Dr Vivien Newman, First World War Women @worldwarwomen On 20 April, The Shields Gazette reported that ‘residents are knitting hearts to cheer up patients being treated for coronavirus in intensive care’. This reminded me of knitting in World War One. In 1914, Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener issued a Call to Knitting Needles. … Continued
Charlotte Tomlinson, University of Leeds C.h.tomlinson@leeds.ac.uk @charltommo Everywhere you look, it seems that discussions about COVID-19 are flooded with analogies of the Second World War. The language used to describe the pandemic, and particularly how society should respond to it, has made heavy use of allusions to the war through militarised language – NHS workers … Continued
Dr Kieran Fitzpatrick, National University of Ireland, Galway @KFHistory A version of this blog was first published in the Sunday Independent. We are grateful to them for allowing us to share it with our readers. In the days before she died in 1963, tuberculosis had consigned my grandmother to solitude. Restricted to a room that … Continued
Dr Andrew Jackson, Bishop Grosseteste University andrew.jackson@bishopg.ac.uk @mylocalpasts Some of those who trod the centenary-rich public-history trail through the years 2014-18, might feel that there is a sense of the past revisiting us in the present. Many of the features of the national crisis and emergency arrangements that established themselves during 1914-18 are being resurrected. … Continued
John Evans, Free History Project @Live1819 I never expected to have Twitter followers joking that a project rooted firmly in the news of two centuries ago might in fact be parodying events in 2019. ‘Are you sure you are tweeting about 1819?’ asked one, during one of the many moments of acrimonious (probably Brexit) confrontation … Continued
Dr David Clampin, Liverpool John Moores University @WWIIadvertising A couple of years ago I was asked by the National Trust to work with them at their Formby Beach site. Formby beach is an important ecological site made up of ‘dramatic sand dunes, surrounded by sweeping coastal pinewoods’. It is well known locally, and beyond, … Continued
Dr Amy Erickson, University of Cambridge citywomen@hist.cam.ac.uk ‘City Women in the 18th century’ is a free outdoor exhibition in Cheapside, London, which runs until 18 October 2019. Using an extensive collection of trade or business cards, it shows that many women were among those manufacturing and selling luxury goods in the capital. The exhibition grows … Continued
Dr Aaron Andrews, Leeds Beckett University @DrAaronAndrews What makes someone a hero? This was a question we asked Bradford pupils at Hoyle Court (years 5 and 6) and Beckfoot Thornton School (year 7). Through written and drawn responses, they told us: strength; kindness; bravery; and a Marvel Cinematic Universe film or two. But the pupils’ … Continued
Emily Oldfield, Manchester Metropolitan University haunt@mmu.ac.uk @hauntMCR Exploring alternative culture, encountering hidden histories and combining academic research with powerful, public-facing online content is at the heart of HAUNT Manchester – the website and network showcasing Greater Manchester’s mysterious side, informed by research at Manchester Metropolitan University and hosted by Visit Manchester. HAUNT Manchester celebrates the … Continued
Dr Ross Horsley, West Yorkshire Queer Stories @wyqueerstories It is a year since the launch of West Yorkshire Queer Stories, a Heritage Lottery-funded history project that’s recording the life stories, experiences and opinions of LGBTIQ+ folk across the region. This post uses that milestone to recap what we have achieved so far and to look … Continued
