Samantha :)
@samanthabarker.bsky.social
History PhD researcher interested in the tailored suit ✨(She/her)
Great to attend the first look event of the April Ashley collection at @ljmu-sca.bsky.social on Thursday! It was wonderful to see such rich visual and important material. Can’t wait to revisit this as part of my PhD project!
November 21, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Great to attend the first look event of the April Ashley collection at @ljmu-sca.bsky.social on Thursday! It was wonderful to see such rich visual and important material. Can’t wait to revisit this as part of my PhD project!
Some images from my visit to the Vivienne Westwood exhibition in Liverpool, would highly recommend!
September 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Some images from my visit to the Vivienne Westwood exhibition in Liverpool, would highly recommend!
Whilst on my holiday in Milan, I got to visit the Giorgio Armani Museum, and wow those dresses were dreamy! #fashion #museum #giorgioarmani #armani
July 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Whilst on my holiday in Milan, I got to visit the Giorgio Armani Museum, and wow those dresses were dreamy! #fashion #museum #giorgioarmani #armani
Unintentionally taken my cat’s LinkedIn headshots this morning
July 11, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Unintentionally taken my cat’s LinkedIn headshots this morning
My third and final day in London took me to @lselibrary.bsky.social to visit their newspaper clipping collections on fashion, art and homosexual community publications. What a fascinating end to my first official archive trip of my PhD!
July 4, 2025 at 5:53 PM
My third and final day in London took me to @lselibrary.bsky.social to visit their newspaper clipping collections on fashion, art and homosexual community publications. What a fascinating end to my first official archive trip of my PhD!
Day two has landed my in @bishopsgateinst.bsky.social which holds a wonderful collection of ephemera relating to queer lives, plus the friendly and helpful staff made it a real joy to visit!
July 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Day two has landed my in @bishopsgateinst.bsky.social which holds a wonderful collection of ephemera relating to queer lives, plus the friendly and helpful staff made it a real joy to visit!
Started my research trip this week with a visit to @queerbritain.bsky.social a powerful, thoughtfully curated space.
Inspiring and essential, it centres voices too often left out of the national story. The exhibitions offer rich insight into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history, activism, and everyday life.
Inspiring and essential, it centres voices too often left out of the national story. The exhibitions offer rich insight into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history, activism, and everyday life.
July 3, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Started my research trip this week with a visit to @queerbritain.bsky.social a powerful, thoughtfully curated space.
Inspiring and essential, it centres voices too often left out of the national story. The exhibitions offer rich insight into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history, activism, and everyday life.
Inspiring and essential, it centres voices too often left out of the national story. The exhibitions offer rich insight into the UK’s LGBTQ+ history, activism, and everyday life.
I have had the most amazing time at my first @batw.bsky.social conference for the last three days!
My project, Soulful South Yorkshire: Tracing African American Influence in Rotherham's Northern Soul Movement looked at the transatlantic connection of African American music in the movement #batw2025
My project, Soulful South Yorkshire: Tracing African American Influence in Rotherham's Northern Soul Movement looked at the transatlantic connection of African American music in the movement #batw2025
June 27, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I have had the most amazing time at my first @batw.bsky.social conference for the last three days!
My project, Soulful South Yorkshire: Tracing African American Influence in Rotherham's Northern Soul Movement looked at the transatlantic connection of African American music in the movement #batw2025
My project, Soulful South Yorkshire: Tracing African American Influence in Rotherham's Northern Soul Movement looked at the transatlantic connection of African American music in the movement #batw2025
There is something about being on a train at golden hour that soothes the brain
June 17, 2025 at 2:58 PM
There is something about being on a train at golden hour that soothes the brain
Great to attend the ‘Difficult Histories’ conference at the University of Liverpool yesterday, hosted by @livunihss.bsky.social and @ihr.bsky.social.
It was great to hear about the many ways to approach history, from oral testimonies and natural specimens, and the opportunities from the IHR! ✨
It was great to hear about the many ways to approach history, from oral testimonies and natural specimens, and the opportunities from the IHR! ✨
June 7, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Great to attend the ‘Difficult Histories’ conference at the University of Liverpool yesterday, hosted by @livunihss.bsky.social and @ihr.bsky.social.
