iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 10/03/2025

Someone is tearing up a French manuscript from c.1637 and selling the pages on Etsy for scrapbooking. As an archivist, this is giving me nightmares. Are there any French historians out there who can reassure me this is a worthless copy...? www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1...

etsy.com

Wow C.1637 Antique French Large Handwritten Page Beautiful Hand Made Paper 1 Sheet Mixed Media Junk Journal Art Scrapbook Original Ephemera - Etsy

This Paper Collage item by Inkedpaperart has 2331 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from San Tan Valley, AZ. Listed on Mar 10, 2025

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 16/02/2025

Yes, my Christmas tree is still up. Thanks for asking.

A three foot live fir tree (or is it a spruce?) which I got in a pot in Lidl at the end of November 2024. In the icy cold of my living room the tree has thrived. I've taken down the Christmas decorations, but left up a string of warm white lights. It is sitting on a box in front of a set of bookshelves which are home to the complete works of Charles Dickens, whose writing I love, but whose life I despair of.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 08/02/2025

Paging #BOOKSKY This is an open call for book recommendations so gripping I won't be able to think about anything else. Preferably books available both in print and on Audible. I'll read anything, but I'm not keen on visceral suffering right now. Life is throwing me lemons, please send lemonade.

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Joanne Harris @joannechocolat.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Radical publishing notion, right here: if your publishers are making a living from publishing and selling your books, then you, the author, should be making a living from writing them.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 24/12/2024

Happy Cheesemas to all who celebrate.

A barrel of KP Cheese Footballs photographed in front of a real Christmas tree decorated with plumb coloured strings of beads, lights, and a a string of oak leaves. In the top corner of the photo is a glimpse of some hardback Dickens novels on a bookshelf. I bet Dickens would have loved Cheese Footballs. They really are the meaning of Christmas.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 18/12/2024

Fellow archivists, have you ever seen anything more adorable than this? I'd have *loved* this when I was a toddler!

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 15/12/2024

Someone sent me this and apart from being in awe of whoever made the costumes, I'm also very impressed they stayed brand-consistent and did create an implausible mash-up of competitor products.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 15/12/2024

Every time I type 'chocolate' on my phone it autocorrects to 'cocksure' (a word I never use). It's been doing this for the last two phones. I am a chocolate historian. I think the universe wants me to switch.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 13/12/2024

I know I need to get out more, but I'm bothered by the amount of scuffing on the surface of the chocolate in this photograph. A higher cocoa content would make the chocolate less prone to scuff marks in transit. But then again, it would increase the manufacturer's costs. 🧵

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 12/12/2024

For those of you following the story of the lost Roman tiles from the chocolate village, I've found the photos I took in Weston Park Museum which show🥁🥁🥁... The footprints of the little dog! Starting to wonder if the stiletto was just in the written report...🤦🏻‍♀️

A photograph of a Roman roof tile with four little dog paw prints pressed into the terracotta before firing, alongside the stamp of the VIth legion. The roof tile is in a glass display case with (as I had remembered it) a red background. However, the tile itself is utterly different to the one I remembered and I realise I've seen a black and white photo somewhere of another tile and two amphora which were damaged but glued back together. Now where did *those* go?!

Museum didactic (fancy word for interpretive sign) which reads: "F is for Footprints
Roof tile
Ceramic
Romano-British
80-400AD
Found near York, North Yorkshire
The footprints on this tile show that a dog ran across it the day before the clay was fired! The tile is also marked with a military stamp of the Sixth Legion (Legio VI Victrix) Which accompanied the emperor Hadrian on his trip to Britain and replaced the Ninth Legion at York during 122 AD."

But hang on a minute, does this really look like the dog was running? It's feet are together. Surely that means someone placed it there to make the marks...

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Naomi Pullin @naomipullin.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

Beat Kümin and I are accepting applications for our 4yr M4C fully-funded PhD Studentship for 2025/26 at Uni of Warwick and Warwick County Record Office "Warwickshire Identities: Early Modern Archival Perspectives" Get in touch with me for more info. Full details here: warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/his...

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 09/12/2024

This is an astonishing thread. I now want to read everything Ida/Mary wrote (genre snobs be damned). Some of her work is available to borrow through the Internet Archive, including this wartime Mills & Boon: archive.org/details/acco...

archive.org

Accompanied By His Wife : Mary Burchell : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

The deception grew entirely out of hand For the sake of Mrs. Harnby, Michael's sweet but ailing mother, that Patricia agreed to the fantastic suggestion that...

