Liv Powell (She/Her)

I studied both BA (Hons) International History and Politics and MA Modern History at the University of Leeds, graduating in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Throughout my time at Leeds, my research focused primarily on Soviet foreign policy in Southeast Asia during the 20th century.

In contrast, my Laidlaw Scholarship project (Object Trajectories - Archives, Objects, Museums in the Phillips of Hitchin Archive) focused on the British antique dealer trade. I conducted the research aspect of my scholarship across Summer 2017 and Summer 2018, focusing on locating and investigating primary sources related to business exchanges between Phillips and other notable institutions. These included the Victoria and Albert Museum, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, George Bernard Shaw, and the Ford family amongst others. I also supported key conservation efforts to preserve key documents within the Phillips archive.

Following the completion of my scholarship project, part of the research I produced was collated into two exhibitions:

‘SOLD! The Great British Antiques Story’ at the Bowes Museum’ at the Bowes Museum, 26/01/2019 to 06/05/2019

‘Antique Dealers: Buying, Selling and Collecting’ at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, 04/03/2019 to 25/05/2019.

I currently work as a Plus Programme Senior Officer in the Plus Programme, a support scheme at the University of Leeds working with students from backgrounds that are less represented in Higher Education to support their success during their studies and beyond. My particular areas of focus include our events for students, enhancing our employability offering, working with displaced students, and delivering the Leeds Masters Scholarship.