Research funding for historians: the Society currently invites applications for 5 grant programmes: to support individual and project-based research by historians across a range of career stages bit.ly/4vzzNeB.
Closing dates for eligible applicants fall between 8 May and 5 June 2026 #Skystorians
Applications to become a Fellow @royalhistsoc.org are welcome at any time, from historians of all backgrounds within and beyond the UK.
Our next closing dates for applications are 11 May and 27 July 2026 bit.ly/4b5Ei8x 2/2
Opening page to the RHS guide to becoming a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. With full abstract: :Fellowship is one of several ways to join and belong to the Royal Historical Society. Fellows are elected to this position by the Society in recognition of their work for the historical discipline and profession. There are many different routes to Fellowship, just as there are different kinds of contributions and careers within the discipline of history. Today’s RHS Fellows are history practitioners from a very wide range of backgrounds (within and beyond higher education) who have contributed to historical understanding and knowledge through a body of work. These contributions take many forms: from academic publications of different formats, to editorial and curatorial work, history programming and public history. This post addresses common questions asked by those considering applying to join the Fellowship of the Royal Historical Society. If you are interested in making an application, we hope this helps."
The Society's Fellowship is a UK / worldwide gathering of historians who've contributed to historical understanding and knowledge through a body of work.
If you're interested in joining them, we've a brief guide to the many activities of RHS Fellows and how to apply bit.ly/3OzhoxK #Skystorians 1/2
Image of Georgian country house with text: ‘The Haunting at the Rectory: Ghost Stories and Women’s Lives in Early Modern England’ RHS Lecture at the University of Warwick. With Professor Sasha Handley (University of Manchester). Part of the visit by the RHS Council to the University of Warwick. 5.30pm, Friday 1 May 2026.
On Friday 1 May, the Society's Council is at the University of Warwick to meet with historians from the region.
The day closes with a public lecture (5.30pm) by Sasha Handley on ‘The Haunting at the Rectory: Ghost Stories and Women’s Lives in Early Modern England’ bit.ly/4tnpwRa All welcome.
Anyone working in history of comedy/satire, television, modern British politics - there's a fully funded PhD to research the Spitting Image archive @theul.bsky.social, with supervision at Exeter Uni. All disciplines considered, pls do share widely.
www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
In advance of tomorrow's release here is a short piece on the historical Irish censuses based on my past and ongoing research #spéirgorm theconversation.com/80-million-p...
Image of a monument of two curved shape stacks of stones, pulled apart to reveal a view of the sea beyond. To the right of the image, on an orange background, white text reads Community, Resistance and Resilience: Celebrating 50 years of The Making of the Crofting Community, Thursday 11 and Friday 12 June 2026, The Social Club Dornoch, £20/£40. Logo for UHI Centre for History in the bottom right hand corner.
Orange background with white text reads: Speakers include Thursday 11 June Andrew Mackillop, Gemma Smith, Iain MacKinnon, Mairi McFadyen and Raghnaid Sandilands, Interview with Jim Hunter. Friday 12 June Ewen Cameron, Ailsa Raeburn, Domhall Uilleam Stiubhart, David Taylor, Col Gordon. Logo for UHI Centre for History in the bottom right corner.
We are excited to share details on some of the speakers who will be delivering papers at our June conference, Community, Resistance and Resilience: Celebrating 50 years of 'The Making of the Crofting Community'! Tickets are available to purchase on Eventbrite, uhihistory.short.gy/HKxw0T
Registration for MBS2026 is now open! Registration link and the conference programme can be found here: www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/moder...
Rowan's new book, 'Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain
The Navy League and the Air League of the British Empire', is now available in free Open Access and p/back print editions bit.ly/4syLgIz.
Rowan's is the 26th title in the Society's OA book series: bit.ly/4sBmIyC with @uolpress.bsky.social
Front page of RHS Blog post, 16 April 2026. Full text: In this post, Rowan Thompson introduces his new book — ‘Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain. The Navy League and the Air League of the British Empire’ — which is published in April 2026 in the Society’s ‘New Historical Perspectives’ series with University of London Press. ‘Organised Militarism’ demonstrates that martial and militaristic sentiment remained an important part of mainstream British political culture, despite the ravages of the First World War. Rowan’s monograph examines the aims and activities of the Navy League and the Air League of the British Empire – two extra-parliamentary organisations established to promote naval and aerial supremacy. In doing so, it shows how martial and militaristic sentiment remained prominent, despite the ravages of war. ‘Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain’ is the 26th title in the Society’s New Historical Perspectives series for early career historians. Rowan’s book, and all other titles in the series are published free, Open Access, and in paperback print.
Front cover of 'Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain. The Navy League and the Air League of the British Empire', by Rowan Thompson
How did Britain promote naval and military air capacity post 1918? How did this relate to pacifist sentiment after the Great War?
