Uncovering the Past: James Kneale meets Mel C

James became involved with the programme as a researcher looking into temperance life assurance – the chosen career of Melanie’s great-great-great-great grandfather, Thomas Daniel O’Keefe.

Dr Kneale's role involved providing context and insights into O’Keefe’s life, especially his work in temperance and life assurance. 

“Before filming I looked through some of my notes and archive photographs and found material on Thomas’s involvement in temperance and in life assurance,” James explains, helping to frame O’Keefe’s story within a broader historical and geographical context.

“Family histories are always historical geographies too,” he points out. His current research into temperance life assurance looks at how business histories can give valuable insights into the lives of ordinary people like O’Keefe. 

“Thomas was involved in Reform agitation campaigning for the widening of the franchise to working-class men,” Dr Kneale explained. Connections like that can help link individual stories to larger social movements.

Of working with the former Spice Girl, he said how she was “very natural and down-to-earth, and quick on the uptake when presented with the documents that told the unfolding story of her ancestor’s life.”

One memorable moment from the filming, which took place Bristol’s Central Library in Bristol, came when James showed her a microfilm copy of a key newspaper article.

It was the hands-on nature of the experience that Dr Kneale remembers best. “It was nice to be able to show that there is more to historical research than simply opening a genealogy website,” he explained.

A key point in the programme was the revelation of Thomas’s charge for embezzlement. After the initial shock, James told us, Melanie was glad to learn that her ancestor was cleared and the company that accused him went bankrupt. 

“I think she had invested in the idea of Thomas as a good man, and was relieved that this was actually declared in court.”

More information

• Visit Associate Professor James Kneale’s Academic Staff Profile
• Watch the Melanie’s episode of Who Do You Think You Are on BBC iPlayer

Image: (c) BBC x Wall to Wall ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’