Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
@beckierutherford.bsky.social
Historian of disability, gender and sexuality in modern Britain | Research Fellow @voicesofmotherhood.bsky.social | Editor @historyworkshop.org.uk
Pinned
Writing History in a Time of Genocide
Anne Irfan asks, what does it mean to write the history of a place as it is being destroyed before our very eyes?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
I've been thinking about this quote all day
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Nice to learn about @elisaheinrich.bsky.social's research @eui-history.bsky.social in this: www.eui.eu/news-hub?id=...
Will surely be of interest to @beckierutherford.bsky.social + other #DisHist folks working on activism.
Will surely be of interest to @beckierutherford.bsky.social + other #DisHist folks working on activism.
Sewing resistance: women
In this EUIResearch interview, Max Weber Fellow Elisa Heinrich explores how feminist and disability rights activists in Germanspeaking Europe built networks,
www.eui.eu
December 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Nice to learn about @elisaheinrich.bsky.social's research @eui-history.bsky.social in this: www.eui.eu/news-hub?id=...
Will surely be of interest to @beckierutherford.bsky.social + other #DisHist folks working on activism.
Will surely be of interest to @beckierutherford.bsky.social + other #DisHist folks working on activism.
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Hi everyone! As some of you may know, our organisation, YHP, is focused on the promotion of the scholarship of Black British History.
We have some amazing projects which we can't wait to share with you next year. But the research, editing etc. for these projects are done on a volunteer basis.
We have some amazing projects which we can't wait to share with you next year. But the research, editing etc. for these projects are done on a volunteer basis.
December 19, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Hi everyone! As some of you may know, our organisation, YHP, is focused on the promotion of the scholarship of Black British History.
We have some amazing projects which we can't wait to share with you next year. But the research, editing etc. for these projects are done on a volunteer basis.
We have some amazing projects which we can't wait to share with you next year. But the research, editing etc. for these projects are done on a volunteer basis.
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
SSHM invites submissions to its 2025/6 Roy Porter Essay Prize for the best original and unpublished essay in #histmed
🏆£500 first prize
Open to all students (registered at the deadline for entries or were awarded their degree in 2025).
For the entry form and rules and eligibility see👇
#histmed
🏆£500 first prize
Open to all students (registered at the deadline for entries or were awarded their degree in 2025).
For the entry form and rules and eligibility see👇
#histmed
Roy Porter Prize 2025-2026
Deadline for entries is 1 February 2026. Rules and Entry Form The Society for the Social History of Medicine invites submissions to its 2025/6 Roy Porter Student Essay Prize Competition. Downl…
sshm.org
December 18, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I've been developing this series since I joined the @historyworkshop.org.uk team two years ago and I'm thrilled to finally kick it off with this fantastic piece by Barbara Taylor!
Keep an eye out for lots more articles and podcasts after Christmas 👀
Keep an eye out for lots more articles and podcasts after Christmas 👀
Today we are launching a new series of articles and podcasts to mark the 100th issue of History Workshop Journal 🎉✊🗃️
In this introductory article, Barbara Taylor reflects on a picnic she shared with other editors in 1984, and what it meant to be part of the HWJ collective.
In this introductory article, Barbara Taylor reflects on a picnic she shared with other editors in 1984, and what it meant to be part of the HWJ collective.
An Editors' Picnic
Barbara Taylor introduces our new series with her memories of a picnic she enjoyed with other History Workshop Journal editors in 1984.
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I've been developing this series since I joined the @historyworkshop.org.uk team two years ago and I'm thrilled to finally kick it off with this fantastic piece by Barbara Taylor!
Keep an eye out for lots more articles and podcasts after Christmas 👀
Keep an eye out for lots more articles and podcasts after Christmas 👀
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
"Being an editor was intensely sociable as well as stimulating ... I loved being a History Workshop editor and the intellectual excitement that came with it."
Barbara Taylor on the social and political fervour of History Workshop Journal in the 1980s.
Barbara Taylor on the social and political fervour of History Workshop Journal in the 1980s.
An Editors' Picnic
Barbara Taylor introduces a new series with memories of a picnic she shared with other History Workshop Journal editors in 1984.
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
December 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
"Being an editor was intensely sociable as well as stimulating ... I loved being a History Workshop editor and the intellectual excitement that came with it."
Barbara Taylor on the social and political fervour of History Workshop Journal in the 1980s.
Barbara Taylor on the social and political fervour of History Workshop Journal in the 1980s.
it was a pleasure to draw up this programme with Anna, Eve and @ruthdav.bsky.social - please share widely and we hope to see you in February!
We are delighted to share the programme for our upcoming conference!
