Tim Hitchcock

@timhitchcock.bsky.social

4.6K followers 3.5K following 420 posts

Historian of 18th century London; Professor Emeritus of Digital History at the University of Sussex. Just coughing in the ink to the end of time.

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Economics 31%

History 24%

Posts Replies Media Videos

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 4d

Bill Turkel and I have just published an article in DHQ. It is about the emergence of Manslaughter as a charge at the Old Bailey, and the working methods we used to analyse the data. dhq.digitalhumanities.org/vol/19/4/000... Thanks to Gabor Toth for shepherding it through peer review.

DHQ: Digital Humanities Quarterly: Making Sense of the Emergence of Manslaughter in British Criminal Justice

dhq.digitalhumanities.org

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 4d

Very much looking forward to @pbhellawell.bsky.social & @libertypaterson.bsky.social talking about The Ship Bedford and the Atlantic Slave Trade next Wed. @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social All welcome, either online or in person, but please register www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

The Ship Bedford: Atlantic and Archival Crossings in the Long Eighteenth-Century Slave Trade

www.history.ac.uk

Reposted by Dave O’Brien, Lesley A. Hall, Lynn Abrams , and 7 more Dave O’Brien, Lesley A. Hall, Lynn Abrams, Malcolm MacLean, Keith Lilley, Margot C. Finn, Tim Hitchcock, Steven Fielding, Émilien Ruiz, Nick Clarke

Claire Langhamer @clairelanghamer.bsky.social · 5d

For anyone interested in our 18-month post in British Studies please follow the link below. @ihr.bsky.social

www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Jacob Price Fellowship in British Studies (18 month FTC):London Senate House - Hybrid

The University of London is both the UK’s largest provider of international distance and online learning and the convenor of a federation of 17 renowned higher education institutions.

www.jobs.london.ac.uk

Reposted by Carmen M. Mangion

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 6d

A new role at the IHR, supporting the 2027 NACBS conference to be held in Senate House. It looks like a great position. www.jobs.london.ac.uk/Job/JobDetai...

Jacob Price Fellowship in British Studies (18 month FTC):London Senate House - Hybrid

The University of London is both the UK’s largest provider of international distance and online learning and the convenor of a federation of 17 renowned higher education institutions.

www.jobs.london.ac.uk

Reposted by Keith Lilley

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 14d

Very much looking forward to celebrating Penny Corfield's history writing on Wednesday www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social All welcome both online and in person, but please register.

Towns, gestures, elections, sociability and time: An appreciation of the work of Professor Penelope J. Corfield

www.history.ac.uk

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn, Tim Hitchcock

Oliver House @oliverhouse.bsky.social · 19d

In February 2026 @senatehouselib.bsky.social is seeking to appoint a Printer in Residence.

This is to be an important part of the public engagement programme for the upcoming exhibition ‘The English Print Revolution: Caxton and Beyond’, and to provide a contemporary response to it in print.

1/3

Senate House Library launches Printer in Residence Scheme

Senate House Library is seeking to appoint a Printer in Residence, to produce a contemporary response to the Caxton and Beyond exhibition.

www.london.ac.uk

Reposted by Keith Lilley

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 24d

The call for the @londontopsoc.bsky.social Ann Saunders prize is now open. londontopsoc.org/about-us/ann...

Ann Saunders essay prize - London Topographical Society

londontopsoc.org

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · 24d

Looking for examples of pedantry and "actually I think you'll find that..." in the history of protest and political movements, especially when activists are challenging authorities. All contributions welcome.

Reposted by Margot C. Finn, Tim Hitchcock, Paul Nightingale , and 1 more Margot C. Finn, Tim Hitchcock, Paul Nightingale, Kathleen Kennedy

Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 24d

Here are 8 successful *proposals* for academic books/monographs. I am hoping that these help someone who is starting out trying to write one and wants to see what worked for me. They are provided as examples, rather than exemplars. A lot of it was just finding my own way eve.gd/2026/01/16/s...

Some example academic book proposal forms in case they help

A pivotal moment in my academic career, or at least one I remember clearly, was when a very senior professor in the US sent me his book proposal for an acade...

eve.gd

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 26d

@kategibson.bsky.social giving a great paper on fostering in the 18th century to @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 28d

The Milkman, Cornelis Dusart, c. 1675-1685.

A calm little snapshot of the past for this less calm present. (British Museum)

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 28d

Just to note that we have slightly change arrangements for dinner. While we are still asking post grads for £20, we are now asking senior academics to contribute £35 towards the cost of the meal. Please let @helenesfandiary.bsky.social know if you want to come to the dinner.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Margot C. Finn

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · 28d

Very much looking forward to @kategibson.bsky.social speaking about 'Fostering in 18th Century Britain' to @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social on Wednesday. All welcome either online or in person, but please register www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Fostering in eighteenth-century Britain

www.history.ac.uk

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Alan Lester, Tim Hitchcock

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 28d

'Khan said addressing the causes of serious violent crime, such as the effects of poverty and lack of opportunities, had been key, as had the work of the Violence Reduction Unit covering London that was set up in 2019, which took a longer term approach.'

London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade

Sadiq Khan says ‘public health’ approach has made the capital one of the safest cities in the western world

www.theguardian.com

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · Jan 5

It is a sign of old age and the absurdity of a life spent on things only I think of as important, but on a lot of detailed issues when I do a google search the only sources to come back are things I wrote - and therefore don't trust or like.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Tim Hitchcock

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Jan 5

'Ofcom has made "urgent contact" with Elon Musk's company xAI following reports its AI tool Grok can be used to make "sexualised images of children" and undress women.'

The slumbering regulatory giant wakes?

Ofcom asks X about reports its Grok AI makes sexualised images of children

Elon Musk's social media platform has warned users not to use Grok to generate illegal content.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Shannon Vallor, Ben H. Ansell , and 21 more Anne Applebaum, Shannon Vallor, Ben H. Ansell, Guntram B. Wolff, Christian Odendahl, Stephan Lewandowsky, Steve Peers, Mark D. White, American Library Association, Guy Grossman, Anders Nilsson, Johan P. Olsen, Jonathan Hopkin, R. M. Wilson, Robert B. Reich, Tim Hitchcock, James Goodwin, Brian Keegan, Aurélien Mondon, Seth Masket, Stephen I. Vladeck, Nancy M. Wingfield, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Stella M. Rouse

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · Jan 5

amazing how the entire machine can pivot within 24 hours. no need to slowly upsell the argument; just issue new marching orders

Matt Walsh tweeted last year: "We've spent the last 25 years bringing "freedom" and "democracy" to countries around the globe while our own country has been systematically invaded and now our largest cities are run by foreigners and communists. If you want to know why I'm so avowedly non-interventionist, this is why."

Then he tweeted today: ""This is a war for oil!!!!!"

First of all, the "war" lasted like 90 minutes. Second, going to war to secure vital resources for your own people is totally legitimate. Why should we allow some third world communist shithole to control trillions of dollars worth of oil?"

Laura Loomer tweeted last year: "I’m America First, I don’t support “Regime Change”. I went on @Bannons_WarRoom to talk about Chinese aggression in Venezuela and why we need to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign Islamic terrorist organization."

Then she tweeted yesterday: "Maduro has arrived at the DEA office in Manhattan. He was transported in an armored motorcade after being transported in a blindfold via helicopter & then by plane to New York after his compound in Caracas was raided by US Special Forces.

Proud to be an American today!

USA 🇺🇸"

Catturd tweeted last year: "Name one U.S. inspired regime change that hasn’t ended in absolute disaster."

Then he tweeted yesterday: "Venezuela is now more free than New York City."

Will Chamberlain tweeted last year: "The Republican Party is no longer the party of regime change and endless wars

If you want to be its standard-bearer that is a non-negotiable position"

Then he tweeted yesterday: "I can think of few better uses of my tax dollars than black-bagging the head of a foreign narco-trafficking organization that enriches itself by addicting and poisoning my fellow Americans"

Reposted by Charles West, Tim Hitchcock

MarineLives @marinelives.bsky.social · Jan 5

NEW: Can LLMs open Ottoman archives to generalist historians? I show how AI transcription makes Ottoman Turkish, Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek & Armenian accessible—with auditable, scholarly results. Work in progress; feedback welcome!
generativelives.substack.com/p/opening-the-ottoman-archive

Opening the Ottoman Archive

You want to do granular research on the Ottoman Empire and its successor states, but don't read Ottoman Turkish. Do you throw up you hands or look for a new set of powerful tools?

generativelives.substack.com

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Alison Fisk @alisonfisk.bsky.social · Jan 1

For New Year’s Day 2026, a hellenistic glass vase shaped like a pomegranate. 2nd century BC - 1st century AD.

A symbol of abundance and good luck for the year ahead!

📷 Phoenix Art phoenixancientart.com/work-of-art/...

#Archaeology

The image shows a small, rounded, purple glass vessel in the shape of a pomegranate fruit displayed against a light grey background. The display lighting enhances the translucent purple glass which replicates the colour of a ripe fruit. There is some encrustation dotted around the body of the vessel and around the calyx which has one lobe missing. Height 6.9 cm (2.7 in), Diameter 6.6 cm (2.5 in). Probably used as a container for perfumed oil.

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Keith Lilley, Adrian Vickers , and 4 more Lesley A. Hall, Keith Lilley, Adrian Vickers, Tim Hitchcock, Michael H. Whitworth, Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Lisa Colton

Brodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · Dec 15

Hooray! The British Library has just released a beta version of its rebuilt Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue: searcharchives.bl.uk

2,619 hits for 'petition' in Western Manuscripts, texts in English, in case you're curious. 🗃️

Screenshot of search for 'petition' on the BL's Archives and Manuscript catalogue

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · Dec 15

I've published my Pavia University digital mapping lecture slides and workshop notes on my website:
historyofpublicspace.uk/political-me...

Digital mapping and commemoration – contested commons

historyofpublicspace.uk

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock, Katrina Navickas, Simon Stern

IHR British History in the Long C18th Seminar @long18thsem.bsky.social · Dec 12

WINTER Term Card:

We are excited to share our seminar schedule for next term! Our slate of speakers cover a range of #18thc British history topics.

Registrations are now open (with paper abstracts) at the link below 👎

@ihr.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social

www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · Dec 11

So I am confused. The US is replacing a Dutch font with a British one. Can't they come up with anything of their own?

Reposted by Lesley A. Hall, Kris Inwood

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · Dec 10

Great to see the programme for the @long18thsem.bsky.social for next term @ihrlibrary.bsky.social . You can register to attend either in person or online here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

A poster with the details for five talks, the date and location are on the left, and the names of speakers and titles on the right

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Louise Falcini @louisefalcini.bsky.social · Dec 5

I think before that there needs to be many more conversations about what that might look like and how to address IP and copyright (my personal view would be OA and non commercial). Also, funding!

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Louise Falcini @louisefalcini.bsky.social · Dec 5

More importantly, there needs to be infrastructure to support collaborative digital projects like this.

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

mia ridge @miaout.bsky.social · Dec 5

100% talk to folk at your national libraries and archives about what they're doing, and find communities of folk like #AI4LAM collaborating to find the best methods for different materials! (she said, knowing that she got an email from Colin Greenstreet this morning!)

Reposted by David Underdown

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · Dec 5

Great to see Helen Wilson's talk on Black participation in Georgain politics available online (it starts 30 seconds in - my fault) @long18thsem.bsky.social @ihrlibrary.bsky.social : www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...

Black and Political: Reconstructing Black Participation in British Politics, 1750-1850

British History in the Long 18th Century Seminar

www.history.ac.uk

Tim Hitchcock @timhitchcock.bsky.social · Dec 5

There is a lot of anxiety in the wider historical profession about AI in all forms. The OCR used for most historical projects (now going back 25 years) is just awful - a 50% error rate on semantically significant words - something most historians just want to ignore.

Reposted by Tim Hitchcock

Katie McDonough @kmcdono.bsky.social · Dec 5

Yep, having this as a serious element of both undergrad and postgrad history degrees is essential, and yet still mostly lacking. Kudos to departments doing this by now!

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