Brian Ward
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brian222ward.bsky.social
Brian Ward
@brian222ward.bsky.social
Prof in American Studies; wrote some books on US history and culture; writing ‘She Loves Y’all’ a book on the Beatles and the US South; Come on You Irons!
When Martin Luther King Came To Toon
open.substack.com/pub/perryeye...
When Martin Luther King Came to Toon
North East stories of civil rights, abolitionism, remaining silent, singing & supping tea.
open.substack.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
The former Guardian journalist Richard Gott died over the weekend. One of our past PhD students, Dr Sophie Roberts, is the author an article on his anti-Vietnam War independent candidacy in the 1966 Hull North by-election in Contemporary British History. Read it here: doi.org/10.1080/1361...
The campaign of the ‘red-bearded radical’: Richard Gott and the Hull North by-election, 1966
This article explores Richard Gott’s candidacy in the 1966 by-election at Hull North. Gott stood on a platform emphasising anti-nuclear and anti-militarist concerns, and crucially, vehement opposit...
doi.org
November 3, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
The new episode of Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast is live! In this episode we take a look at the unusual but enormous success two 19th century Irish emigrants had in creating and building, of all things, a billiards empire: shows.acast.com/transatlanti...
Phelan & Collender: The Irishmen Who Built an American Billiards Empire | Transatlantic: An Irish American History Podcast
shows.acast.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Delighted to see my open access article on Modjeska Simkins and Black Female Leadership appear in a special issue of Patterns of Prejudice honouring Richard H. King - a fine historian and wonderful man. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Modjeska Monteith Simkins and black female leadership: propriety, politics, place and periodization in the African American freedom struggle
Modjeska Monteith Simkins was one of the most significant voices in the struggle for African American rights in South Carolina during the twentieth century. For a decade, starting in the mid-1960s,...
www.tandfonline.com
November 1, 2025 at 12:23 PM
One week until I get to speak with @ianleslie.bsky.social about his fabulous book, John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs, as part of the Durham Book Festival. 6.30pm on Friday October 10 at the Gala. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. More details: galadurham.co.uk/galapost/ian...
October 3, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
📖 Forthcoming this month, a new book from our colleague, Dr Gareth Roddy (@grod.bsky.social), "Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880-1940." Pre-order your copy now from @uolpress.bsky.social!
uolpress.co.uk/book/atlanti...
Atlantic Isles: Travel and Identity in the British and Irish West, 1880–1940 - University of London Press
The west has long gripped the imagination. In Atlantic Isles, Gareth Roddy examines the cultural and political prominence of the ‘westward gaze’, which flourished in late-nineteenth century Britain an...
uolpress.co.uk
October 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
The Northumbria History Society is recruiting new members for the year ahead! Find their stall in the city campus Students' Union (in Escape).
September 24, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This was a lot of fun. Thanks to @newwritingnorth.bsky.social, the Tyneside Cinema, an engaged audience, and the inimitable @stuartmaconie.bsky.social for a terrific event on July 15, discussing Stuart’s latest @harpercollins.bsky.social book: With A Little Help From Their Friends.
July 16, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Reposted by Brian Ward
WE ARE HIRING @edgehist.bsky.social!!! For a PERMANENT American historian (broadly defined). Quite a tight turnaround (institutional processes) but no internal candidate/nefarious intent. GORGEOUS campus, lovely team, amazing students. APPLY! #skystorians 🗃️
jobs.edgehill.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx...
Job Vacancy at Edge Hill University: Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in American History
We’re here to create and harness knowledge, to deliver opportunity for everyone.About the RoleAs Lecturer or Senior Lecturer in American History, you will be required to make a significant contributio...
jobs.edgehill.ac.uk
July 15, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
We’re advertising for a 12 month teaching post in 20th Century US History. Deadline 28/7 (a short turn around because we need to interview in mid-August).

We’re a great, collegial and fun US history community. Happy to answer any and all questions about the role, and the RAI Bake Off.
Departmental Lecturer in 20th Century United States History at University of Oxford
Looking for a new job opportunity in academia? Check out this job opening for a Departmental Lecturer in 20th Century United States History on jobs.ac.uk!
www.jobs.ac.uk
July 13, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
women's franchise in the UK. My work examines the largest suffrage organisation, the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies, who are rarely mentioned or represented in these contexts. There is so much more to do to shift wider understanding from this one dimensional militant-only perspective.
July 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Reposted by Brian Ward
Okay, this is obviously lovely in lots of ways. However, the homogenisation of the British suffrage movement to only include the WSPU and their colours does an unacceptable disservice to the diverse and hugely significant contribution the many suffrage organisations who fought for (cont.)
Welsh group makes 264 sashes for female MPs to mark women's vote
Each MP received a sash to mark 97 years of women being given the right to vote.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
10 days to go before I’ll be at the Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle discussing this fab new book on the Beatles with author-broadcaster #StuartMaconie. The event includes a book signing and a screening of the biopic Nowhere Boy. Tickets: tynesidecinema.co.uk/book-online/...
July 5, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
#History #SkyStorians 2025 @hisjournalha.bsky.social Research Bursary scheme is now open! Available: 1 ECR award & 1 mid-career researcher award, each worth up to £1,500. Deadline *15 August*. For further particulars & downloadable application form, see www.history.org.uk/higher-ed/re...
History Research Bursary Scheme: Early Career and Mid-Career Routes
www.history.org.uk
June 26, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Well this is a very nice surprise! Thanks to the folks @kyhistsoc.bsky.social for running the Derby Day competition and for all their help preparing the special issue of the Register on Kentucky’s Medical History in which my article on Loretta Lynn appeared.
Our 2025 Register Derby winner has crossed the finish line! Congratulations to #8 Sex, Drugs, and Country Music: Loretta Lynn, Gender Politics, and the Health Environment in Mid-Twentieth Century Rural Kentucky by Brian Ward. #RegisterKHS Official results here: bit.ly/4k7Jjzf
May 3, 2025 at 11:10 PM
How exciting. Thrilled to see my Loretta Lynn article and the famous claret & blue silks in such august scholarly company for the Kentucky Derby article run-off.

