MISS JENNIFER FAGEN

MISS JENNIFER FAGEN The University of Aberdeen School of Education Research PG pref r05jf6@abdn.ac.uk pref Room 605, MacRobert Building

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Web Links

www.bailiesofbennachie.co.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/ramblings_20081212.shtml.

www.leopardmag.co.uk/feats/251/echoes-of-the-bennachie-colonists

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Biography

Originally from Grants Pass, a small town on the west coast of the USA, Jennifer moved to Portland, Oregon to study at Reed College. She studied Anthropology and wrote about Los Hermanos Penitentes for her undergraduate thesis. After a two year stint in health insurance marketing she headed off to Japan to teach corporate English for a school located in Hamamatsu, on the southern coast of Honshu.

In 2006, Jennifer moved to Aberdeen to pursue a Masters in Folklore and Anthropology at the Elphinstone Institute. She supported herself by working with Aberdeen City Council, first at Kincorth Academy and later with Social Work Services.

In 2007 Jennifer began spending time on the Bennachie hill range, and now devotes herself full-time to studying its heritage. She currently stays in Ferryhill and enjoys spending time with her kitten, Olivia.

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Research Interests

Performance and Landscape

Partnership Management of Conservation Sites

Modern Expression and Changing Concepts of the Croft

The Lowland Clearances

Poetry and Phenomenology

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Current Research

Currently writing up.

The Bailies of Bennachie Studentship 2009 

This project is an investigation of the social history of the hill of Bennachie in the Garioch area of Aberdeenshire. A crofting community thrived on the hill from 1800-1859, until the commonty was divided by the local landowners. There is immense local interest in solving the mystery of the crofting colony and in finding and interviewing the descents of the crofters.

The Bailies of Bennachie are a local charity who look after Bennachie on behalf of the community. As a part of their mission statement they have created a historical archive.  I will utilise the resource of the Bailies' archive at the Bennachie Visitor's Centre, followed by four weeks in associated estate and national archives looking at estate records, parish records and maps.

Much is unknown about the identity and lifestyles of the crofters. Natives of the area grew up hearing stories about the colony and the next step is to build on the oral history research I have done in the last two years. 

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Research Grants

CASS Studentship 2006-2009

Bailies of Bennachie Studentship 2009

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Teaching Responsibilities

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Anthropology, Spring 2009

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External Responsibilities

Bennachie Homecoming Festival 2009- Event Coordinator

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Presentations

2008, 25 Oct. American Folklore Society Conference. 'Journeys Through Local Landscapes: Exploring the Bennachie Hill Range'

2009 31 March. Marischal Evening Lecutres. ' Exploring the Bennachie Colony'.

 

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Publications

'Echoes of the Bennachie Colonists' in The Leopard, August 2009

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