The Historic England Archive has recently completed a 12 month project to conserve, digitise, and catalogue 4,071 photographic prints in the Topical Press Agency Medical Collection. The collection of prints show nursing, healthcare, social care and medicine in Britain between 1938 and 1943. Most were very well annotated, providing a remarkable insight into medical treatments … Continued
We were sad to hear recently of the death of Professor Alun Howkins.
Alun left school at 15 for a host of manual and other jobs before returning to education in his early 20s via Ruskin College. After further studies at Oxford and completing a PhD at Essex University, he embarked on a career in which he made a real contribution to the field of social history.
We share some memories from those who knew him.
It can’t have escaped your attention that the National Health Service celebrated its 70th anniversary this week. The NHS came into being on 5 July 1948. It promised universal healthcare, free at the point of use. The story of the NHS is closely bound to the contemporary British history. So it is no surprise that … Continued
A new digital archive chronicling the history of disability arts in the UK has launched to the public. The National Disability Arts Collection and Archive (NDACA) is the first archive in the world to offer a major retrospective of disabled people’s art and activism. Built by Shape Arts with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts … Continued
The Social History Society is pleased that our nominee, Professor Lynn Abrams, has now been appointed to the REF 2021 subject assessment panel.
Social and cultural history is well-represented more broadly on the 10-member panel.
Members of the Social History Society will be saddened by the news that our friend and colleague, Dr John Archer, died suddenly on 24 February, aged sixty-six.
A long-standing member of the Society, John was a former member of the Executive Committee (2001–4).
In this post, Dr Andrew Davies shares his thoughts on John’s important contribution to the history of crime and rural protest.
Members of the Social History Society will be interested to hear news of a new book by Dr Temi Odumosu, published by the Harvey Miller imprint of Brepols Publishers, on Africans in English Caricature 1769–1819. Black Jokes, White Humour. Between 1769 and 1819 London experienced an unprecedented growth in the proliferation of texts and images … Continued
History UK, the independent national body promoting and monitoring History in UK Higher Education, is working in partnership with The National Archives to revise and update the 2015 ‘Guide to collaboration between archive and Higher Education sectors‘. The updated guidance will inform partnership working between archives and higher education institutions, both in terms of research … Continued
Over a period of two years Black Country Visual Arts has brought together an exciting collection of 2000 photographs exploring Punjabi migration to Wolverhampton from the 1960s to the 1980s. The project won them ‘Best New Group’ at the recent 2017 Community Archive & Heritage Awards. Between 13 January and 18 March 2018, these photographs … Continued
Asa Briggs was a towering figure in the world of social history. One of his many contributions was to serve as Honorary President of the Social History Society from its foundation in 1976 until his death in the spring of last year. His successor in that role, Professor Pat Thane, has written on his life … Continued
