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Cordelia Beattie

@cordeliabeattie.bsky.social

Professor of History, with particular focus on women in England c.1300-1700. Was PI on AHRC-funded Alice Thornton’s Books project, 2021-25. https://thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/people/cbeattie/

546 Posts9419 Follower2563 Folgt
Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3d ago

Thinking through the unedifying, un-evidence-based rush to an undefined, apparently unmodelled paradigm of 'specialisation, what's being lost/threatened? Herts History was an excellent example of performing to a top standard in REF, but also much more than that. Questions to think with include: 1/4

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 3d ago

So it's farewell to the History subject area at the University of Hertfordshire, not the first nor the last to go. One of the best departments in the country, just extinguished like a snap of the fingers. Think of the waste. (1/2)

Cordelia Beattie@cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 3d ago

I see some people are reading this post as being about Exeter but it’s referring to the University of Hertfordshire. And that’s Owen’s point. Less coverage about the axe falling there but it’s equally sad.

Owen Davies@odavies9.bsky.social · 4d ago

So a whole lot of my talented Humanities colleagues are now unemployed as of today. A lot of understandable concern over Exeter. But for over two decades my Hums colleagues were in the top quartile for their research contribution to society. History top 10. Now gone with only a national whisper.

Cordelia Beattie@cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 4d ago

Thornton's account is not that different from the legal records. They note that John Ogle and Thomas Jenney were involved, as Thornton also hints at, but they state that Danby died about 11 o'clock on 31 July with the coroner arriving on the 1st. 🗃️ www.british-history.ac.uk/middx-county...

Middlesex Sessions Rolls: 1667 | British History Online

british-history.ac.uk

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks.bsky.social · 4d ago

1 Aug. 1667 #OTD Thornton's nephew, Thomas Danby, was murdered near Gray's Inn, London: 'this poor gentleman was suddenly surprised and murdered without any provocation or malice begun on his side. Committed with the most barbarous circumstances imaginable by one Berridge.' (Bk 1, 227). #EarlyModern

A map of Gray's Inn as it stood in Holborn, London in 1677, as printed in a book from 1886.
Sharon Howard@sharonhoward.bsky.social · last wk.

For #DH and #dataviz people... and if you're not at the conference, go look at the timeline anyway! It's a very clever and lovely visualisation. [disclosure: I may have had a bit to do with the underlying data.]

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks.bsky.social · last wk.

If you're at #DH2026 go see Mary Chester-Kadwell and Tiffany Ong's poster 'Human-centred Design in Digital Humanities: Rethinking Timeline Data Visualisation through Software Engineer-Designer Collaboration' re. the timeline they created for our project. thornton.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/timeline/

postmedieval@postmedieval.bsky.social · last wk.

/postmedieval/ is looking for special issue and essay cluster proposals. do you work in medieval studies—or a field that speaks to premodern cultures? we'd love to hear your ideas. if you're interested in guest-editing a collection for the journal, send us your proposal by 15 september.

Bild
UCD Archives@ucdarchives.bsky.social · 2w ago

If anyone is considering editing something from our collections, we will happily supply a digital copy at no cost. Please contact Kate (archives at ucd dot ie).

Irish Manuscripts Commission@irishmanuscripts.bsky.social · 2w ago

Closing date: Wed 29 July The IMC student prize of €1,000 is awarded to a postgraduate student for editing a short historical document, which will also be considered for publication in Analecta Hibernica. Learn more at: irishmanuscripts.ie/imc-student-prize-2026/

History Workshop@historyworkshop.org.uk · 2w ago

We are hiring a new Editorial Fellow who specialises in pre-1800 CE history from any part of the globe 🌍 👉 this 2-year fellowship runs from October 2026 - September 2028 👉 this role is paid and part-time (3 hours per week) 👉 the application deadline is Friday 7 August Please share widely!

Call for Applications: Editorial Fellowship at History Workshop, 2026

History Workshop is seeking to appoint one Editorial Fellow in 2026, with specialism in pre-1800 CE history from any part of the globe.

historyworkshop.org.uk

Glen O'Hara@gsoh31.bsky.social · 2w ago

The government has now washed its hands of universities in England. Prospective students and parents should be warned: they are now almost unprotected in the event of a failure, and it's possible doors may close *same day* in case of a collapse. wonkhe.com/wonk-corner/...

Ministers are throwing students to the wolves

On Tuesday the government published its response to the Education Committee’s report on higher education funding and the threat of insolvency.

wonkhe.com

Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2w ago

Great to see the Guardian champion the SHAPE (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences) subjects, but this piece gives impression that they are expensive, whereas many are 'cheap to teach' subjects subsidising more expensive subjects, mainly in STEM and medicine. The crisis demands better understanding.

The Guardian view on humanities cuts in universities: academic departments are more than cost centres | Editorial

Editorial: Literature, the arts and social sciences must not be sacrificed as higher education funding is squeezed

theguardian.com

Cordelia Beattie@cordeliabeattie.bsky.social · 2w ago

A different insight into #WomensWork. All three of the women named by Thornton were servants in her household (Mary a former servant, Hannah a current one, as was Barbara, albeit for Thornton's niece who was staying with them). #EarlyModern

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks.bsky.social · 2w ago

20 July 1668 #OTD Thornton fell ill on hearing of rumours circulating about her: 'Barbara Todd, did impudently accuse, before my face, my servant (Hannah Ableton) for telling her from one Mary Breakes of several stories —which were very great lies and falsehoods against myself' (Bk Rem, 122). 🗃️

A woodcut, lightly coloured in. It shows 'the several Branches of Gossiping' by depicting women in various places: at a childbirth; at the market; at the church; at the baths; at the ale house; at the bakehouse; washing clothes at the river.
Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3w ago

What happens if we place the UK university crisis in the Humanities (and some Social Sciences) within the context of students with known disabilities? We know that regional cold spots increasingly limit HE choices for many disadvantaged students. What do the stats suggest for disability? A 🧵 1/5

David Turner@profdavidturner.bsky.social · 2mo ago

My 500 year history of disabled people's political activism is out now! Thanks to The Independent for making it their non-fiction book of the month! www.penguin.co.uk/books/455782... #disabilityhistory

Alice Thornton's Books@thorntonsbooks.bsky.social · 3w ago

Today is World Emoji Day! Did you know that Alice Thornton used an early form of emoji in her writing? She often used a ❤ instead of writing the word heart. In the image, see seven lines up on the right: 'Oh that our soules, my mind & ♥' Image: Book of Remembrances, 109. Photo by Derek Beattie. 📜

A page from a 17th-century handwritten book. Seven lines up on the right the text reads: 'Oh that our soules, my mind & ♥'.