University of East London Homepage

Raphael Samuel History Centre forges new partnership

Monday 12 May 2008

The Raphael Samuel History Centre, one of Britain’s leading social and cultural history research centres, is being relaunched as a three-way partnership between the University of East London (UEL), Birkbeck, University of London, and Bishopsgate Institute. 

The partnership will enable an expansion of the Centre’s existing work, as well as some new departures. There are plans for new research projects into the Thames gateway and domesticity in the capital, a new urban studies seminar, a London local history database, and ‘Young Historians’ events for schools. The aim is for the centre to become a national hub for historians working at all levels.

The current Raphael Samuel History Centre programme, including the successful annual Raphael Samuel Memorial Lecture will continue. In recent years, lectures have been given by eminent historians including Janet L Nelson, Stuart Hall, Christopher Bayley and the late Roy Porter.

Existing links with other institutions will be strengthened and new connections fostered both within and beyond the university sector, with the aim of transforming the Raphael Samuel History Centre into one of the UK’s most dynamic centres for historical research.

Barbara Taylor, Director of the Raphael Samuel History Centre and Professor of History at UEL, said: “We are delighted to welcome Birkbeck and Bishopsgate Institute into this ambitious venture.”

Birkbeck’s Dr Matt Cook, who will join Professor Taylor as joint director in September, added: “I’m very excited to be part of this initiative: the Raphael Samuel Centre already has a great reputation, and this new partnership will allow it to move forward with some really innovative new work.”

Andrew Fuller, Chief Executive of Bishopsgate Institute, where the Centre will be based, said: "We are delighted to be part of this initiative which builds on the already fruitful relationship we have with UEL and the RSHC and which will continue to make accessible to everyone the rich material contained in our archives on east London history as well as the Raphael Samuel archive itself."

Background

In 1995 the historian Raphael Samuel created a centre for east London history in the School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies at the University of East London. Following his death in 1996, the Raphael Samuel History Centre was founded to continue his work. In the years since, the RSHC has become a leading centre for London history, memory studies and psychoanalytic approaches to history. It has a rich programme of seminars, conferences, and outreach activities, many in conjunction with Bishopsgate Institute (where the Raphael Samuel archive is housed) and the Institute of Historical Research. It also has strong links with History Workshop Journal, the Museum of London Docklands, and the ‘History & Policy’ network. For more information, visit www.raphael-samuel.org.uk

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

Information for screenreader users:

For a general description of these pages and an explanation of how they should work with screenreading equipment please follow this link: Link to general description

For further information on this web site’s accessibility features please follow this link: Link to accessibility information