Many thanks to the @kyhistsoc.bsky.social for such a fun event. @nuamstudies.bsky.social @officialbaas.bsky.social @hotcus.bsky.social
Finally - Sex, Drugs, and Country Music: Loretta Lynn, Gender Politics, and the Health Environment in Mid-Twentieth Century Rural Kentucky by Brian Ward #RegisterKHS #Derby #skystorians
Vote Here: surveymonkey.com/r/KWJZ298
May 3, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Reposted by Brian Ward
Just dropped. If you haven’t read the book you might listen to this. Thanks.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/n...
No Common Ground: Confederate Monuments and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice
Podcast Episode · The Academic Life · 04/29/2025 · 56m
podcasts.apple.com
April 30, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
There is just a little over a week to go before the launch of "Green and Blue" at New York University's Glucksman Ireland House, where I'm delivering the annual Ernie O'Malley lecture. If you are interested in signing up, you can do so here: www.eventbrite.com/e/ernie-omal...
Ernie O'Malley Lecture: Damian Shiels
Join us for the annual Ernie O'Malley Lecture featuring Dr. Damian Shiels: Green and Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military, 1861-1865.
www.eventbrite.com
April 29, 2025 at 5:22 PM
This is awesome - honoured to have my Loretta Lynn essay included among such fine scholarship in the 2025 Register of Kentucky History Derby - and bowled over by the West Ham-leaning silks! @northumbriauni.bsky.social @nuamstudies.bsky.social @officialbaas.bsky.social
@hotcus.bsky.social
It's the third and final round—the official call to post Round Three! Read the selected articles on ProjectMUSE (ow.ly/cyPG50Rco0w for links) and pick your favorite (link below) before 5 p.m. ET on Friday, May 2! #RegisterKHS #kyhistory

Pick your favorite: surveymonkey.com/r/695TQB8
April 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Brian Ward
Hey gang, here's the recording of the talk I gave for the National Humanities Center a few weeks ago. It was a real thrill, and I so appreciated the good questions. Check it out!
Country Soul: Music and Race in the American South
YouTube video by NHC Education Programs
www.youtube.com
April 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
@northumbriauni.bsky.social history student Lily Usher-Unsworth continues to rake in the plaudits for her exhibition @toonlibraries.bsky.social. Runs at Newcastle City Library until April 28.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Exhibition showcases Newcastle's African American music legacy
The exhibition features artists who visited Newcastle, such as Jimi Hendrix and Ella Fitzgerald.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Congratulations, Damian. Truly and Green & Blue letter day…
It's publication day for "Green & Blue: Irish Americans in the Union Military: 1861-1865"! Now available for purchase in hardcopy and ebook. It examines the experience of the c.250,000 Irish Americans who served in U.S. forces, making use of 100s of letters by enlisted men to wives and mothers.
April 17, 2025 at 2:36 PM
#CrossToonTraffic - a fab, student-curated mini-exhibition celebrating some of the African American musicians who appeared in Newcastle during the 1950s and 1960s is on at Newcastle City Library until April 28. Nostalgia-a-GoGo! @northumbriauni.bsky.social. @nuamstudies.bsky.social.
April 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
Countup Countdown to TEATLES 5

The Teatles Book 20 - the Beatles and Tea

February 2023

Made by me (with a lottle help from my (Teatle) friends.)

I have an expanded version of this in mind. Let’s see.
April 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Reposted by Brian Ward
Hello Boys:
Prof Tom Pegram of @ucl.ac.uk & myself ponder why young men aren’t studying human rights at universities
@cjharvey1.bsky.social @ecmassimino.bsky.social @brian222ward.bsky.social
www.ucl.ac.uk/global-gover...
Hello Boys
Why are young men turning away from human rights? A commentary by Brian Dooley (GGI Visiting Scholar) and Tom Pegram (GGI Director)
www.ucl.ac.uk
April 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM