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RAF Centenary celebrated at BGU Annual History Lecture
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) marked the centenary of the RAF at the BGU Annual History Lecture earlier this month. Professor Richard Overy presented the lecture titled ‘The RAF in Two World Wars’ on Wednesday 2 May in BGU’s Hardy Lecture Theatre. The lecture explored the history of British air power in two World Wars, focusing on the creation of the RAF in 1918 and the extent to which the circumstances of its birth dictated the direction air strategy would subsequently take in the Second World War. Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research at BGU, said: “A very sizeable audience from Lincoln and the wider county came to hear Richard Overy speak to us about the story and significance of the RAF. “It was very fitting to hear and think about the history of this service in its centenary year, given the RAF’s very close and strong associations with the county.” This year’s lecture was given by the world-renowned historian Professor Richard Overy. Richard is the author of more than 26 books including The Bombing War: 1939-1945 (2013) and The Birth of the RAF, 1918: The World’s First Air Force (2018). In 2001, in recognition of his contribution to the history of warfare, he was awarded the Samuel Elliot Morison Prize by the Society for Military History. The BGU Annual History Lecture was originally established to mark the work of a historian at BGU, Jim Johnston. Dr Johnston was a pioneer in the use of probate inventories. However, the main reason why a memorial lecture series began, following his death in 2007, was because he was an exceptional teacher. This annual event has also come to celebrate the contribution of another former History lecturer, Dulcie Duke, by BGU’s Old Students’ Association. The occasion marks the work of current BGU students, and includes the awarding of the Dulcie Duke Prize for the best History essay, supported by both the OSA and the Lincoln Record Society. This year the award was given to BGU History student Danielle Sarsfield. Find out more about History at BGU. -
Join BGSU for an Evening of LGBT+ History
Bishop Grosseteste Student Union (BGSU) invite you to join them on Wednesday the 6th of February for an Evening of LGBT+ History. As part of LGBT+ History Month they’ll celebrating and remembering LGBT+ History through a variety of different and exciting ways. Themes including Bisexuality, LGBT+ in Northern Ireland, and Jeremy Kyle will be explored by a selection of fantastic speakers and performers before local band Striped Sight cap off the evening. The special event is also aiming to help raise funds for Positive Health (Lincolnshire); a local sexual health charity who do fantastic work and have repeatedly supported BGSU. So come along to the BGU campus for a thought provoking and enjoyable evening of discussion, music, comedy and cupcakes. BGSU would like to thank their sponsors: The Lion and Snake, BG (Lincoln) Ltd, Almost All Things Cocoa and Ethan Tonks Photography for helping to put the evening’s activities together. In addition to a packed and thought provoking evening, BGSU would also like to invite you to the free after party being held at The Lion and Snake from 8pm where guest will be entertained by a Lady Gaga tribute act and drag queen. You can keep up to do date with all the activities being carried out by BGSU through our news page. If you’d like to get involved in discussions or activities like this then visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team. -
History lecturer awarded grant for spy clothing exploration
Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Senior Lecturer in History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has been awarded a Janet Arnold Award by the Society of Antiquaries of London to support her research project SOE Spy Clothing: Dress & Deception during the Second World War. The Special Operations Executive (SOE) was established 1 July 1940 with the task of co-ordinating subversion and sabotage abroad. Each country was assigned its own section and staff that worked alongside partisans and resistance fighters to liberate Europe from Nazi occupation. Dr Hubbard-Hall will be working with Dr Adrian O’Sullivan, a former intelligence linguist and fellow intelligence historian, to examine the ways in which the SOE clothed and disguised its agents throughout the Second World War. Dr Hubbard-Hall discussed why the subject of agents’ clothing was of such great interest to both her and the wider historical community: “Intelligence historians currently find themselves at a turning point, where new approaches to the writing of intelligence history have been called for that transcends the study of operations and policy, whilst drawing when necessary upon the methodologies of adjacent disciplines such as dress history. At present, no serious study has been undertaken into the way secret intelligence organisations disguised their agents through the use of appropriate national and regional dress, determined by the assigned operational location. An agent’s life was fully dependent upon being able to ‘pass’ effectively without drawing enemy attention, and authentic cover clothing was an essential part of an agent’s camouflage. This pilot study is the first academic study of wartime spy clothing and will inform our understanding of the importance of dress history within Second World War intelligence history.” If you would be interested in joining these discussions our new BA (Hons) in Military History, which reviews the evidence for conflict from the medieval period through to the present day, is the perfect place to start. Visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. Dr Adrian O’Sullivan will be visiting the university on Thursday 9 May to speak on the subject of his latest book The Baghdad Set: Iraq through the Eyes of British Intelligence, 1941-45 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019). -
BGU Historian Contributes to Routledge Handbook of French History
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) Programme Leader for Undergraduate History Dr. W. Jack Rhoden has penned a chapter in the Routledge Handbook of French History. The chapter, titled 'From Dictator to Democrat? The ‘Black Legend’ of Louis-Napoleon and Subsequent Historical Revisionism,' delves into the complex legacy of Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of the infamous Napoleon Bonaparte, who ascended to the French imperial throne in his own right and held sway for a longer tenure than his uncle. Rhoden introduces students to what has been written about Napoleon III whilst helping them to understand how changing contexts and political viewpoints led historians to come to vastly different conclusions about him and his rule, with some calling him a despot and proto-fascist, and others considering him to be the 'good' Napoleon and forerunner of post-war European integration. Rhoden's chapter helps students navigate this minefield and encourages them to think about how contemporary concerns impact academic history writing and interpretations. Jack Rhoden said:"It was a great opportunity to be part of this project and I'm very grateful to the editor Dave Andress for all his efforts in bringing together and organising such a large group of French historians. "I'm really keen for students to read my chapter and learn more about the continued relevance of Napoleon III and the historical debates that have raged around him, particularly in our present era of equally controversial political leaders such as Putin, Erdogan and Trump. In fact elements of this research are already integrated into the undergraduate history module: Democratic Dictators."Find more information on the book here. Discover History at BGU here. -
BGU launches exciting new undergraduate course in Military History
Bishop Grosseteste University is excited to announce the launch of a new BA (Hons) Military History degree. -
BGU History MA student nominated for national dissertation prize
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) History student, Abigail White, has been nominated for a nationally recognised competition for outstanding MA thesis in History. Abigail’s work entitled: ‘To what extent did the School Boards contribute to changes in teacher training colleges, 1890-1912? The case of Lincoln Diocesan Training College.’ explored the educational history of Lincoln Diocesan Training College (as BGU was once known) and made exceptional use of the University’s own library and archives. Focusing on the Training College it evaluates why teacher training colleges experienced change in the 1890s and into the twentieth century. Following its publication, Abigail’s dissertation has been nominated for the Rees Davies Prize for an outstanding Master’s Thesis, an award which commemorates former Royal Historical Society President and distinguished medieval scholar, Professor Sir Rees Davies (1938-2005). The prize is awarded for the best Master’s dissertation submitted by a UK institution of Higher Education. The winner is awarded a prize of £250 and invited to submit an article based on the dissertation to be considered for publication in the RHS Transactions. Speaking following the announcement, Abigail described her pride at receiving the nomination and explained why that particular area of history proved so captivating: “To find out that my piece of work had also been nominated for such a prestigious award was astonishing and a real privilege. Choosing my topic was the easiest part of the whole dissertation process. I was, and still am, amazed that most of the buildings at BGU are original meaning that the Victorian students would have been as familiar with them as I am. For instance, on both the Chapel and Skinner building exterior walls you can see evidence of the college expansion that happened at the turn of the century in 1900. This, coupled with the fact that the students were young women whose opportunities for a career and independence was limited during this period, made BGU’s history unique and fascinating topic to write about. Furthermore, using Lincoln Diocesan Training College as a topic also gave me the opportunity to see original documents detailing the student experience at Lincoln Diocesan Training College at the end of nineteenth century. So much so, that I was able to track a good majority of the students on the census which brought up some previously unknown insights including the fact that William Gladstone’s granddaughter, Margaret Wickham, completed a year of study here!” If you’d like to follow in Abigail’s footsteps and uncover new adventures on a History course at BGU, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Days or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
