Katie Parker
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kparkerhistorian.bsky.social
Katie Parker
@kparkerhistorian.bsky.social
Cartographic Collections Manager at the RGS-IBG. Teach history of London architecture at NYU London. Cultural historian interested in books, maps, museums, exploration, and the early modern maritime world, esp. the Pacific.
Crazy class dodging the crowds to learn about Greenwich Millenium Village, public art, and creating community and a destination.

Sometimes you just have to teach amongst a #five concert. #amteaching
November 11, 2025 at 7:12 PM
I’ll leave you with this video of James Cook. They have portraits of explorers and quotes from them about their Pacific experiences. Two, Cook and Krusenstern’s, are animated, so enjoy that. 6/6.
November 6, 2025 at 9:36 AM
The exhibition ends with a return to Estonia, showing the world map from the first atlas published there (1859) and the first globe manufactured there (1880-1). 5/
November 6, 2025 at 9:33 AM
There is great content for all ages. Kids will love to find tiny mouse doors hidden throughout the exhibition. 4/
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 AM
The entire exhibition is on a giant map of the Pacific, with installations on Japan, Alaska, and Nuku Hiva placed near their locations on the map 3/
November 6, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Conference delegates got to tour the temporary exhibition on Krusenstern’s circumnavigation (1803-6) and later hydrographic work. Amazing cartobibliographical work on Krusenstern’s world map and atlas on display, including Krusenstern’s own copy. 2/
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Kicked off the Revisiting European Maritime Exploration in the Pacific Ocean (c. 1750–1850) at Seaplane Harbour, part of the Estonian Maritime Museum. It’s a fantastic museum! 1/#museums 🗃️
November 6, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Loved the vibrant #DiadelosMuertos festival @hornimanmuseum.bsky.social . Inclusive, educational and such a relief to get delicious tacos in #london.

The Horniman is a great museum that fosters community. Always impressed when we visit. #museums
November 3, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Due to a schedule shift, taught in the evening tonight. We discussed Brutalism and High Tech, but I only got photos of the Exchange and Walbrook.

Walked from Barbican to the Gherkin, which was suitably spooky for this Halloween week. 👻 🎃
October 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Colleagues and I had a great time on a Parakeet Tour of Hyde Park led by Christie Swallow. What is an ‘invasive species’? What is ‘wild’? Loved the integration of imperial and environmental history.

We are all paracologists now (with pins!) 🗃️
October 28, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Lovely bunch of @notredame.bsky.social students came to the reading room today to encounter objects in the history of exploration. I never tire of their excitement at seeing historical objects (Speke’s sextant was popular today)

And thanks for the hat!
October 24, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Brilliant visit to @queerbritain.bsky.social ! Loved the permanent exhibition and Top by Claye Bowler, a trip through transition in the form of a museum store. What a great community space, resource, and collection! Visit if you are near King’s Cross! #museums #skystorians 🗃️
October 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
It was all steel, plate glass, and railroads today with the #architecture students. Dodged rain and wind at St Pancras International, King’s Cross, and Coal Drops Yard. #amteaching
October 23, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Popped into Word on the Water after teaching and nabbed Africonomics by Bronwen Everill. Excited to read this much nominated book by a brilliant scholar! #books #skystorians #bookshop #london
October 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Had a lovely class on Gothic Revival #architecture and the rise of museums in the #c19 last week. It was made all the better by a #sumo sighting at the Albert Memorial. #amteaching #histarch
October 21, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Love the audacity of this plate added by the Newtons when they restored the Molyneaux gloves (1603) in 1818.

#globes #maphist
October 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
An amazing “Middle Temple & the World” study day @middletemple.bsky.social Library! We looked up close at the Molyneaux Globes with conservator Sylvia Sumira & saw archival & library material with @rsatterley.bsky.social & @barnabat.bsky.social

#skystorians 🗃️
October 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Chatted about civic buildings, museums, and the architecture of empire Somerset House and Trafalgar Square. As always, students came up with great Fourth Plinth ideas and the sun shone (for this class only, others it only rains for) #amteaching #histarch #architecture 🗃️
October 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Stunning autumn day teaching about Palladian and English Baroque #architecture at Queen’s House & Old Royal Naval College.

Students currently on a scavenger hunt for tympanums, lanterns, and more. 🍂 🍁 🧱🏛️

#amteaching 🗃️
September 25, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Great fun recording a podcast today that discusses cartographic collecting (of the same atlases) in the #c16 and #c19. #maps 🌎🗺️🗃️
September 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Made it to “From streets to the stars: 500 years of maps” at the beautiful Maughan Library @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social . Great to see maps in books get their due, especially Dampier, Anson, and other Pacific volumes. It’s open until 28 September! #maps 🗃️
September 19, 2025 at 7:47 AM
First site visit covers 1600 years of London #architecture from the Roman Wall, the Tower of London, All Hallows Barking, London Bridge, Southwark Cathedral, the Golden Hinde, to the Globe Theatre (phew!).

There was ☀️ and 🌧️ and good discussion of fortification, religion, and replicas. #amteaching
September 14, 2025 at 12:38 PM
That start of school feeling never goes away! Buzzing to start this semester of Seeing London’s Architecture at NYU London. #amteaching #history #architecture
September 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Walked the #tuskturtletrail and our fav was Turtle London by Adam Dant. Packed full of local (turtle) history and structured as a #map!

(Don’t mind tiny research assistant photo bombing) #artandhistory
August 10, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Nothing like the iconic @britishlibrary.bsky.social door!
July 4, 2025 at 7:06 PM