History Lab Bulletin - 18 November 2012

Next in History Lab

• Methods Workshop: Monday 19 November, 17:30 – 19:30, Holden Room (103) - Senate House, Malet St, Camden, London WC1E 7HU.
  
• Meet the Historians of the Middle East and Asia: Tuesday, 27 November, 18:00 - 20:00 Dr Ben Fortna (SOAS), Dr Eleanor Newbigin (SOAS) and Dr Ilan Pappe (Exeter) discuss their career paths and research.
  
  
• Seminar: Yi Li (SOAS) 'Governing the Chinese in a Multi-Ethnic Colonial State: A Case of Burma from the 1820s to the 1930s', Thursday 29 November, 17:30 - 19:30, Room STB5, Basement, Stewart House, 32 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5DN.
  Shortly after the first Anglo-Burmese War (1824-1826) and the subsequent annexation of Tenasserim and Arakan by the East Indian Company, Maingy, the first Commissioner of Tenasserim, considered to import Chinese traders and labours from nearby Penang, also under the control of Calcutta, as part of his effort to build a Leviathan society in this newly acquired British colony. Together with British military and commercial expansions at the Sino-Burma frontier in later decades, it marked the start of the colonial administration’s dealing with its Chinese subjects in Burma.Based on English archival sources, this paper looks at the colonial administrative mechanism of governing the Chinese, and its impact on various institutional up to the 1930s in Burma.
  

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Workshop

• The Institute of Historical Research is holding a free workshop for history postgraduates and early career researchers on 'Developing an effective social media presence'. The event, which will be held on Tuesday 29 January 2013, has been organised as part of the AHRC-funded Social Media Knowledge Exchange project http://www.smke.org/
• To register for the event, email Jane Winters (jane.winters@sas.ac.ukjane.winters@sas.ac.uk

>). Places are limited, http://www.terraamericanart.org/europe/so book soon.

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Fellowship

• With funding from the Terra Foundation for American Art, The Courtauld
  Institute of Art's Research Forum is pleased to announce the 2013-2015 Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship for the teaching and study of historical American art (pre-1980). The award will enable a recent postdoctoral scholar to teach at The Courtauld Institute of Art and to undertake a major research project intended for publication. The Fellow will teach one course in the first year and two courses in the second year on selected American art topics. The deadline is the 15th of January 2013. For more information, see: http://www.terraamericanart.org/europe/
  

Postgraduate and Early Career Seminar

Rebecca Roberts (Teesside University) presented a fascinating paper at the Postgraduate and Early Career Seminar last night, entitled ‘The Houses of Sir Arthur Ingram and Lionel Cranfield, earl of Middlesex: a comparative study of elite architecture in England, 1600-1640. Rebecca made a convincing argument that, in terms of architectural fashion and cultural awareness, it was the provinces of England that were regarded as ‘backwards’ rather than the north of England, per se. Along the way, Rebecca discussed the use of brick in these buildings, made the point that regionalism may have influenced the use of available, local building materials and highlighted the influence of Inigo Jones’s architectural style. Rebecca also made the point that distance from London was significant, as proximity to London allowed access to London craftsmen.

In the discussion that followed the paper, Rebecca elaborated on the rationale behind studying the two individuals in question. Ingram and Cranfield were not just contemporaries but friends, suggesting that they would have shared similar networks and contacts.

This was the final seminar paper in the current series. For details of seminar papers in the Autumn term, please click here.

Simon Lambe (St Mary's UCL) 'The Tudor Monarchy and the Somerset gentry'

Simon's PhD is a study of the developments in the style of government under the early Tudor monarchs. On May 6, he gave a paper focusing on the Paulet family of Somerset, and particularly Sir Amias Paulet (c.1457-1538) and Sir Hugh Paulet (1532-1588). These two men fulfilled the duties of the county squire and gentleman while remaining as the eyes and ears of Tudor government.

In the questions and comments that followed the work of Helen Speight and Mary Robertson over the management by Thomas Cromwell of the southwestern government. Speight argues, contrary to Roberston, that it was beyond Cromwell's competence to 'manage' southwestern government in the manner she suggests. Simon stressed the success of the Paulet's in their roles as local governors and it was suggested that they were the exception in terms of their ability to maintain connections with local institutions and central government.

Simon's paper added to the historiography in its tackling of a county, and in its focus on gentry families rather then the nobility.

On 20 May, the History Lab postgraduate seminar will host a paper by Caroline Watkinson (Queen Mary, University of London) 'Exiled English Convents and the French Revolution'. This will be followed by the History Lab summer social event.

Goodenough Annual Conference Series - War & Faith: Exploring the place of Religion in Conflict and Reconciliation, Friday 18 June 2010

Over the past nine years Goodenough College has established an internationally renowned conference series with a reputation for addressing serious issues of multi-disciplinary and global importance. This series of conferences is devised and organised by members of Goodenough College and attracts the highest calibre of specialists from political, financial, academic and diplomatic communities around the world.