MA Student’s “Outstanding” Thesis Nominated for National History Prize
MA in Social and Cultural History student Simon Bromiley has been nominated for the RHS Rees Davies Prize for outstanding Master's thesis in History for his thesis ‘Misogyny in Manchester? Understanding the violence against women at Peterloo in 1819’. The thesis explores the Peterloo Massacre in 1819, which saw 18 people killed and over 700 injured as troops dispersed a peaceful Manchester crowd rallying for electoral reform. Interestingly, few historians have studied the massacre using a gendered approach which is striking given that women were nearly twice as likely to be sabred or truncheoned. Utilising a range of sources, Simon’s study revealed that the Peterloo women were deliberately targeted by the authorities who demonised and ‘othered’ them as non-citizens within a worldview that was inherently masculine, militaristic and misogynistic. During a period stereotyped by the gentile world of Jane Austen, the dissertation highlights a more disturbing form of Pride and Prejudice. Speaking following the nomination Simon’s supervisor Dr W. Jack Rhoden, Programme Leader for History at Lincoln Bishop University (Lincoln Bishop) praised his work and the impact it could have on future research: “Drawing on archival materials, Simon has demonstrated the importance of understanding the event in gendered terms, with complex ideas of masculinity and femininity underpinning the tragic violence and ensuing political battle for its memorialisation. The thesis also offered new avenues for future research by linking this violent episode to British imperial identity and experience in the early 19th century. It's an outstanding piece of research underlining the importance of using a gender history approach to revisit familiar historical events and draws heavily upon the collections of the People's History Museum in Manchester.” Dr Rhoden’s praise was echoed by Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for the MA in Social and Cultural History at Lincoln Bishop University, who shared how the MA programme equips students for advanced historical research: “It has been a privilege to support Simon on his postgraduate journey at the university. Simon's Dissertation is an original contribution to the topic of Peterloo which has undergone a renaissance of interest in the wake of its 200 year anniversary. The MA in Social & Cultural History equips students with enhanced historical research skills, enabling them to conduct independent research and produce high-quality writing. At the undergraduate level, the aspiration is to become a historian, and the MA enables them to fully realise this, becoming an independent historian pushing the frontiers of historical knowledge.” If you’d like to follow in Simon’s footsteps and uncover new adventures on a History course at Lincoln Bishop, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Days or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. -
Heritage Open Days & The Early History of Bishop Grosseteste University
Since 1994, Heritage Open Days have run every year shining a bright light on England's rich and diverse cultural heritage. This year, from 10-19 September, heritage sites across the county reflected on the theme of 'voices unheard', exploring 'stories from women, children, the working class and agricultural workers, minority groups and even animals that have somehow contributed to the history of Lincolnshire'. Lincoln Bishop University has been educating students for over 150 years, but its early history was devoted to training young 'school mistresses'. In January 1862, 'Lincoln Diocesan Training College for Schoolmistresses' opened its doors for women who aspired to be teachers. As seen in the image below, the 'Joyce Skinner Building' is one of the original college buildings. Figure 1: A watercolour painting of Lincoln Diocesan Training College in 1888. Lincoln Bishop Archive During the first fifty years some 1,320 girls entered Lincoln Diocesan Training College. After gaining their teaching certificates, some women went on to have careers in elementary schools. Others passed away far too young—some married, and their daughters later attended the college. A few daring women even travelled to far off British colonies to teach. Interestingly, the vast majority of trainee 'schoolmistresses' came from working-class backgrounds. During the nineteenth century, teaching was considered a working-class profession, as it was deemed immoral for the upper classes to educate working class children. Figure 2: The oldest surviving image of students at Lincoln Diocesan Training College c1860s. Lincoln Bishop Archive For a young woman to be given a chance to study at a teacher training college in the late nineteenth century there was an expectation that she would have successfully carried out the role of an apprentice teacher. 