We will be running fourteen panels across two days in early February - all online and open to everyone 😊 please see our website for more details on speakers, panels and how to book.
We will be running fourteen panels across two days in early February - all online and open to everyone 😊 please see our website for more details on speakers, panels and how to book.
‘The Politics of Motherhood: Maternalism, Maternity and Mothering’ Conference Programme – Voices of Motherhood
voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk
December 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
it was a pleasure to draw up this programme with Anna, Eve and @ruthdav.bsky.social - please share widely and we hope to see you in February!
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
What insights can feminists gain from revisiting the 1975 World Congress for International Women's Year?
Natali Moreira explores this overlooked event using the Women of the Whole World journal archived at @fotwl.bsky.social 🗃️✊
Natali Moreira explores this overlooked event using the Women of the Whole World journal archived at @fotwl.bsky.social 🗃️✊
A People's Congress
What insights can feminists gain from revisiting the 1975 World Congress for International Women’s Year in East Berlin?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
December 11, 2025 at 8:11 AM
What insights can feminists gain from revisiting the 1975 World Congress for International Women's Year?
Natali Moreira explores this overlooked event using the Women of the Whole World journal archived at @fotwl.bsky.social 🗃️✊
Natali Moreira explores this overlooked event using the Women of the Whole World journal archived at @fotwl.bsky.social 🗃️✊
HWJ is 50 years old next year and we're about to launch a fab new series of articles and podcasts all in celebration of the 100th issue!
Come along in January and wish us a Happy Birthday 🥳
Come along in January and wish us a Happy Birthday 🥳
Next year we are co-hosting a celebration event with @rshc.bsky.social to mark the 100th issue of History Workshop Journal.
📍Birkbeck, University of London
🗓️Saturday 31 January 2026
⏱️14:00-18:00
Everyone welcome! Please make sure to book via the link below.
📍Birkbeck, University of London
🗓️Saturday 31 January 2026
⏱️14:00-18:00
Everyone welcome! Please make sure to book via the link below.
History Workshop Journal’s 100th Issue: a celebration
Speakers include former and newer editors, and friends of the journal. Tea, coffee and a drink will be provided.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 9:43 AM
HWJ is 50 years old next year and we're about to launch a fab new series of articles and podcasts all in celebration of the 100th issue!
Come along in January and wish us a Happy Birthday 🥳
Come along in January and wish us a Happy Birthday 🥳
I feel conflicted about UK Disability History Month - I love that it exists but each year I grow more disillusioned by how much it gets overlooked and ignored.
1/8 🧵
1/8 🧵
December 9, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I feel conflicted about UK Disability History Month - I love that it exists but each year I grow more disillusioned by how much it gets overlooked and ignored.
1/8 🧵
1/8 🧵
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
As a disabled historian I am so pleased that History UK (co-funded with @royalhistsoc.org) have published their report on disabled student & staff experiences of #highereducation & history. It makes for a difficult reading at times, but none of it is surprising. www.history-uk.ac.uk/projects/his...
History UK Disability and History Project
The History UK Disability and History Project was launched in November 2023 in response to the History UK EDI report which identified disability as an important aspect of EDI work worthy of further…
www.history-uk.ac.uk
December 8, 2025 at 10:06 AM
As a disabled historian I am so pleased that History UK (co-funded with @royalhistsoc.org) have published their report on disabled student & staff experiences of #highereducation & history. It makes for a difficult reading at times, but none of it is surprising. www.history-uk.ac.uk/projects/his...
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
We are starting to plan our monthly events schedule for next year and we would love your input! Would you like to lead one of our sessions? Or do you have any ideas for speakers/themes that you would like to see explored? Please do get in touch! #DisHist
December 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We are starting to plan our monthly events schedule for next year and we would love your input! Would you like to lead one of our sessions? Or do you have any ideas for speakers/themes that you would like to see explored? Please do get in touch! #DisHist
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Contact us if you have been affected by the policy changes of Girl Guiding or the Women's Institute. This could be as an individual, or because you lead a local Brownie group who don't want this policy change. We want to help protect trans inclusion.
goodlawproject.org/about/contact/
goodlawproject.org/about/contact/
December 3, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Contact us if you have been affected by the policy changes of Girl Guiding or the Women's Institute. This could be as an individual, or because you lead a local Brownie group who don't want this policy change. We want to help protect trans inclusion.
goodlawproject.org/about/contact/
goodlawproject.org/about/contact/
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Another update from us to round off the week!
We were absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to our conference, and have now been in contact with all of our speakers.
We are aiming to share our official programme in the first week of December so watch this space!
We were absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to our conference, and have now been in contact with all of our speakers.
We are aiming to share our official programme in the first week of December so watch this space!
