Helen McKee
@helenthev.bsky.social
Likes dead languages and medieval manuscripts. Visiting Lecturer at Royal Holloway and King’s College London. She/her.
Fantastic episode: really thoughtful and balanced.
In the late spring of 1903, my grandmother (aged 8), her 3 younger sisters and their mother all caught diphtheria. The two youngest sisters both died, within a day of each other, one (pictured below) aged 4 years and one 10 months.
In the late spring of 1903, my grandmother (aged 8), her 3 younger sisters and their mother all caught diphtheria. The two youngest sisters both died, within a day of each other, one (pictured below) aged 4 years and one 10 months.
November 6, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Fantastic episode: really thoughtful and balanced.
In the late spring of 1903, my grandmother (aged 8), her 3 younger sisters and their mother all caught diphtheria. The two youngest sisters both died, within a day of each other, one (pictured below) aged 4 years and one 10 months.
In the late spring of 1903, my grandmother (aged 8), her 3 younger sisters and their mother all caught diphtheria. The two youngest sisters both died, within a day of each other, one (pictured below) aged 4 years and one 10 months.
Reposted by Helen McKee
Really pleased to announce the launch of the all-new, all-dancing, London Lives website - www.londonlives.org It has been thoroughly re-engineered to facilitate more types of search, and redesigned for phones and tablets. The team very much hopes peope like it. 1/
London Lives
www.londonlives.org
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Really pleased to announce the launch of the all-new, all-dancing, London Lives website - www.londonlives.org It has been thoroughly re-engineered to facilitate more types of search, and redesigned for phones and tablets. The team very much hopes peope like it. 1/
Reposted by Helen McKee
Really exciting book news out of Norway. And while the article focusses on the sealskin binding, I'm even more excited by the fact that these neumes are not square, which suggests a date well before 1200.
November 4, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Really exciting book news out of Norway. And while the article focusses on the sealskin binding, I'm even more excited by the fact that these neumes are not square, which suggests a date well before 1200.
That arch would have been familiar to Richard Amadas, who was rector in the late 16th - early 17th century and owned the Cambridge Juvencus
November 2, 2025 at 6:27 AM
That arch would have been familiar to Richard Amadas, who was rector in the late 16th - early 17th century and owned the Cambridge Juvencus
Reposted by Helen McKee
OTD, 1925, the Sunday Post reports that one Lieutenant F. W. Kealey is mounting an expedition to Cocos Island to recover £14M in buried pirate treasure, using "a secret method known only to himself".
I can find no evidence that Lieutenant Kealey was successful.
I can find no evidence that Lieutenant Kealey was successful.
November 1, 2025 at 8:04 AM
OTD, 1925, the Sunday Post reports that one Lieutenant F. W. Kealey is mounting an expedition to Cocos Island to recover £14M in buried pirate treasure, using "a secret method known only to himself".
I can find no evidence that Lieutenant Kealey was successful.
I can find no evidence that Lieutenant Kealey was successful.
Reposted by Helen McKee
Happy Halloween from the Wren Library, our Halloween Bat is courageously looking into this spooky hood.
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...
f182v
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...
f182v
October 31, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Happy Halloween from the Wren Library, our Halloween Bat is courageously looking into this spooky hood.
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...
f182v
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...
f182v
Reposted by Helen McKee
The Societas Celtologica Europaea is now on Bluesky!
➡️ Our goal is to support the scholarly study of Celtic languages, literatures, and cultures in research and teaching and to promote cooperation among Celtic scholars.
👋 Follow us for updates on our student prizes, conferences & more!
➡️ Our goal is to support the scholarly study of Celtic languages, literatures, and cultures in research and teaching and to promote cooperation among Celtic scholars.
👋 Follow us for updates on our student prizes, conferences & more!
October 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
The Societas Celtologica Europaea is now on Bluesky!
➡️ Our goal is to support the scholarly study of Celtic languages, literatures, and cultures in research and teaching and to promote cooperation among Celtic scholars.
👋 Follow us for updates on our student prizes, conferences & more!
➡️ Our goal is to support the scholarly study of Celtic languages, literatures, and cultures in research and teaching and to promote cooperation among Celtic scholars.
👋 Follow us for updates on our student prizes, conferences & more!
Reposted by Helen McKee
The Schaffhausen Adomnán 🥰🥰🥰
Oct 28: Feast of Dorbéne mac Altaíni (†713), abbot of Iona. Scribe of the earliest surviving copy of Adomnán’s Life of Columba. Fáelchú mac Dorbéni succeeded him. 📸Stadtbibliothek Schaffhausen #medievalsky
October 28, 2025 at 6:48 PM
The Schaffhausen Adomnán 🥰🥰🥰
Reposted by Helen McKee
Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
October 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Asylum seekers, housed in hotels in Manchester, are reaching out in their own words to address the concerns of the local community.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
Please take a minute to read their letter, & share it with the people in your life who need to hear the truth about the people they are protesting.
Reposted by Helen McKee
The @ies-sas.bsky.social online Winter School in Jan. 2026 includes courses by Michelle Brown (the Medieval Book); Anna Somfai (Medieval Scientific and Philosophical mss); and dream team @manuelmunoz.bsky.social @rozierhistorian.bsky.social and me (History Books). Book👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
IES: LIPS & LRBS Winter School | 2026
ies.sas.ac.uk
October 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
The @ies-sas.bsky.social online Winter School in Jan. 2026 includes courses by Michelle Brown (the Medieval Book); Anna Somfai (Medieval Scientific and Philosophical mss); and dream team @manuelmunoz.bsky.social @rozierhistorian.bsky.social and me (History Books). Book👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Helen McKee
Caerphilly, Senedd constituency by-election result:
PC: 47.4% (+19.0)
REF: 36.0% (+34.2)
LAB: 11.0% (-34.9)
CON: 2.0% (-15.3)
GRN: 1.5% (+1.5)
LDEM: 1.5% (-1.2)
GWL: 0.3% (+0.3)
UKIP: 0.2% (+0.2)
Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour.
PC: 47.4% (+19.0)
REF: 36.0% (+34.2)
LAB: 11.0% (-34.9)
CON: 2.0% (-15.3)
GRN: 1.5% (+1.5)
LDEM: 1.5% (-1.2)
GWL: 0.3% (+0.3)
UKIP: 0.2% (+0.2)
Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour.
October 24, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Caerphilly, Senedd constituency by-election result:
PC: 47.4% (+19.0)
REF: 36.0% (+34.2)
LAB: 11.0% (-34.9)
CON: 2.0% (-15.3)
GRN: 1.5% (+1.5)
LDEM: 1.5% (-1.2)
GWL: 0.3% (+0.3)
UKIP: 0.2% (+0.2)
Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour.
PC: 47.4% (+19.0)
REF: 36.0% (+34.2)
LAB: 11.0% (-34.9)
CON: 2.0% (-15.3)
GRN: 1.5% (+1.5)
LDEM: 1.5% (-1.2)
GWL: 0.3% (+0.3)
UKIP: 0.2% (+0.2)
Plaid Cymru GAIN from Labour.
Reposted by Helen McKee
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Introduction to Latin Palaeography
ies.sas.ac.uk
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Back by popular demand, Introduction to Latin Palaeography will run online in February 2026 #MedievalSky 👇
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Helen McKee
I was once teaching the Book of Armagh and a student asked me what this word is. I said that it's testimonium, and she just said HOW. And I was just like... you are just going to have to trust me on this one.
October 21, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I was once teaching the Book of Armagh and a student asked me what this word is. I said that it's testimonium, and she just said HOW. And I was just like... you are just going to have to trust me on this one.
Unreasonably delighted to be teaching a seminar on Luxeuil minuscule (one of THE most difficult scripts IMO) and to be asked for help with this word …
October 21, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Unreasonably delighted to be teaching a seminar on Luxeuil minuscule (one of THE most difficult scripts IMO) and to be asked for help with this word …
Reposted by Helen McKee
I have found an EXCELLENT meme for the church history lecture on Wednesday (which includes the Great Schism)
October 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I have found an EXCELLENT meme for the church history lecture on Wednesday (which includes the Great Schism)
Reposted by Helen McKee
18th October is the feast of St Luke the Evangelist who is depicted in this text which may have been brought with the missions to Kent in 597 CE or 601 CE.