It was great to hear about the many ways to approach history, from oral testimonies and natural specimens, and the opportunities from the IHR! ✨
It was great to hear about the many ways to approach history, from oral testimonies and natural specimens, and the opportunities from the IHR! ✨
Been diving deep into Northern Soul lately - a northern subculture with serious style. Seen loads of ads for “baggies”: ultra-wide trousers (think 36-inch hems!) made for spinning on the dancefloor. Yesterday I wore my first pair. Felt like I time-traveled straight back to the ’70s! 🕺✨ #northernsoul
May 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Been diving deep into Northern Soul lately - a northern subculture with serious style. Seen loads of ads for “baggies”: ultra-wide trousers (think 36-inch hems!) made for spinning on the dancefloor. Yesterday I wore my first pair. Felt like I time-traveled straight back to the ’70s! 🕺✨ #northernsoul
This week I completed my first solo research trip to London (as someone terrified of public transport this was a personal victory) - I split my time between Bethnal Green, a little trip around Parliament and a fascinating look at The Face exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
April 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM
This week I completed my first solo research trip to London (as someone terrified of public transport this was a personal victory) - I split my time between Bethnal Green, a little trip around Parliament and a fascinating look at The Face exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery
This afternoon I have my one year review for PhD - am I nervous? Yes. Have I done as much prep as I can? Yes. Have I had a good breakfast? It's a big yes now!
The Anglican cathedral is an underrated spot if you're ever in Liverpool!
The Anglican cathedral is an underrated spot if you're ever in Liverpool!
April 8, 2025 at 9:46 AM
This afternoon I have my one year review for PhD - am I nervous? Yes. Have I done as much prep as I can? Yes. Have I had a good breakfast? It's a big yes now!
The Anglican cathedral is an underrated spot if you're ever in Liverpool!
The Anglican cathedral is an underrated spot if you're ever in Liverpool!
Had a wonderful time presenting at the @ljmuofficial.bsky.social APSS PGR Conference on Wednesday this week! The theme was on space, and through the case study of Soho, I looked at how important the urban space was to queer communities in the 1970s and 1980s :)
April 4, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Had a wonderful time presenting at the @ljmuofficial.bsky.social APSS PGR Conference on Wednesday this week! The theme was on space, and through the case study of Soho, I looked at how important the urban space was to queer communities in the 1970s and 1980s :)
On Friday I went to two fascinating events - the first a panel on the most current research in decolonisation and the second a book launch for J.P Maxwell and his new historical thriller based in Liverpool! @rilch-ljmu.bsky.social
March 29, 2025 at 1:22 PM
On Friday I went to two fascinating events - the first a panel on the most current research in decolonisation and the second a book launch for J.P Maxwell and his new historical thriller based in Liverpool! @rilch-ljmu.bsky.social
Great to attend the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion seminar today! It looked at policing in 1980s London and its relationship with lesbian communities. It was really interesting to listen to a talk adjacent to my topic, but in a completely different field!
March 12, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Great to attend the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion seminar today! It looked at policing in 1980s London and its relationship with lesbian communities. It was really interesting to listen to a talk adjacent to my topic, but in a completely different field!
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit my home town’s archives in preparation for my Britain and the World Conference paper. Whilst there I also picked up some new skills, like how to handle microfilm!
March 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
This weekend I had the opportunity to visit my home town’s archives in preparation for my Britain and the World Conference paper. Whilst there I also picked up some new skills, like how to handle microfilm!
Little bit of a different exhibition this weekend, but managed to get get across to Leeds to visit the Miffy exhibition, who’s celebrating her 70th birthday! It was wonderful to see some of the original drawings and figures used in the tv series!
February 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Little bit of a different exhibition this weekend, but managed to get get across to Leeds to visit the Miffy exhibition, who’s celebrating her 70th birthday! It was wonderful to see some of the original drawings and figures used in the tv series!
This has been rather fun, including a visit to @ljmu-sca.bsky.social and a windy trip up the Anglican Cathedral (followed by coffee and cake!) with @ljmudoctoral.bsky.social :)
February 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM
This has been rather fun, including a visit to @ljmu-sca.bsky.social and a windy trip up the Anglican Cathedral (followed by coffee and cake!) with @ljmudoctoral.bsky.social :)
Another day of researching! I’m a year in now, and luckily still not out of the honeymoon phase with my PhD!
February 11, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Another day of researching! I’m a year in now, and luckily still not out of the honeymoon phase with my PhD!
An excellent chapter title imo from Joseph McBrinn’s book “Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men and the Culture of Needlework” !!
January 30, 2025 at 10:49 AM
An excellent chapter title imo from Joseph McBrinn’s book “Queering the Subversive Stitch: Men and the Culture of Needlework” !!
Really great visit to The Walker Art Gallery to see their “Conversations” exhibition, which shows the art of 40 Black women and non-binary artists!
January 25, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Really great visit to The Walker Art Gallery to see their “Conversations” exhibition, which shows the art of 40 Black women and non-binary artists!
Deleted Twitter and made the move to BlueSky. I’ll be sharing updates about my PhD journey here from now on!
January 22, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Deleted Twitter and made the move to BlueSky. I’ll be sharing updates about my PhD journey here from now on!