We're pleased to share this call for papers for our upcoming conference!
📍Online via Zoom
🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026
⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025
See our website for full details 👇
voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project
📍Online via Zoom
🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026
⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025
See our website for full details 👇
voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Another update from us to round off the week!
We were absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to our conference, and have now been in contact with all of our speakers.
We are aiming to share our official programme in the first week of December so watch this space!
We were absolutely delighted by the overwhelming response to our conference, and have now been in contact with all of our speakers.
We are aiming to share our official programme in the first week of December so watch this space!
I've been thinking about this quote all day
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
Writing History in a Time of Genocide
Anne Irfan asks, what does it mean to write the history of a place as it is being destroyed before our very eyes?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 20, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I've been thinking about this quote all day
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
"Every university in Gaza has been destroyed. The mass killing of Palestinians has also extinguished the knowledge, memories, experiences and indeed the histories that they carry as individuals. Genocide targets a people’s past as much as their present."
It was a pleasure to work with Gordon on such a thought-provoking, timely article.
Big thanks also to my erstwhile HW colleague Vivien @inoutofpractice.bsky.social for arranging another ✨amazing✨ collaboration with one of their illustration students!
Big thanks also to my erstwhile HW colleague Vivien @inoutofpractice.bsky.social for arranging another ✨amazing✨ collaboration with one of their illustration students!
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past?
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Gordon McKelvie @gordonmckelvie.bsky.social considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for historians facing the current Higher Education crisis.
Artificial Intelligence: A Warning for History
Does Artificial Intelligence have the potential to simplify, and ultimately impoverish, our study of the past? Gordon McKelvie considers the recent explosion in A.I. and what it might mean for the his...
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
November 12, 2025 at 9:13 AM
It was a pleasure to work with Gordon on such a thought-provoking, timely article.
Big thanks also to my erstwhile HW colleague Vivien @inoutofpractice.bsky.social for arranging another ✨amazing✨ collaboration with one of their illustration students!
Big thanks also to my erstwhile HW colleague Vivien @inoutofpractice.bsky.social for arranging another ✨amazing✨ collaboration with one of their illustration students!
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
📅 Save the Date!
🎉 To mark 50 years of the Social History Society, we’re hosting a Social History Festival with @ihr.bsky.social!
🗓️ Fri 24 April 2026
📍 Senate House, University of London
Panels, a keynote + hands-on activities!
💡 Want to contribute? 👉socialhistsoc@gmail.com
More info coming soon!
🎉 To mark 50 years of the Social History Society, we’re hosting a Social History Festival with @ihr.bsky.social!
🗓️ Fri 24 April 2026
📍 Senate House, University of London
Panels, a keynote + hands-on activities!
💡 Want to contribute? 👉socialhistsoc@gmail.com
More info coming soon!
October 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
📅 Save the Date!
🎉 To mark 50 years of the Social History Society, we’re hosting a Social History Festival with @ihr.bsky.social!
🗓️ Fri 24 April 2026
📍 Senate House, University of London
Panels, a keynote + hands-on activities!
💡 Want to contribute? 👉socialhistsoc@gmail.com
More info coming soon!
🎉 To mark 50 years of the Social History Society, we’re hosting a Social History Festival with @ihr.bsky.social!
🗓️ Fri 24 April 2026
📍 Senate House, University of London
Panels, a keynote + hands-on activities!
💡 Want to contribute? 👉socialhistsoc@gmail.com
More info coming soon!
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
I'm still looking for participants to interview about Reclaim the Night, squatting/housing co-ops and feminist architecture! Please share 💗
October 31, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I'm still looking for participants to interview about Reclaim the Night, squatting/housing co-ops and feminist architecture! Please share 💗
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Exciting news! 🎉👀
We are running a series of events in and around the city of Worcester as part of the 2025 Being Human Festival @beinghumanfest.bsky.social
The theme is "Marginalised Motherhoods" and our aim is to capture critical and creative responses to motherhood and its absence.
(1/4)
We are running a series of events in and around the city of Worcester as part of the 2025 Being Human Festival @beinghumanfest.bsky.social
The theme is "Marginalised Motherhoods" and our aim is to capture critical and creative responses to motherhood and its absence.
(1/4)
Marginalised Motherhoods
Led by the University of Worcester
www.beinghumanfestival.org
November 3, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Exciting news! 🎉👀
We are running a series of events in and around the city of Worcester as part of the 2025 Being Human Festival @beinghumanfest.bsky.social
The theme is "Marginalised Motherhoods" and our aim is to capture critical and creative responses to motherhood and its absence.
