Ethical Matters:
A Secret History of Thinking on Paper

In this Ethical Matters talk, Irving Finkel, founder of The Great Diary Project, and Roland Allen, author of The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper, will delve into the profound role diaries and notebooks have played in documenting personal histories and preserving cultural heritage. Exploring the intersection of ethics, memory, and creativity, they will discuss the complexities of collecting, preserving, and interpreting intimate records of human life, and how these artefacts can illuminate both the mundane and the extraordinary aspects of our shared experience.

Irving, renowned for his work in Assyriology and his commitment to preserving everyday diaries, and Allen, a passionate advocate for the historical significance of notebooks, will reflect on their respective projects, the ethical considerations involved, and the ongoing importance of safeguarding these powerful tools of creativity and thought.

The talk will be followed by a discussion on how diaries and notebooks continue to shape our understanding of the world, offering new perspectives on history, memory, and the individual’s role in documenting their life.

Roland’s book The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper will be available from Newham Bookshop on the night.

Age Recommendation: 

16+

Price: *All ticket prices below include a £1 booking fee*

In person: Standard £10 • Living Support £7 • Students £7 • Members FREE
Online: Standard £7 • Members FREE

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade II listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Hive Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.