My Continuing Adventure with Cordelia and George Oliver

Hello again, I am back to report on the progress in cataloguing the Cordelia and George Oliver artefacts and I can officially report; I have completed the year 1970 and am well on my way through 1971! Ok, so simply saying numbers to describe going through several years worth of articles does not really provide an accurate picture of the work involved. To get a clear picture I would like to direct you to the clip below...

Reading through Cordelia's work it is possible to get a strong impression of how she was. Opinionated, out-spoken and dedicated are the first characteristics that come to mind. There is rarely more than two or three days between Cordelia's reviews, whether that is for theatre, exhibition or performance art which must have meant that the majority of her time was out and about, looking and watching the art scene around her. In ways it makes me sad that having read so much of her work I will never have the opportunity to meet her.

However the articles are still a delight, and the papers themselves provide an interesting context to the period. Advertisements can be particularly revealing,

'The George & Cordelia Oliver Collection at the Glasgow School of Art'

The advertisement here stating, "Like women, money responds to a little handling. Women and money both tend to get out of control if you don't pay them enough attention". Ah, the horrendous old days of friendly sexism, to the time when cigarettes could still be advertised..

'The George & Cordelia Oliver Collection at the Glasgow School of Art'

...to good old Flora. You've gotta love it.

'The George & Cordelia Oliver Collection at the Glasgow School of Art'

It is quite incredible to see how what was considered acceptable, and completely normal a couple of decades ago in 1970, would seem bizarre today (excluding Flora of course). Equally it is very interesting to see that the concerns and issues of society today have not really changed.

'The George & Cordelia Oliver Collection at the Glasgow School of Art'

It seems that people will continue to worry about harmful ideas being transmitted through any content that contains 'sex' in it, with the internet now playing a large role in people's concern, and the Tories continue to do what they do best. It seems history is doomed to repeat itself.

P.S. A face you might recognise.

'The George & Cordelia Oliver Collection at the Glasgow School of Art'