Using Archives for Academic Research
In Digital Versus Physical Archives: a Personal Account I discussed my use of archives while researching my family history, describing how digital archives were the catalyst for my research in various archives in Britain and Ireland spanning several years. With ten years’ archival research behind me, I decided to study for a history degree. Those years were invaluable to me, as I headed into the archives … Continue reading Using Archives for Academic Research
Remember, Remember the Sixth of November: Commemorating Princess Charlotte 200 Years After her Death
Originally posted on HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany:
Princess Charlotte Augusta of Wales ‘Alas, that England’s hope – her greatest pride, Should thou in youthful loveliness have died!’ The Morning Post, 7 November 1817 Monday 6 November 2017 is the 200th anniversary of the death of Princess Charlotte, the granddaughter of King George III. She died at Claremont in Surrey after a protracted fifty-hour labour… Continue reading Remember, Remember the Sixth of November: Commemorating Princess Charlotte 200 Years After her Death
Emma Clarke, Born 1875: Britain’s First Black Female Footballer
As I noted in The ‘Black Boy’ of the Philanthropic Society, much of Britain’s black history is hidden from the historical record, not least because histories were generally recorded of rich, white men; women and minorities are hard to locate unless they married into the aristocracy, did something extraordinary or found themselves in trouble with the law. It also relies on the person recording any … Continue reading Emma Clarke, Born 1875: Britain’s First Black Female Footballer
My Top Tips for Gaining Readers
I’ve had my blog for over two years and I’ve been posting regularly for twelve months solid and seen a growth in readers on my blog for each of those months – except the two months when I’ve deliberately slowed down and focused my energies elsewhere – because sometimes life does get in the way of my writing time! My blog is a niche subject … Continue reading My Top Tips for Gaining Readers
In the News: English Heritage – ‘Nominate Female Candidates for New Blue Plaques’
Only 14% of London’s blue plaques celebrate women. English Heritage is trying to redress the balance. Since they began a campaign in 2016 more than half of the plaques awarded have celebrated women. However, they are seeking more nominations from the public. What a wonderful way to engage with public history! You can check out the selection criteria here. One of the rules states that … Continue reading In the News: English Heritage – ‘Nominate Female Candidates for New Blue Plaques’
Royal Memorabilia: Must Have Mementoes or Kitsch to Ignore?
A few years ago, I failed to buy a commemorative dish memorialising the death of Princess Charlotte in 1817. I’ve bemoaned my loss of this ever since. I’ve browsed for another on eBay and have almost been tempted to buy again. Some of the Princess Charlotte memorabilia is very pricey, that said it is 200-years-old! Love it or loathe it, royal memorabilia is big business. … Continue reading Royal Memorabilia: Must Have Mementoes or Kitsch to Ignore?
Black History Month: Nursing in the NHS and Me
With the proliferation of #BlackHistoryMonth hashtags haunting various social media sites [I’m sure haunting is the correct term during October], you may have noticed that October is Black History Month in the UK. It is the time that we celebrate our diversity, learn about other cultures and the people who have settled in Britain in the near and distant past. While we embrace our differences, during … Continue reading Black History Month: Nursing in the NHS and Me
The Sale of Arsenic Regulation Act 1851
The 1851 Act regulated the sale of arsenic by imposing a series of measures aimed to ultimately control the arsenic panic that gripped the country. The six parts to the Act covered: On every Sale of Arsenic, Particulars of Sale to be entered in a Book by the Seller in Form set forth in Schedule to this Act. Restrictions as to Sale of Arsenic Provision for … Continue reading The Sale of Arsenic Regulation Act 1851
The Children of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
Albert Edward, Prince of Wales married Princess Alexandra of Denmark on 10 March 1863 at Windsor Castle. The Prince and Princess of Wales, Bertie and Alix, as they were known, went on to have six children, five surviving to adulthood. The nine children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert married into many European royal households and subsequently, King Edward VII was known as the uncle … Continue reading The Children of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra
Norwich Cathedral and the Grave of Edith Cavell
Friday 12 October was the 103rd anniversary of the death of Edith Cavell. Edith was executed during the First World War for helping allied soldiers escape German-occupied Belgium. She is rightly seen as a heroine who sacrificed herself for the greater good of her country. You can read my anniversary post about her here. Edith’s body was repatriated after the war and buried in Norwich … Continue reading Norwich Cathedral and the Grave of Edith Cavell
Edwardian Postcards: a Glimpse into an Earlier Life
At my last visit to a postcard fair, I bought a small bundle of twenty-two postcards dating from 1910-15. Individually they weren’t expensive, just 50p each (the seller sold them for £10) and I hoped to be able to share a snippet or two from the collection. The address of one of the cards initially attracted me to them, ‘Mr Cyril Smith, Post Office, Sudbury, … Continue reading Edwardian Postcards: a Glimpse into an Earlier Life
12 October 1915: Edith Cavell Executed for Treason
Edith Cavell died at dawn on 12 October 1915 at Tir National firing range, Brussels. Her statue, near Trafalgar Square, London, England, bears the words she spoke the night before her death; ‘Patriotism is not enough, I must have no hatred or bitterness for anyone.’ There are few statues of non-royal women in the country and the fact that there is one of Edith, and … Continue reading 12 October 1915: Edith Cavell Executed for Treason
The Children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Victoria, Princess Royal. Married Prince Frederick William of Prussia She was born 21 November 1840 and died 5 August 1901 Her eldest son, Kaiser Willhelm II, was on the opposing side to his cousin King George V of Great Britain during World War One Albert, Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII. Married Princess Alexandra of Denmark Born 9 November 1841 and died 6 May … Continue reading The Children of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
HistorianRuby One Year Blogiversary (of sorts)
In the first week of October 2017, I decided to finally wake up my ignored WordPress blog. I had started with such enthusiasm in June 2016 but then struggled to put pen to paper – or whatever the laptop equivalent is by the autumn of that year. In March of 2017 I shared just one post – but if it had to be one post, … Continue reading HistorianRuby One Year Blogiversary (of sorts)
Herbert Hoover Lived Here
Driving through Walton-on-Thames in Surrey, England, I happened upon a blue plaque. You may recall that blue plaques were my featured content in July. Of course, I had to pull over so I could take a snap. The plaque states ‘Herbert Hoover President of the USA (1929-1933) Lived here in 1902’. Herbert Hoover was the thirty-first President of the United States. What was he doing … Continue reading Herbert Hoover Lived Here
HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany 