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City of Lincoln's Festival of History
BGU's Professor Andrew Jackson designs content for literary trail! -
Reflections on Black History Month at BGU
Throughout October, Bishop Grosseteste University hosted a month-long programme of free events to celebrate Black History Month. The events included academic lectures, story-telling session and exhibitions that highlight the contribution of Black poets, educators, activists, athletes amongst others during this global month of celebration. Each of these sessions were designed to be educational, but also to engage and entertain in different ways while challenging received ideas and knowledge and were available to staff, students, guests and the wider public via live-stream where applicable. Dr Sheine Peart, Reader in Access, Equality and Inclusion and Project Lead for Black History Month at BGU, said: “As we reach the end of October I would like to offer some personal reflections on Black History Month at Bishop Grosseteste University 2021 which has been a resounding success in countless different ways. “The month-long programme of events was planned by a multidisciplinary University wide team and from the outset the ambition was (borrowing words from the BBC charter) to entertain, educate and inform while at the same time celebrating the multiple ways the global community has been enriched by contributions of people’s from the African diaspora. Benefiting from the skills and knowledge of University colleagues and invited contributors, each event fed into this ambition and provided new insights to the participating audiences while simultaneously honouring the common bonds which unite us and engaging with the challenges which confront us. “Through poetry, music, song, film, thought-provoking talks and story-telling sessions the audience learned of the ways Black peoples had enriched local, national and international communities including the innovative education strategies of Beryl Gilroy (the first Black Headteacher in London) and the ways the Reverend Sonia Baron in her work with the national government is currently challenging inequalities in work based and other spaces to provide better opportunities for everyone. “BHM at BGU will return in 2022 with another programme of events which will be open to students, staff and the wider public. We look forward to welcoming you to our next celebration and invite you to keep watching for future announcements.” -
BGU history lecturer reveals hidden stories about women in the publishing trade
Dr Rose Roberto, Lecturer for History at Bishop Grosseteste University and Teaching Resources Librarian has co-edited a two-volume collection of research on women's history named Women in Print. The research covers the diversity of roles women played as authors, designers, producers, distributors and readers of books from the 1400s onward. To a greater extent, the history of the printing and publishing trades in the West which has been dominated by narratives of men, despite women always having been involved. From cloistered nuns who served as scribes and illuminators for codexes we now call textbooks that were distributed in medieval university cities, to eighteenth century widows and daughters who created art and managed family engraving or printing firms, to women employed as translators, illustrators, authors and photographers during the industrial age, these two volumes, which compile the historical research of an international group of scholars setting the record straight. Women in Print, are part of the ‘Printing History and Culture’ series published by Peter Lang. Women in Print 1: Design and Identities contains eleven chapters incorporating case studies of design aspects of a printed work, or more broadly about design issues related to the business of publishing. Edited with Artemis Alexiou (York St John University) both editors have selected chapters which focus on specific individuals and their career as female artists, compositors, editors, engravers, photographers, printers, publishers, scribes, stationers, typesetters, widows-in-business, and writers. Each chapter also offers an examination of women as active participants and contributors in the many and varied aspects of design and print culture, including the production of illustrations, typefaces, periodical layouts, photographic prints and bound works. This volume explores the visual material that they produced. The second related volume, Women in Print 2: Production, Distribution and Consumption contains selections covering professional relationships between two or more women or a business network in which aspects of their roles in production, distribution and consumption of the printing trade are explored and further analysed. It was co-edited by Caroline Archer-Parré of Birmingham City University and Christine Moog of the Parsons School of Design in New York. Series editor John Hinks is also credited because of his work organising the conference and guiding the manuscripts through delays, mainly caused by two years of a world-wide pandemic, to publication. Chapter 6, 'Working Women: Female Contributors to Chambers’s Encyclopaedia’, authored by Rose Roberto reflects her discovery of women writers and the exploration of archives spanning Philadelphia to Edinburgh, and London to Manchester. So far she has uncovered 25 female encyclopaedia contributors. Besides reflecting on the lives of these women and how they came to participate a transatlantic encyclopaedia project spanning more than three decades, this chapter also traces the evolving process whereby women achieved status as professionals throughout the 1800s as various fields in different trades developed. Some names in this chapter such as Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) and Millicent Garrett Fawcett (1847-1929) are familiar. Others are less-known, but just as interesting. According to the editors of the Romantic Illustration Network (RIN), 'While most histories until the last forty to fifty years often treat women’s histories "as outstanding anomalies" in cultural and professional fields dominated by men, the aim of the scholarship in this collection . . . show that women were always present. It approaches the lives of women – and writing about their lives – as part of a process which reveals complex individual histories.' Both volumes are available for BGU staff and students at the BGU Library. Or you can purchase your own copies at the Peter Lang website. Dr Rose Roberto with the new publications -