This year the College will host speakers from a number of diverse fields to examine the relationship between war and faith in the past and present, particularly the extent to which religion can be seen as a cause of conflict, the religious discourses used to define the experience of war, and the ways that faith can be instrumental to reconciliation and reconstruction. The connection between war and faith stretches back for millenia, but it is one that is increasingly important to examine, discuss, and attempt to understand in the twenty-first century.

Follow the link below for more information:

http://www.goodenough.ac.uk/gcs.html

Professor Duncan Tanner

Sadly, Professor Duncan Tanner died recently (you can see an obituary here, and another one here). He was only 51, and his death was a shock to many people. I wanted to share some of the experiences I had of listening to him speak. This is not an attempt to write another obituary but to share the one or two brief experiences I had of meeting him. I have been inspired to write something based on the very positive experiences I had of listening to him.

The first time I met him was during a AHRC-sponsored event for people embarking on their PhDs. I remembering him speaking with great enthusiasm for his current area of research: the history of Welsh devolution. The second time, was at a workshop last year at the University of Birmingham on non-government activism in post-war Britain. Professor Tanner attended and spoke on the possibilities and challenges associated with writing really contemporary history. He gave fascinating and useful insights into his work and carefully described research and career opportunities for young researchers.

During a coffee break at the workshop, I asked him for some advice concerning the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. He was an expert on the workings of the Act, and was full of ideas for its potential for contemporary historians. My own research focuses on the history Citizens' Advice Bureaux, a charity designed to help individuals in their dealings with the state. I was having difficulties getting hold of certain records which may or may not have been covered by the FOI legislation. I approached Professor Tanner to ask how best I should frame a request for information.

Professor Tanner was extremely helpful in his suggestions. He gave me contacts and ideas on how best to approach the relevant authorities with my requests for information. At the same time he seemed interested in my work and gave me encouragement to pursue requests under FOI. I also remember him coming for a drink with the attendees afterwards, most of whom were doctoral students, to ask about their research.

As someone who had only a fleeting experience of Duncan Tanner, I will remember him as a very helpful and inspiring academic.

History Lab's annual conference - Politics and Power

Politics and Power

Call for Papers

History Lab Annual Conference

29th and 30th June 2010

Institute of Historical Research, London

Political history is sometimes seen as the victim of recent turns in historical practice. This conference aims to explore where politics fits into the current practice of history, and the current shape – and status – of political history.The General Election means that 2010 would seem to be a good year in which to consider the state of politics in history, not just as Political History, but as a broader aspect of much historical research. The past can be a powerful motivator and politician’s tool, and historians play an important role in this; we need also to be aware of our own political positions when writing history. What is the place of traditional forms of Political History in the 21st century? How can this type of history interact with other approaches to history? Has the cultural turn really done for political history, or just changed the way we do it? How do we define ‘political history’ – is all history politics?

Abstracts are invited for 20 minute papers that address any of these issues, in any time period. Suggested topics include:

People, parties and networks
Elections, voters and the franchise
Inclusion and exclusion
Political theory and the practice of political history
The use of history in politics
Protest and revolution
Local politics
Power and agency
Nationalism and devolution
International politics
Identity politics
The 2010 election in historical context
‘New politics’ – neoliberalism, New Labour and reinvigoration

Please send a 250-300 word abstract by the end of Monday, 17th May to historylabconference@gmail.com, giving your institution (if applicable) and contact details. Suggestions for two or three person panels are welcomed: please supply a title or theme for your panel, and abstracts and contact details for each proposed panellist.

David Turner (York) 'Managing the royal road: the development of managerial structure on the London and South Western Railway 1836-1881'

David Turner gave a highly stimulating account of the LSWR's managerial structure, and its development, in a paper to the History Lab Postgraduate Seminar on 22 April.

The paper analysed some of the key driving factors of organisational change in the management of LSWR, and considered how these impacted on the company's performance. An important characteristic of management was the amount of independence enjoyed by each of the departments of the company. This independence came about largely through the demands of administration, and the absence of centralised control throughout this period.

A stimulating discussion followed the paper in which questions were asked about the efficiency of the company, and the issue of social mobility within its staff.

More about David's work can be found on his blog which can be found at: turniprailway.blogspot.com

The next paper is on 6 May, when Simon Lambe, (St Mary's, London) will present a paper on the Tudor monarchy and the Somerset gentry.

Postgraduate and early career seminar - dates announced

Dates and titles for the Postgraduate and Early Career Seminar have now been announced:

18 March Rebecca Conley (Manchester)
Modern England is Rapidly Blackpooling Itself: J.B. Priestley, Blackpool and Englishness

20 April David Turner (York)
Managing the 'Royal Road': The Development and Failings of the Managerial Structure on the London and South Western Railway 1836-1900

6 May Simon Lambe (St Mary's University College)
The Tudor Monarchy and the Somerset Gentry

20 May Caroline Watkinson (QMUL)
Exiled English Convents and the French Revolution

All seminars take place in the Low Countries Room, Institute of Historical Research, University of London, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. Seminars start at 5.30pm, and there are drinks afterwards. All postgraduate and early career researchers welcome.