School of History, Classics & Archaeology

Scottish History seminars

The Scottish History research seminars take place throughout the academic year and are open to all.

Time and location

All seminars take place on Thursdays at 5.15-6:30pm, unless otherwise stated, in the Meadows Lecture Theatre, Doorway 4, Old Medical School.

All are welcome to attend, and it is not necessary to book a place in advance.  Seminars will normally take place in hybrid format, with online joining instructions circulated via the Scottish History seminar mailing list.  If you are not on the mailing list and would like to receive this information, please contact the seminar convenor (alasdair.raffe@ed.ac.uk).

Event schedule

Semester 2 2023/24

Date Speaker Topic Notes

Thu 25 Jan

Dr Désha Osborne (University of Edinburgh) ‘The “Earl of Stirling,” the “Duke of Argyll” and the forging of St Vincent, 1763-1863’  

Thur 1 Feb  

Professor Judith Jesch (University of Nottingham)

‘The saga of the Earls of Orkney and family traditions in the Viking diaspora’

CANCELLED
Thu 8 Feb

Robbie Tree (University of Stirling)

‘Conciliar Erastianism in post-revolution Scotland: The Privy Council and Church Government, 1689-1708’  
Thu 15 Feb

Dr Laura Mair (University of Aberdeen)

‘“A child of my adoption”: Child welfare, parental authority, and the Edinburgh Ragged School, c. 1847-1887’ CANCELLED
Thu 29 Feb

Dr Robert Pirrie (WS Society)

‘Highland Edinburgh, 1603-1830: Division and fusion’  
Thu 7 Mar

Professor Annie Tindley (University of Newcastle)

‘A nobility of trees: The Dukes of Buccleuch and forestry in the 19th Century’

In association with the Scottish History Society
Thu 14 Mar

Dr Jackson Armstrong (University of Aberdeen)

‘“All thingis covntit”: Government and accounting in 15th century burghs

Co-badged with the Medieval History Research Seminar
Thu 21 Mar

Dr Alok Oak (IASH, University of Edinburgh)

‘Forging a Commonwealth of nations: British intellectuals and the (dis)trust in empire (1926-56)’

 
Thu 28 Mar

Dr Bill Aird (University of Edinburgh)

'"Our lady, your sister, the queen": Edith-Matilda of Scotland, Queen of England, 1100-1118 and her brothers, Edgar, Alexander I, and David I' Co-badged with the Medieval History Research Seminar

Semester 1 2023/24

Date Speaker Topic Note
Thu 05 Oct

Dr Scott Hames (University of Stirling)

‘Alternative Scotlands: The Cultural Magazine as National Counter-Public, c. 1980-2000’

 
Thu 12 Oct

René Winkler (University of Edinburgh)

‘Fossil Fuel: Robert Wodrow, James Paterson and a Scottish Network of Natural History Exchange, c. 1699-1702’

 
Thu 19 Oct

Ashlyn Cudney (University of Edinburgh)

‘Violence in Seventeenth-Century Bute: An Intersectional Approach’  
Fri 27 Oct Professor Jane Dawson Inaugural SHRT Jenny Wormald Lecture Please this link for details and how to RSVP.
Thu 2 Nov Jenny McHugh (University of Lancaster)

‘Loyalty and Rebellion in Fourteenth-Century Scotland: An Examination of Allegiance via Oaths of ‘Fealty’ and Treason Trials’

In association with the Medieval History Research Seminar
Thu 9 Nov Alison Clark (University of Edinburgh) ‘Expanding the Boundaries of Empire, 1790-1815: Scottish Traders in the Southeast Caribbean’  
Thu 16 Nov Dr Andy King (University of Southampton)

‘“Edward, by the Grace of God, King of Scotland”: Perceptions of the Kingship of Edward Balliol, 1332-56’

In association with the Medieval History Research Seminar

Thu 23 Nov Dr Rosi Carr (University of Edinburgh) ‘Enlightened and Lethal Manhood in an Interconnected Empire: Lachlan Macquarie (1761/2-1824)’

Co-sponsored by Edinburgh Centre for Global History

Thu 30 Nov Dr Sarah Leith (University of St Andrews)

‘Stories of the Scene and Unseen: Spirituality and Mountain Literature in Modern Scotland’

 

Further information

Please contact the organiser, Dr Alasdair Raffe, for further information.

 

Dr Alasdair Raffe

Lecturer in History

  • School of History, Classics and Archaeology
  • University of Edinburgh

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The School of History, Classics and Archaeology offers an exciting programme of seminars across many subjects areas. Visit the research seminars website to find out what else is happening.