ReadingHistory
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Black History Month 2024: Black Musical Cultures Beyond Borders, Part 1 – Staff Selections
Paul Robeson, world famous baritone, leading Moore Shipyard (Oakland, CA) workers in singing “The Star Spangled Banner” in 1942. We are marking Black History Month this year by celebrating the diverse history of Black musical cultures. This culminates in an… Continue reading
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My Summer in the Archives: the Papers of Nancy Astor
This summer, our undergraduate student Courtney Murch spent time in the Reading Special Collections working with the papers of Nancy Astor, the first woman MP to take her seat in Parliament. Turning 18 in 2022 did not only mean that… Continue reading
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“History needs to be about the present as far as I’m concerned”: an interview with Polyp
The artist Polyp began drawing political cartoons over forty years ago, while still a student. After a period as a care worker, he got his big break producing searing satirical cartoons for the New Internationalist magazine. Alongside a growing body… Continue reading
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History around Reading: Basildon Park
Here in Reading, we’re fortunate to be surrounded by history – the ruins of Reading Abbey, reminders of the English Civil War, and the Victorian prison where Oscar Wilde penned his famous ballad. This summer, we’re exploring that local history.… Continue reading
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Women firsts in Cabinet, a long view.
Dr Jacqui Turner After Rachel Reeves’ appointment as Chancellor, and in the wake of her first address to the public, Jacqui Turner reflects on the longer history of women in the Cabinet. Labour have won a historic landslide in 2024,… Continue reading
READING HISTORY 