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286; Gospels of St Augustine; 6th century; Italy; f.129v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286; Gospels of St Augustine; 6th century; Italy; f.129v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
October 17, 2025 at 9:32 PM
18th October is the feast of St Luke the Evangelist who is depicted in this text which may have been brought with the missions to Kent in 597 CE or 601 CE.
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286; Gospels of St Augustine; 6th century; Italy; f.129v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286; Gospels of St Augustine; 6th century; Italy; f.129v @parkerlibcccc.bsky.social
Reposted by Helen McKee
This is a capsule of illustrated manuscripts and their palettes of the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
There has been trade in pigments for thousands of years, locality is important but not the only source.
colour-illuminated.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore/illu...
There has been trade in pigments for thousands of years, locality is important but not the only source.
colour-illuminated.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore/illu...
The Illuminators’ Palette
Illuminators employed a wide range of colourants, both man-made and naturally available. Organic pigments were derived from various sources, including plants, insects and molluscs. Inorganic ones were...
colour-illuminated.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk
October 18, 2025 at 8:23 AM
This is a capsule of illustrated manuscripts and their palettes of the Medieval and Renaissance periods.
There has been trade in pigments for thousands of years, locality is important but not the only source.
colour-illuminated.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore/illu...
There has been trade in pigments for thousands of years, locality is important but not the only source.
colour-illuminated.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore/illu...
Reposted by Helen McKee
My cure for the state of the world is to buy a dog, secure matching furniture, and then occasionally go and look at him during the working day to remind yourself that everything might be OK.
October 2, 2025 at 1:17 PM
My cure for the state of the world is to buy a dog, secure matching furniture, and then occasionally go and look at him during the working day to remind yourself that everything might be OK.
Reposted by Helen McKee
Next Tuesday the Medieval Manuscripts Seminar is online. Kate Gerry will be sharing her work on the Guthlac Roll. Book 👇 ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
October 14, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Next Tuesday the Medieval Manuscripts Seminar is online. Kate Gerry will be sharing her work on the Guthlac Roll. Book 👇 ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Helen McKee
Today's the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, so obviously I'm reposting my scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry in Playmobil.
October 14, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Today's the 959th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings, so obviously I'm reposting my scenes from the Bayeux Tapestry in Playmobil.
Reposted by Helen McKee
A very moving interview with the great Neil Kinnock from @lewisgoodall.com on @newsagents.bsky.social - really worth a listen on the 40th anniversary of that speech.
They say never meet your heroes, but that doesn’t apply with Lord Kinnock.
They say never meet your heroes, but that doesn’t apply with Lord Kinnock.
October 11, 2025 at 11:42 AM
A very moving interview with the great Neil Kinnock from @lewisgoodall.com on @newsagents.bsky.social - really worth a listen on the 40th anniversary of that speech.
They say never meet your heroes, but that doesn’t apply with Lord Kinnock.
They say never meet your heroes, but that doesn’t apply with Lord Kinnock.
Reposted by Helen McKee
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
Reposted by Helen McKee
BREAKING: The next Archbishop of Canterbury is to be the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London since 2018, Downing Street has announced. She is to be the first woman to hold the post
#archbishopofcanterbury #nextABC #Archbishop106
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
#archbishopofcanterbury #nextABC #Archbishop106
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
First woman appointed to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury
The Bishop of London, the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, has been announced as the next Primate of All England
www.churchtimes.co.uk
October 3, 2025 at 9:05 AM
BREAKING: The next Archbishop of Canterbury is to be the Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, the Bishop of London since 2018, Downing Street has announced. She is to be the first woman to hold the post
#archbishopofcanterbury #nextABC #Archbishop106
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
#archbishopofcanterbury #nextABC #Archbishop106
www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...