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Matthew McCormack

@historymatt.bsky.social
2.3K followers 955 following 447 posts

Historian of Georgian Britain, currently researching shoes. President of @BSECS.bsky.social. Views my own but not necessarily original.

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Reposted by Matthew McCormack
Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies at York @cecs-york.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
📢 Our first seminar of the academic year is nearly here! Declan Kavanagh, University of Kent, will be presenting a paper on: "‘The Fear You Had for Your Eyes’: The Terror of Sight Loss in Gulliver’s Travels (1726)" 🗓️ Tuesday 6 Oct, 5pm 📍 H/G09, Heslington Hall 🔗 www.york.ac.uk/eighteenth-c...
Tiny Gulliver rows a toy boat in a large wooden cistern while an oversized king, a queen and fanned ladies, and stern pikemen watch from a raised platform, a satirical scene emphasizing the comic size contrast and royal bemusement.

The King of Brobdingnag and Gulliver. [graphic] / (Plate 2d), Gillray, James, 1756-1815, printmaker, Lewis Walpole Library
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ISECS/SIEDS @isecs-sieds.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
It is not too late to submit proposals for thematic sessions and roundtables for the 2027 ISECS Congress in Zaragoza. The deadline has been extended to November 30! www.isecs-zaragoza2027.net/en/calls/
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This is brilliant. A pity she won't be able to put it into practice, due to Ross Kemp's daft approach to a badly-designed task www.youtube.com/watch?v=twDv...
youtube.com
How would Alan Turing have played the Traitors?
YouTube video by Hannah Fry
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Is Northampton the new Wrexham? Expect a Disney+ doc and bewildered tourists on Gold Street www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
bbc.co.uk
Consortium including Alexandre Pato completes Northampton Town takeover
The takeover of Northampton Town by a consortium including former AC Milan and Brazil forward Alexandre Pato has been completed.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Great to see there's an academic in Celebrity #Traitors again this year
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Luke Ontario @coolhand.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I have no idea if this is true but the collage kills me
A black lemur in a leafy tree with its mouth open as if singing, beside an inset photo of Pavarotti striking a similar pose. Text reads: “New research shows lemurs use operatic techniques when they sing, to reach high notes.” Classic FM.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Off to London today, for a rare day in the BL and to do a paper at the IHR later on:
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IHR Life Cycles seminar @ihrlifecycles.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Tomorrow evening, at 17:30 BST, join us for the first of this year's seminars. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... @historymatt.bsky.social will be our speaker, talking about objections to children's shoes in eighteenth century Britain. Register through the link.
history.ac.uk
Life-Cycles
This thematic seminar series addresses issues relating to the life-cycle
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Every time I'm amused by a food vlogger precisely rating some takeaway 6.3 or whatever, I have to remind myself that I have discussions with a moderator about whether an essay is 63 or 62
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British Association for Romantic Studies @bars.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Wonderful opportunity for PGRS and ECRs - A Day in the Literary Archive: British Academy Seminar and Workshop for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers Tuesday 3rd November 2026 at the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh www.bars.ac.uk/blog/?p=6626
bars.ac.uk
A Day in the Literary Archive: British Academy Seminar and Workshop for Postgraduate and Early Career Researchers – BARS Blog
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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 24/09/2026
New from History UK: a valuable and interesting survey of UK history students use of and attitudes towards GenAI in HE teaching - their preliminary report is published today: bit.ly/4hatsRR The report is by Dr Sarah Jones and Dr Simon Peplow @simpep.bsky.social #skystorians
Opening page of History UK's statement on their survey and report on AI and History Students in UK universities. Full text: 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become impossible to ignore in higher education. For historians, working in a discipline which depends on interpretation, evidence, and critical thinking, the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has raised particularly significant questions. In 2026, we launched a survey to gather the perspectives of people who are often overlooked in considerations of the impact of AI and appropriate responses – history students themselves.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
In London today, taking the new History students to the British Museum
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Here is the 2026-27 programme of free online talks for the Northampton branch of the HA, delivered jointly with Leicester. @histassoc.bsky.social The first talk is on 13 October, on astrological writings in 19th-century India. All welcome - please share! www.history.org.uk/branches/cat...
history.org.uk
Northampton Branch Programme
Northampton Branch Programme 2015-16
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Cllr Dr Alex Powell @apowelllaw.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
So, just to be clear, Daniel Thomas was: 1- Carrying a knife contrary to section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 2- Used that knife to commit criminal damage (Criminal Damage act 1971) 3- likely engaged in the criminal offense of endangering Life at Sea (Merchant Shipping Act 1995)
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Mark O’Neill 🐻 @radiobeartime.com · 22/09/2026
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... “And next up it’s the latest from The Fall in session”
bbc.co.uk
Five charged over Gateshead football pitch hearse disorder
Five are charged over disorder which saw a hearse driven onto the pitch at Dunston UTC v Gateshead.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Next Tuesday, 29 September at 5:30pm, I'm doing a paper at the Life-Cycles seminar at the IHR: "Children's shoes, material culture and the Georgian body" Info for in-person and online will be here (isn't up there yet): www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
Life-Cycles
This thematic seminar series addresses issues relating to the life-cycle
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Rachel Grant/R.S. Grant @rachelgrant.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Great article about AI and pseudoarchaeology that I'm adding to my Author's Note on my website for FALSE FLAG. AI is distorting archaeology and flattening Indigenous Knowledge
pursuit.unimelb.edu.au
AI is distorting archaeology and flattening Indigenous Knowledge
While artificial intelligence can help archaeologists, it can also spread pseudoscientific claims and false histories, stripping Indigenous knowledge of context, consent and community control, say Uni...
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The British Academy @britishacademy.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
There are only three weeks left to apply for the Talent Development Awards. The opportunity supports UK-based researchers in the humanities and social sciences to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to their work and develop expertise in a new area. Apply now: bit.ly/4bpl2CE
A colour block banner promoting Talent Development Awards
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Dr Eleanor Shaw @eleanorshaw.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Fancy coming to work with me at the British Library? Part time for 18 months, collecting oral histories about covid and thinking about covid commemoration. www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/jobs/job/228...
nationalmuseums.org.uk
Jobs - National Museum Directors' Council Website
Association of directors and chief executives of the UK's national museums, galleries, libraries and archives.
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BSECS @bsecs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
**The Georgian Group Dunscombe-Colt Bursary** #BSECS & the Georgian Group are offering a NEW bursary for #PGR & #ECR speaking on the architecture or material culture of the long #18thC at the BSECS annual conference. #skystorians 🗃️ Details can be found at: www.bsecs.org.uk/prizes-and-a...
bsecs.org.uk
Prizes and awards Archive - BSECS
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BSECS @bsecs.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
***BREAKING NEWS*** We have extended the deadline on our #CFP by 5 days to give those of you that missed our early deadline another chance! New deadline: 20 September 2026 Get writing! #skystorians #18thC 🗃️ www.bsecs.org.uk/conferences/...
bsecs.org.uk
BSECS Annual Conference
BSECS Annual Conference: the annual meeting of the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies is Europe's largest and most prestigious annual conference
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Daniel C. Blight @danielcblight.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
***URGENT PLEASE SHARE*** University of Brighton management have announced today that they ‘give notice of termination of all collective agreements’. This is a fundamental erasure of workers' rights. Management have announced the termination of all contractual documents, which includes:
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Adam Chapman @adamchapman.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Good afternoon #Skystorians! We have a job available - the aim is to bring together a large body of work on Hampshire parishes compiled by a superlative team of volunteers and researchers to complete the revision of some of @vch-home.bsky.social's earliest work. Please share!
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Brodie Waddell @brodiewaddell.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Nov 12th - PhD Lighting Talks at @ihrscb.bsky.social! A chance to introduce your PhD project in 3-5 minutes on any aspect of society, culture or belief, 1500-1800. Organised by @teaphaine.bsky.social and @annajpravdica.bsky.social. Email abstract to tmt29@cam.ac.uk by Oct 12th. #EarlyModern 🗃️
If you would like to attend the seminar, do keep an eye out on our webpage (very soon to be updated with our events for this term) or you can always follow us on Bluesky @ihrscb.bsky.social. We tend to meet on Thursdays during term time at 5.30 pm — all are welcome!

