Jacqui Grainger

Background

About Jacqui Grainger

My current research project is 'Empire and Artefacts: The 'Lost" Museum of the Royal United Services Institution'- It is about the United Service Museum. My research will tell the story of a 'lost' museum that was once of national significance. Engaged in the disciplines of natural history, ethnography, military science and as a consequence military history. The RUSI Museum, founded as the Naval and Military Library and Museum in 1831, was closed in 1962 and its collections dispersed. My Techne AHRC CDA will provide knowledge for RUSI in developing the stories about its heritage and collections. It is now the Royal United Services Institute, a think tank for defence and security studies. I am interested in exploring the wider connections of literary and scientific networks from this project, especially networks of women of science and the global reach of the Burney family, especially James Burney. I have a track record of working with heritage and special collections to develop their impact and engagement. At RUSI I developed the significance of their collections during a long-term re-selection process as part of their refurbishment project. I have worked with (inter)national partners to raise the profile of their collections.