On History
News, articles & research from the
Institute of Historical Research
Latest posts
Advise the Wohl Library and Archive
Are you an early-career researcher? Would you like to help shape the development of the Wohl Library of the Institute of Historical Research?
The medieval scriptorium visualised
The BBC’s recent screening of ‘The Name of the Rose’ was rich in images of the medieval scriptorium. But how accurate are these depictions? Sara Charles compares medieval reality with modern artistic licence.
Publishing political history: what can the Bibliography of British and Irish History tell us?
What can BBIH tell us about trends in British and Irish political history writing from the early 1900s to the 2010s? Which party is the most studied, and who are the most written about PMs?
Spotlight
On writing ‘Mother: An Unconventional History’
What is ‘unconventional history’? Feminist and historians Sarah Knott considers the intersection of form and function in her new book, ‘Mother. An Unconventional History’.
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From Archive to Stage: Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London
How might creative works, such as stage productions, inform our understanding of the past? How do imaginative retellings shape our appreciation of historical events? Matt Shaw considers a recent IHR partnership with the actor Alison Skillbeck, creator of the one-woman show, ‘Mrs Roosevelt Flies to London’.
Understanding the Gough Map: an application of physics, chemistry and history
Catherine Delano-Smith, IHR Senior Research Fellow, outlines her new Leverhulme-funded research project to study the medieval Gough Map, with the help of physical scientists and 3D specialists.
Can a short life be a good life? Brevity in historical biography
What’s the value of writing a brief life? How does biographical brevity contribute to historical knowledge? Philip Carter recently considered these questions at ‘Flash Histories’, a conference on all things concise.
Women and Peace: Pat Arrowsmith and Greenham Common
What is the nature of the relationship between feminism and peace activism? Amy Todd explores the case of the Greenham Common Peace Camp in the 1980s.
Publications News
‘Book-ended’: the wonderful history of the Athlone Press
December 2019 sees the launch of the University of London Press, the new home for IHR publishing. Here Laura De’Ath looks back at the University’s publishing history with her new exhibition on the Athlone Press years (1948-78).
Unboxing England’s Histories …
This November, the IHR celebrates 120 years of the Victoria County History with ‘England’s Histories: Unboxed!’, the story of English history in material culture. All welcome, Weds 20 November from 4.30pm.
‘”Time come”. Britain’s black futures past’ – the 2019 Historical Research lecture now available
In June, Dr Rob Waters gave the 2019 ‘Historical Research’ lecture. Rob’s lecture, ‘”Time come”: Britain’s black futures past’ is now published in Historical Research, the IHR’s academic journal. It’s available free until December 2019, along with a commentary from Dr Kennetta Hammond Perry, director of the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, De Montfort University.
New from the Victoria County History of Essex: ‘Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston in the 19th Century’
The latest publication from the Victoria County History of Essex is now available. Join us for two launch events marking publication of Andrew Senter’s ‘Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston in the 19th Century’.
Research & Resources News
Publishing political history: what can the Bibliography of British and Irish History tell us?
What can BBIH tell us about trends in British and Irish political history writing from the early 1900s to the 2010s? Which party is the most studied, and who are the most written about PMs?
Historians and BBIH. No 5: Matthew Parker and the peer review process
Let’s take 10 famous historical historians (one each week) and see what they can achieve with the Bibliography. This week Archbishop Matthew Parker (1504-75) finds peer reviewers using BBIH.
Historians and BBIH: No 4: Walter Bower organises a conference
In our fourth encounter with historical historians, Walter Bower (1385-1449) uses the Bibliography of British and Irish History to find speakers for his conference – just as you can do.
Historians and BBIH — an adventure in 10 episodes. No. 3: Matthew Paris & reading lists
In Episode 3, the great Matthew Paris (c.1200-1259) shows you how to put together a reading list for teaching using BBIH. If it’s good enough for Matthew, then …