'Pupil Teachers' aged between 13 and 18 years of age, spent four to five years shadowing teachers in an elementary school. Alongside teaching the youngest school children, they also carried out domestic duties. Pupil Teachers were also expected to conduct their study before or after the school day. While extremely demanding, the pupil teacher scheme was also preparing the young women to take the Queen's Scholarship Exam. This exam ultimately determined their national ranking. It was from this list that College Principals selected entrants. The Principal at Lincoln Diocesan Training College used the Queen's Scholarship List, but also chose candidates based on their physical well-being, religious knowledge, and geographical proximity, preferring candidates from Lincolnshire or nearby counties of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Figure 3: The Student Common Room c. 1900s. The Common Room was only added to the College in 1895 after numerous requests from the Inspector. Lincoln Bishop Archive Once at the college, the young women could not escape their working-class roots as domestic duties were still required. The college décor was plain, the amenities were sparse, and the food was basic. However, despite a rudimentary diet of potatoes, meat and bread, regular college food was more than what many of the girls were used to. A fascinating medical record held within the Lincoln Bishop Archive reveals that one group of undernourished trainee teachers managed to put weight on at the turn of the twentieth century, and their general health improved considerably during their two years at college. To learn more about the university’s early history and heritage, and study History, Military History or the MA in Social & Cultural History in the surviving Victorian buildings, please click here. -
BGU Launch New Exhibition Exploring the History of Women’s Football
The Research Team at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have launched a new exhibition at the Lincoln Central Library to explore and celebrate the history of women’s football. The exhibition promotes and celebrates women’s football in Britain from the early years up to today, including its presence in Lincoln and the wider county of Lincolnshire. With a legacy dating back over 100 years the Lincoln Ladies, or Lady Imps, are one of the Sport’s most enduring teams, gaining huge popularity during the Great War before an FA ban at the end of the conflict forced them to fight for their survival. Two stories are incorporated into the exhibition. The first is the history of the women’s game from the 1880s up to the First World War, in particular the highpoint during the conflict of 1914-18. The second story is that of the recent revival of the game, focusing on the successful run for the Lincoln City Ladies team that came to a controversial end in 2013. The exhibition has been produced to coincide with the performances of the Lincoln Mystery Plays latest production: ‘The World at Her Feet’. The play has been written to mark the centenary of the final year of the First World War. The script recognises the contribution of munitionette workers, some of whom formed football teams. Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research at BGU, described his excitement at what the joint endeavours of the exhibition and the play could achieve: “The 'World at Her Feet' will be a powerful play. It will resonate as a fitting end to the four centenary years of the First World War. The production will also feature in a year of anniversaries commemorating progress in the place and status of women, and their achievement of the right to vote. In addition, the performance will be set in a context of today, and a revival of the women's game of football at national and international levels.” It is hoped that the exhibition will not only bring the extraordinary stories of the trailblazing Lady Imps to light, but also inspire a new generation to follow in their footsteps. The exhibition also coincides with celebrations nationwide of women gaining the right to vote one hundred years ago. BGU has been running several activities throughout the year, including another special exhibition, to commemorate this historic event. The Research Team at BGU are dedicated to preserving and championing the history of Lincolnshire and its residents. You can keep up to date with all their activities via our website or, if you would like to get involved yourself, you can contact our Enquiries Team to find out how to start your new adventure. The exhibition will run at the Lincoln Central Library until the 17th of November and is open to all. -
‘Echoes of Contempt’ within Church history explored at book launch
Last week Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) hosted the public launch of ‘Echoes of Contempt’, the latest book from Methodist minister the Reverend Bruce Thompson. Covering centuries of religious history, ‘Echoes of Contempt’ explores Jew Hatred, especially in relationship to the Christian Church, from the time of the early Church to today. The launch, held in the BGU Chapel, opened with introductions and reflections from local Jewish and Christian leaders. These were followed by an interview with the Reverend Bruce Thompson led by BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Rod Whiting. Attending the event Mark Plater, Senior Lecturer in Theology at BGU, commented: "Bruce has provided valuable input on this topic to my Holocaust Education module for many years now, and it is great to see his ideas and passion now summarised in book form. “The text is a well written, but hard-hitting read, and I commend it wholeheartedly." There are lots of exciting events taking place at BGU throughout 2019. To keep up to date on what is coming up you can visit our website or to host your own special event contact our Conferencing team.
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