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 09/12/2024

If I'd come up with "chocroaches" it would honestly have been the highlight of my career. I'm going to be using this all Christmas.

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Greg Jenner (Historian) @gregjenner.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Hello, American historians! Who writes great American history books for kids and young teens? 👇🙏

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 30/11/2024

I absolutely adored every moment of Punt PI, but it's been seven years since the last episode, and I'm beginning to accept there might not be any more. Can anyone recommend a podcast of true, unsolved mysteries in the same vein? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

bbc.co.uk

BBC Sounds - Punt PI - Available Episodes

Listen to the latest episodes of Punt PI on BBC Sounds.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 29/11/2024

On this subject, I'd like to tell you a rambling and relatively dull story about some lost Roman archaeology, a Victorian chocolate factory in the north of England, and an uncanny coincidence in a museum. 🧵

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 27/11/2024

Show me a picture on your phone that has your energy that isn’t a selfie.

An Edwardian colour postcard of a cartoon showing a woman in a white blouse, red skirt, and red hat. She is standing on a pavement where she was evidently going about her business quite peacefully until she had to turn around and beat back a bird with her red folded up umbrella. The bird is a large stork, and it has a sling of blue fabric around it's neck which holds a wriggling, naked baby. The stork is trying to deliver the baby to the woman and the woman is beating the stork with her umbrella (but missing the baby who is fine).

The line of text at the bottom of the postcard reads, "AND THE VILLAIN STILL PURSUES HER."

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 24/11/2024

Historians of North Norfolk, here is a mystery to while away your Christmas hours. Where were those brick gate posts with pyramids on top? And does @philippullman.bsky.social recognise the daemon in the third photograph? Presumably not as at that age it would be subject to frequent change.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 23/11/2024

'The Tear' is haunting me. I can't stop thinking about it. The artist has taken away the one thing everyone remembers about Vermeer's original - a teardrop pearl - and transformed it into a heartbreak which watches you from every angle. Knowing the artist's circumstances takes my breath away.

A painting by Johannes Vermeer (painted around 1665) entitled, 'Girl wth a pearl earring'. The girl in question is wearing an oversized ochre silk garment around her shoulders with a brilliant white collar poking out at the top. Her hair is concealed by a turban of sky blue fabric wrapped around her hairline, with a knot of cream fabric at her crown which cascades from there down the back of her neck. Her expression is almost a smile, but not quite. Her mouth is open and her bottom lip appears lightly moist. She looks out of the painting over her left shoulder. The eye of the viewer is drawn to her left earlobe where a large teardrop-shaped pearl gleams, caught by a little daylight. I remember the moment in the 2003 film of the same name where this image was recreated by Scarlett Johansson. I saw it in the cinema that year, and I heard fellow audience members gasp at the sight. I was an undergraduate at the time and I remember my fellow students writing endless short stories inspired by the Tracy Chevalier book on which the film was based. It seemed to grip everyone, like the fever of the 90s when everyone was raving about Captain Corelli's Mandolin. I wonder what my students would think of these books now. Or the painting for that matter. In a world burning beneath climate change, polluted by post-truth political movements, do the works of the old masters have anything to say to Generation Alpha?

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 20/11/2024

My new favourite trivia question: what connects the Chocolate Orange and the Titanic?

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 20/11/2024

I'm working on a starter pack of archive collections in the UK. If you see any archives join Bluesky, could you tag them in the comments below so that I can add them? Ta muchly. go.bsky.app/DAYWDcd

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Jon Biddle @jonnybid.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

My map of children's independent bookshops is updated regularly. Most provide an online service and they're all run by people who can make well-informed book recommendations. Make sure you support your local one if you want to keep it. Any missing, please let me know. padlet.com/Jon_Biddle/r...

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Patricia Correll @authorpcorrell.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Teen: I'm reading The Great Gatsby. Me: What do you think so far? Teen: None of these people are normal.

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Dr Bethany Usher @bethanyusher.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

I am less bothered about drafts than I am about an edit button.