Artefacts, Not History: the debate about Colston's statue and Britain's imperial past
Dr W. Jack Rhoden, Programme Leader for History at BGU, discusses the role of statues in the study of history -
Lecturer’s new article reveals the early history of book collecting by the Cavendish family
Dr W. Jack Rhoden, Programme Leader for History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has had an article published in the Midland History journal outlining the early history of book collecting by the Cavendish family. The article, the first such study of its kind, seeks to reveal the extensive book collecting activities of one of the most wealthy and powerful aristocratic families of early modern England. It analyses the early modern book collecting activities of the Devonshire branch of the Cavendish family as an example of elite cultural capital accumulation across multiple generations. Speaking following publication, Dr Rhoden discussed what readers and prospective students could expect from the article: “The article will be of interest for those who like book history along with anyone who has visited Chatsworth House and Hardwick Hall and has a general interest in the history of the Cavendish/Devonshire family. It is also linked to our level 4 module - HIS404: British Libraries, Museums and Archives: A History of Collection, 1600-2000 which provides a general history of British libraries, museums and archives from the collections of wealthy individuals in the early modern period to more middle and working-class collections and the ultimate establishment of state-supported national and public institutions from the mid-18th century to the present day beginning with the British Museum.” The article, which is now available here to online subscribers of the Midland History journal, is the product of work originally undertaken during Dr Rhoden’s time as a post-doctoral researcher at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. You can read his full series of blogs, which delve into the intriguing history of a library that has evolved over 400 years, by clicking here. -
In memory of Margaret Elwell: one of the first history lecturers at Bishop Grosseteste University
Stories from the history of Bishop Grosseteste University are being told in a series of blog posts. In this instalment, Abigail White researches one of the first people to teach history a BGU. -
Hull’s Historic Docks and Ceremonial Culture Explored in Lecturer’s Award-Winning Essay
Dr Michael Reeve, Lecturer in History at BGU, has won the 2020 Gordon Forster Essay Prize, awarded by the Northern History journal, for his article exploring Hull’s historic docks and civic ceremonial culture. The piece, entitled ‘'An Empire Dock’: Place Promotion and the Local Acculturation of Imperial Discourse in ‘Britain’s Third Port’', looks in detail at civic ceremonial culture in Hull in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with a specific focus on new dock openings. This includes the grand opening of the 'Joint Dock' in east Hull in June 1914. This state-of-the-art dock was later known as King George Dock in honour of George V, who opened it with his wife, Mary, the Queen-consort. The article is concerned, in particular, with the way the British empire figured as a symbol and motif in dock openings and the promotional materials that surrounded them. Speaking following the article’s publication, Dr Reeve discussed what drew him to the subject: “This area of history has long interested me as a native of the port city of Hull, where I grew up just a stone's throw from the King George Dock. I kind of stumbled upon the topic when trying to develop a blog post about urban culture and civic ceremony during the First World War about three years ago (most of my work to date has focused on this conflict)! I ended up developing it into something much broader, related to the mid-nineteenth and early-twentieth century history of the British empire and its impact on urban culture in culture in coastal places. I found the opening ceremony for the dock fascinating and thought that it had clear connections to historical accounts I had read about imperial citizenship, as well as a wider research concern I have with 'coastal-urban' experience and identities in history. When I got into the archives (mainly the Hull History Centre and the British Newspaper Archive), I found a wealth of material to go on, from colourful brochures and ticket stubs, to richly-detailed newspaper accounts and planning documents. The article should be of interest to students enrolled on modules related to the British empire and identity (such as the third-year module, The Sun Never Set and the Blood Never Dried: The British Empire in the Long Nineteenth Century and the first-year module, History of Identity) and those researching local historical topics and methods. It will also relate to the MA Social and Cultural History module, City and Countryside in Transition 1870-1914, given its focus on urban historical change.” The article is currently available to download for free (for a limited time) by clicking here. To find out more about how you can uncover new adventures on a History course at BGU, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Events or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
Remembering 9/11 Twenty Years On
On the morning of September 11, 2001, an American Airlines Boeing 767 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City. Worldwide, millions watched in shock as events were broadcast by live television coverage. Many remember the chilling footage of the second plane hitting the south tower and the later collapse of the twin towers. At 9.45 am (Eastern Standard Time - EST), a third plane hit the Pentagon in Washington D.C. At 10.10 am (EST), a fourth hijacked plane crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania. United Flight 93 had been delayed leaving Newark Liberty International Airport, leaving time for some of its passengers to learn of the attacks in New York and Washington from cell phone calls. A group of brave passengers and flight crew fought the highjackers preventing the terrorists from weaponising the plane and taking out their fourth intended target, either the White House or the U.S. Capitol. The coordinated attacks were carried out by the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives that day. Twenty years on, historians at Bishop Grosseteste University share their memories of a day that changed the world. Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for Military History. I was weeks away from submitting my Master's' dissertation when 9/11 happened. The day the planes hit the World Trade Center, I had broken away from editing a dissertation chapter. I made a sandwich and then switched on the weighty analogue box television that occupied the living room corner. Images of destruction and devastation greeted me. News of the attacks in New York dominated both BBC and ITV channels (two of just five channels then). For the rest of the day, I sat transfixed, unable to make sense of the news that followed. In an era before social media, the live broadcast made it feel as if I were there. I watched in horror as the Twin Towers plummeted to the ground. At the time, I felt sick. Looking back, I still do. During my doctorate, I spent some time in New York as a Fritz Halbers Fellow researching aspects of the Holocaust at the Leo Baeck Institute. In 2006, on a bitterly cold January morning, I visited the site of the 9/11 attack. Standing silently in Lower Manhattan, I felt overwhelmed with emotion, still unable to process the unthinkable. As we mark the 20th anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history, I wonder how much 9/11 is shifting from lived experience to a historical event connected to the years of history before and after the 9/11 attacks. Dr Hazel Kent, Lecturer in History. I was rushing from my classroom to the staffroom to grab a much-needed cuppa after a busy lesson (some things don't change). A colleague stopped me in the corridor: "Have you heard what's happening in New York?" I hadn't. There wasn't easy internet access in a Lincolnshire comprehensive at that time, and certainly not in my History classroom. I went over to the Science block, to the technician's long, thin preparation room; this was the only place in the school with a live television signal. Surrounded by the chemical bottles and equipment, I remember watching the coverage in disbelief and trying to make sense of what was happening as more and more staff crowded into the tiny space to do the same. I remember the confusion as TV reporters tried to explain, as the horrific trauma of a carefully coordinated terror attack began to unfold thousands of miles away. Watching the coverage of the event certainly had a profound effect on me. From a historian's point of view, it is interesting to reflect on the experience of watching such a significant event unfold in real-time before its narrative has been created. Dr Alan Malpass, Lecturer in Military History. I've lived my entire adult life in the post-9/11 world, but my memories of that day are hazy. I do remember, quite vividly, sitting on the sofa in my parents living room watching news reports of the attack. I had just returned from school, so it must have been around 4 pm (BST). My dad was still at work, but my mum was watching the TV. I remember walking in and seeing her stood in the middle of the room. I immediately felt that something serious had happened, and I sat down. I don't remember us speaking a lot, but just sitting and trying to comprehend the news coverage. I didn't understand what had happened – I don't think anyone did at that point. I'd never heard of the 'Twin Towers' or thought much about terrorism, but the chaotic images made an instant impression. The sense that something tragically earth-shattering had happened was clear. Twenty years later, I now find myself teaching the events of 9/11 and terrorism on some of the modules I deliver. They are requisite to understanding the world we live in today. Further information about the 9/11 Memorials can be found at The 9/11 Memorial & Museum, Flight 93 National Memorial and The National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. -
Christmas 1914 at Bishop Grossteste University
Since opening as a teacher training college for Schoolmistresses in 1862, Bishop Grosseteste University has celebrated over 150 Christmases. This year, History Alumni Ambassador Abigail White has explored the BGU archive to learn more about past Christmas celebrations at the university. One of the student magazines contains a detailed description of Christmas in 1914 and the impact of the First World War on festive celebrations. ‘It was thought better owing to the great distress caused by the present war not, to have the usual dance at Christmas, so the members of the staff kindly invited us to tea in the dining hall at 5 pm on Wednesday, December 16th’. Students and staff then engaged in various forms of entertainment. ‘The rest of the evening was devoted to games in the Drill Hall. No trouble was spared to make the evening enjoyable. The programme provided for all kinds of amusements. We began with an Advertisement Competition. How we had to rack our brains to discover the missing names of the gay placards that we see every day in the street! We were in the midst of this when suddenly we found that certain figures arrayed in the familiar red blanket were marching in procession around the room, led by a young lady resplendent in ermine muff and fur, made from a pair of white stockings with the help of a few threads of black cotton. This was the Adaptation Competition. Then followed dances of various kinds. Miss Bibby very kindly sang an old folk song which was greatly appreciated and which caused much amusement – ‘Oh no! John!’ But what of the Staff Competition. Every member retired during the Highland Schottische behind the green curtains on the platform. The curtains were drawn. Oh the horror! We were greeted with the awful vision of mummies and were given papers and told to name them! Some the girls evidently forgot that although deprived of their human appearance, the Members of the Staff had not lost their powers of hearing. The ‘Silent Cat and Mouse’ game caused much fun. At 10 o’clock we joined hands and sang ‘Alud Lang Syne’. Afterwards, we all tried to show our appreciation of one of the most enjoyable evenings of the term with a hearty cheer.’ To find out more about how you can uncover new adventures on a History or Military History course at BGU, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Events or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
Bishop Grosseteste University’s 160th anniversary
Stories from the history of Bishop Grosseteste University are being told in a series of blog posts. In this instalment, Abigail White researches when then Lincoln Diocesan Training College for School Mistresses opened its doors.
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