Exhibition to travel back to Dundee’s formation
Published On Fri 7 Apr 2017 by Cara Longmuir
In 1967, Harold Wilson was trying to get Britain into the European common market and the Beatles said all we needed was love as war raged in Vietnam and the Middle East. It was also a momentous year for the City of Dundee.
On August 1st 1967, the University of Dundee became an independent institution, paving the way to becoming a major economic driver for the city and a world leader in many areas of research. Its early days will be highlighted in a new exhibition, opening at the University’s Lamb Gallery on Thursday, 13th April.
‘Good Vibrations’ explores the events of that pivotal year, both on campus and in the city as a whole. Using rarely seen photographs, documents, artworks and artefacts, it describes the major developments in the University, as well as looking at what life was like as a student in Dundee at that time.
It was a time where the student body was become more radical, with various demonstrations and sit ins, some led by George Robertson, who eventually became the 10th Secretary General of NATO and is now known as Lord Robertson of Port Ellen. The University was already gaining a reputation for world-leading research in areas such as neurosurgery, orthopaedics, bacteriology and radiotherapy.
University Archivist Caroline Brown said, “It is fantastic to have this opportunity to look to the University’s past and to celebrate not only the achievements of the students and staff but also the day-to-day life of the institution. It’s important to have an understanding of this past to give some context to the University today.
“We hope it will be give people an insight into what life was like back then as we celebrate our 50th year.”
‘Good Vibrations’ runs until Saturday, 1st July and will be open Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7pm and Sat 1-5pm.
For more information contact museum@dundee.ac.uk or 01382 384310.
For media enquiries contact:
Cara Longmuir
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385243
Email: c.z.longmuir@dundee.ac.uk