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Caroline Butler @carolineonline.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Good morning! Expect some big brands to join later today. I'll keep updating the starter pack as I spot them—it’s already packed with fantastic people! I’ve been adding new names every couple of hours. If you’ve joined via the list, take another look—you might find new friends! go.bsky.app/G7Lbbv2

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Matt @mattlibrarian.eurosky.social · 17/11/2024

Hey library folk let me know if you would like me to add you to this starter pack! 📚📜

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Annie Gray @dranniegray.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

I've started a food history starter pack. It's mainly GB at the moment cos those are the people I know, but I'd like it to be wider please. If you'd like to be added, let me know. Otherwise the very short list is here go.bsky.app/RH4kTRU

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Abi 🎸 @gailyloulabell.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Pretty please could we have a bookmark feature for posts @bsky.app ? 🙏😃

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Tim Baxter @timinclimate.naruresearch.com.au · 18/11/2024

Bluesky tip for newbies: Bluesky has no real algorithm. Likes here do nothing but show the poster that you enjoyed their content. That kindness is always going to be appreciated by creators, but if you want to help to boost something here, you have to repost it so others see it. 🙂

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Kit de Waal @kitdewaal.com · 18/11/2024

Starter Pack here for Writers Who Love Make-Up. Yes, it’s niche and yes, we love both. Welcome all.

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Museums Association @museumsassociation.org · 11/11/2024

Hey! We’ve compiled a starter pack of museums, galleries, archives and libraries in the UK who are right here on Bluesky 🦋 go.bsky.app/9o1sRWp

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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Now that @thehistoryguy.bsky.social, @katewilliamsme.bsky.social, @helencarr.bsky.social & so many other great historians have joined #BlueSky today, I'm re-upping my #starterpacks on Historians in Britain! There's still room on the 2nd list. Part 1: go.bsky.app/Fpw6Tvr Part 2: go.bsky.app/8aaAtPg

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Annie Gray @dranniegray.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

And... If that's not enough, the inestimable Hugh Dennis, who I have admired greatly * since being reduced to tears at Punt & Dennis live in about 1995 is reading an abridged version of The Bookshop, The Draper... for Radio 4 starting 2 Dec. Am VERY happy about this. *been a bit in love with, ok

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 18/11/2024

I'm in my first ever starter pack. I'm playing it very cool. 💅🏻

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Lucy Mitchell Author @lucymitchauth.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

Been wanting to create a starter pack. If you love Christmas romance books check out these lovely authors 🎄📚💘 go.bsky.app/LtWw44i

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Annie Gray @dranniegray.bsky.social · 18/11/2024

So, here's some exciting news: I'm on Start The Week next Monday talking high street history along with some very excellent people....https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0025d4j

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 18/11/2024

I'm back on your screens tomorrow talking about the history of Britain's favourite coffee roaster: Taylors of Harrogate. Want to see Taylors of Harrogate on Bluesky? Leave them a message in the comments and I'll pass it on. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bbc.co.uk

Antiques Road Trip - Series 29: 12. Resplendent and Rare

Roo Irvine motors along the roads of North Yorkshire with her rival, Mark Hill. In their second battle, Mark gets flustered over a very rare find.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 17/11/2024

Want verification✅ for free? Have a website, but feel like you need a teenager to talk you through setting it up as your Bluesky handle? There's an easier way. Tell ChatGPT to give you step-by-step instructions and ask it to talk like a kid explaining to their nan. bsky.social/about/blog/4...

bsky.social

How to set your domain as your handle - Bluesky

Using a domain as your handle helps with account identity, verification, and portability. Here's how to set your domain as your handle.

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Alex Hutchinson @alexthearchivist.com · 16/11/2024

Did you know this used to be a Nestle UK product? And even more surprisingly there's almost no archive material showing when they created it, why, where it was made, or when it was sold off. If you have a grandparent who was the brand manager for Pink Panther Wafers do ask them what the gossip was.

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Borthwick Institute for Archives @uoyborthwick.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Such joys let others boast, and strive, A laurel crown to win. By strains in praise of whiskey pure, Of brandy, rum or gin. A nobler cause excites my muse, A nobler theme my song. In humble lays I sing the praise, Of Coffee clear & strong. This 1816 ode to coffee seems appropriate for a Friday!

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Greg Jenner (Historian) @gregjenner.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Here’s a BBC radio programme I loved making 5 years ago about the overlap between history and comedy - I played funny stuff from the archive and interviewed people like Stephen Fry, Cariad Lloyd, and Natalie Haynes. This is part 1 of 3, part 2 will go out next week? www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Hilarious Histories - What's So Funny About the Past? - 1. A Cad and a Bounder - BBC Sounds

Public Historian Greg Jenner is on a quest to discover why comedy writers love history

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