‘What to seek, and how to find and use it’ – Students, Archives and the IHR
By Phil Winterbottom, PhD student, IHR When in 1904 Albert F. Pollard first spoke of his idea for a post-graduate school of research in history, he began by outlining why such an institution should be based in London: ‘here we have a monopoly of advantages which no...
Toppling Colston: decolonisation of our own practice
By Mark McCarthy Through the months of lockdown, our Student Group Zoom meetings often discussed how historical research intersects with contemporary life. A broad historical ‘turn’, the rethinking of our European colonial heritage, was foregrounded in...
Making history: the materials and methods of IHR students, 1921-2021
By Diane Clements, (MRes, IHR, 2018; current PhD student, IHR) When A. F. Pollard established the IHR in 1921 his intention was to encourage the study of the extensive sources for British history held in national collections at the Public Record Office (now the...
More than just cake and conversation—the IHR Common Room as a melting pot for new ideas
By Christine Evans Appleyard (MRes, IHR, 2019) There can be few visitors to the IHR building in Senate House who have not stepped inside the Weston Common Room. Rather like the family kitchen, it is the natural gathering place for essential refuelling and informal...