(1/4)
We are running a series of events in and around the city of Worcester as part of the 2025 Being Human Festival @beinghumanfest.bsky.social
The theme is "Marginalised Motherhoods" and our aim is to capture critical and creative responses to motherhood and its absence.
(1/4)
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
What if friendship were understood not just on an individual, personal level, but as something political – a radical practice capable of upending hierarchies and producing revolutionary social change?
Laura C. Forster and Joel White reflect on radical friendship and everyday solidarities.
Laura C. Forster and Joel White reflect on radical friendship and everyday solidarities.
Friends in Common
How might we reassess friendship as a transformative, even revolutionary, political resource?
www.historyworkshop.org.uk
October 30, 2025 at 12:39 PM
What if friendship were understood not just on an individual, personal level, but as something political – a radical practice capable of upending hierarchies and producing revolutionary social change?
Laura C. Forster and Joel White reflect on radical friendship and everyday solidarities.
Laura C. Forster and Joel White reflect on radical friendship and everyday solidarities.
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
📢 final update from us 📢
1 November is a soft deadline and we will happily accept any abstracts that arrive a few days later!
If you would like to put something together but don’t have anything ‘formal’ yet, just let us know and we’ll bear this in mind.
Our email is: voicesofmotherhood@worc.ac.uk
1 November is a soft deadline and we will happily accept any abstracts that arrive a few days later!
If you would like to put something together but don’t have anything ‘formal’ yet, just let us know and we’ll bear this in mind.
Our email is: voicesofmotherhood@worc.ac.uk
We're pleased to share this call for papers for our upcoming conference!
📍Online via Zoom
🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026
⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025
See our website for full details 👇
voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project
📍Online via Zoom
🗓️Thursday 5 - Friday 6 February 2026
⏱️Abstract deadline Saturday 1 November 2025
See our website for full details 👇
voicesofmotherhood.wp.worc.ac.uk/index.php/news-and-resources/updates-from-the-project
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
📢 final update from us 📢
1 November is a soft deadline and we will happily accept any abstracts that arrive a few days later!
If you would like to put something together but don’t have anything ‘formal’ yet, just let us know and we’ll bear this in mind.
Our email is: voicesofmotherhood@worc.ac.uk
1 November is a soft deadline and we will happily accept any abstracts that arrive a few days later!
If you would like to put something together but don’t have anything ‘formal’ yet, just let us know and we’ll bear this in mind.
Our email is: voicesofmotherhood@worc.ac.uk
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Please note there is a typo in the poster below!
Our correct email address is hwoeditors@historyworkshop.org.uk
Our correct email address is hwoeditors@historyworkshop.org.uk
📣 Call for participants 📣
Have you ever used any History Workshop Journal articles in your teaching practice?
We’d love to hear from you for the 100th issue of HWJ!
Please let us know by sending an email or feel free to DM.
Have you ever used any History Workshop Journal articles in your teaching practice?
We’d love to hear from you for the 100th issue of HWJ!
Please let us know by sending an email or feel free to DM.
October 28, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Please note there is a typo in the poster below!
Our correct email address is hwoeditors@historyworkshop.org.uk
Our correct email address is hwoeditors@historyworkshop.org.uk
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
Solidarity to all staff at the British Library! 98% in favour with 75% turn out is an astounding strike ballot result, truly shows the strength of feeling. www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
October 23, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Solidarity to all staff at the British Library! 98% in favour with 75% turn out is an astounding strike ballot result, truly shows the strength of feeling. www.pcs.org.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
We are delighted to announce that MBS2026 will be held at the University of Birmingham, 3-5 June 2026!
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact mbs2026@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact mbs2026@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Modern British Studies Conference 2026 - University of Birmingham
Conference information
www.birmingham.ac.uk
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
We are delighted to announce that MBS2026 will be held at the University of Birmingham, 3-5 June 2026!
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact mbs2026@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Papers may consider the opening day's theme of 'Polycrisis', but we also welcome all submissions related to modern British studies.
For any questions please contact mbs2026@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Reposted by Dr Beckie Rutherford (she/her)
We are looking for volunteers who are interested in writing 300-350 words, (about 1-2 paragraphs) on how disability is portrayed in horror movies. Deadline 24th October 2025
Contact Richardamm(at)gmail.com
Find our free disability zines: linktr.ee/disabilityark
Contact Richardamm(at)gmail.com
Find our free disability zines: linktr.ee/disabilityark
October 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
We are looking for volunteers who are interested in writing 300-350 words, (about 1-2 paragraphs) on how disability is portrayed in horror movies. Deadline 24th October 2025
Contact Richardamm(at)gmail.com
Find our free disability zines: linktr.ee/disabilityark
Contact Richardamm(at)gmail.com
Find our free disability zines: linktr.ee/disabilityark