Photography. Over the last few years, the Bodleian has cemented itself as one of the key guardians of our photographic heritage. We have recently acquired vast new archives of work by WHF Talbot, Helen Muspratt and Daniel Meadows. The Hyman collection offers a wonderful history of 20th century British photography, and the Chadwyck-Healey collection is the world's greatest collection of photobooks. Securing such riches in a short amount of time is remarkable, and speaks to the Bodleian’s commitment to preserving our photographic history. I look forward to building on this work, and making the Bodleian home to one of the world's great collections of photography."
Susan Thomas, Head of Archives and Modern Manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries, said: "Photography exists in the Bodleian's collections in many different ways. These materials – both astounding and everyday – have been an important part of the Bodleian's holdings for years, and it is exciting to now be in a position to share them more widely with the world. Phillip comes to us at a time when we are actively developing our photography collections for the future, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Oxford."
Separately, the NSMM Head Curator, Geoff Belknap, is leaving to join National Museums Scotland.
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