Bombers, Bunkers, and Badges: The Cold War Materialised in National Museums Scotland

Abstract

How does an object become a Cold War object? Through its military installations, defence industry as well as the strength of its peace movement, Scotland was a key site of the Cold War in the UK. While there has been some research on how to classify such sites in the context of the ‘Cold War’, there has been very little systematic enquiry on how far the movable material culture originating from these sites and places are also recognised as ‘Cold War’ objects in the museums which acquired them. This thesis investigates to what extent have Cold War meanings become attached to objects in the collection of National Museums Scotland (NMS). Taking an object biographical approach, this thesis explores the life of selected objects from its creation, through its use life, to its life as a museum object. Museum objects are at the heart of this research, coupled with archival material and oral testimonies from people involved at various points of the object’s life. This research is arranged by considering Cold War objects from a global macro-level to a local micro-level perspective. Each chapter focuses on an object or cluster of objects to determine at what points Cold War meanings have or have not become attached to them, and what this means for the authenticity and values ascribed to them. Case studies include the Ferranti Meteor aircraft, the Dounreay Fast Reactor control room, equipment used by the Royal Observer Corps, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament ephemera, and a collection of Soviet and Space Race badges. This study contributes to Cold War heritage scholarship by demonstrating how pivotal people and place are in attributing Cold War meanings to material objects. It also makes suggestions on the practical implications on discovering Cold War objects within museum collections.