The suitcase of fascism: Curating controversial content

In 2018, Canterbury Christ Church University received a donation of a suitcase crammed with fascist material, which became a focal point for a unique historical investigation. The university, which already offered a module on the history of British fascism, utilised this collection to provide students with a deeper understanding of this unsettling chapter in British history. During a 2020 lockdown project, students were involved in photographing and cataloguing the contents of the suitcase as part of an employability module. This project revealed that the suitcase had belonged to a single individual who viewed the collection as his legacy to the world. While the importance of preserving this material is clear, the project also highlighted the need to confront these narratives without glorifying them. The suitcase provided a troubling insight into one individual’s worldview, a reminder that these stories remain relevant in light of the rise of far-right ideologies today.