In a new blog post, bit.ly/3OJ53as Rowan Thompson considers interwar 'organised militarism': the subject of his new volume in the Society's OA book series #Skystorians
Geoff Mulgan April 14th, 2026 The myth of STEM only growth holds back the UK
‘Why did the USSR, with its fantastic scientists and engineers and heavy investment in STEM, nevertheless stagnate?’
Excoriating from @geoffmulgan.bsky.social on the undervaluing of social science and humanities research
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Public lecture: Irish Society for Archives’ Spring Lecture Series ‘How to start a new archives service: experience of the CIÉ Group Archives’, Kevin Forkan, Wednesday 6 May at 6pm
Call for proposals: @ihsa2026.bsky.social Irish History Students’ Association Podcast, deadline Friday 22 May 2026
CALL FOR EDITORS 📣
British American Nineteenth-Century Historians (BrANCH) is seeking new co-editors of its journal, to take up posts in January 2027.
CV + Letter of Intent should be shared by 1st June 2026.
Our next lecture will take place on Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 5.30 p.m., at the Society of Antiquaries, London, and online via Zoom. Matthew Payne, Keeper of the Muniments at Westminster Abbey (also Treasurer and a Vice-President of the Society) will deliver the Graham Pollard memorial lecture.
To accompany his new book, Rowan also writes today for the RHS blog on the impact of the Navy and Air Leagues in maintaining militarism in Britain after 1918: bit.ly/3OJ53as
The NHP series is supported by @ihr.bsky.social and @echistsoc.bsky.social. All 26 books are available OA bit.ly/4sBmIyC
Apply now for ICS Public engagement grants
Deadline 1 May
Small grants (up to £500) are available to support Classics-themed public engagement activities. Full details: ics.sas.ac.uk/public-engag...
At the University of Sheffield today with @royalhistsoc.org, @ihr.bsky.social and @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy for History and Practice 2026!
Great to hear of so many wonderful initiatives bringing historians and archivists together to shape communities and society #HAP26
Images of the University of Sheffield and 'History and Archives in Practice' conference, 16 April 2026
We're in Sheffield today to co-host our annual day conference, 'History and Archives in Practice', with @ihr.bsky.social, The National Archives, and University of Sheffield Library #HAP26
40+ speakers explore the contributions of history to social and civic identity: bit.ly/4tj8DqW #Skystorians
To accompany his new book, Rowan also writes today for the RHS blog on the impact of the Navy and Air Leagues in maintaining militarism in Britain after 1918: bit.ly/3OJ53as
The NHP series is supported by @ihr.bsky.social and @echistsoc.bsky.social. All 26 books are available OA bit.ly/4sBmIyC
Front cover of 'Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain. The Navy League and the Air League of the British Empire', by Rowan Thompson
Published today: 'Organised Militarism in Interwar Britain' by Rowan Thompson bit.ly/4syLgIz
Rowan's new book is the 26th title in the Society's 'New Historical Perspectives' series for early career historians, published. Available Open Access and p/back print @uolpress.bsky.social #Skystorians
Fantastic PhD studentship opportunity - Spitting Image: political satire in Britain in the 20th and 21st centuries.
Working across @exeter.ac.uk and @theul.bsky.social in partnership with the @camglamresearch.bsky.social and drawing on the Roger Law archive.
#PhDsky
Upcoming #History event:
Friday, 22 May, at 7.30 p.m.
Dr Tom Pickles will deliver the 2026 Jarrow Lecture: 'Bede, Providence, and Early Medieval Kingship'
📍 St Paul's Church, Church Bank, Jarrow, Tyne & Wear, NE32 3DZ
Admission is free, and all are welcome.
Don't forget that the 1926 General Strike centenary open day is fast approaching. Book your tickets here: phm.org.uk/events_new/1...
The Inner Life of Politics: Grassroots Activism in West Germany, 1962-1983
Belinda J Davis (Rutgers)
13 May, Bloomsbury
InnerLifeOfPolitics.eventbrite.co.uk
What is the nature and timeline of political change and how should its success be assessed? And why do stories matter in grassroots politics?
A call-for-papers of possible interest:
Quite something to think we are staring down the barrel of a crisis which will end high level research and teaching as something spread evenly across the country's cities and towns, accessible to all, and both UK and devolved governments just don't seem to particularly care?
We need historians because evidence doesn’t explain itself.
Context does not simply exist. It is built through research, interpretation, and critical analysis.
What stories have you uncovered in the historical record?
#TalkAboutHumanities 🗃️
Full-funded (home or international) collaborative PhD studentship (Kew and Royal Holloway, University of London) available. Deadline 8 May.
Topic: ‘Just acquisitions? Law and ethics over time in Kew’s overseas plant collecting history’ #Skystorians