PhD Lightning Talks
Deadline: 12 October, Event: 12 November

The Society, Culture, and Belief Seminar is inviting applications for lightning talks from PhD students on their research. We ask that these talks be 3-5 minutes. This is a fantastic opportunity to talk through your research with a broader audience of fellow students and more seasoned academics, as well as test out some ideas in a comfortable and welcoming environment. The talks will be followed by a brief Q&A session.The event will take place on Thursday, 12 November, 2026, from 5.30 pm onwards. For those presenting in person, we typically continue the conversation after the seminar over drinks or dinner. We’re open to applications from students working on any geographical region between 1500-1800.If you would like to participate, please email: tmt29@cam.ac.uk by 12 October 2026 with a 300-word thesis summary and a brief bio.

Society, Culture & Belief, 1500 – 1800
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BSECS @bsecs.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Submissions for #BSECS2027 close on the 15 September this year. Yes, this is earlier than usual... This year's theme is 'Artifice and Authenticity' but (as always) we welcome proposals on any #18thC topic. GET WRITING #skystorians 🗃️ See our Website for details: www.bsecs.org.uk/conferences/...
bsecs.org.uk
BSECS Annual Conference
BSECS Annual Conference: the annual meeting of the British Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies is Europe's largest and most prestigious annual conference
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
6% of respondents are Georgian radicals
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Craig Lambert @medievalmariner.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I’m recruiting a Research Fellow in Early Modern Spanish Maritime History to join our ERC-funded Uncharted Maritime Worlds project at the University of Southampton. Please share with anyone who might be interested! www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DSW249/r...
jobs.ac.uk
Research Fellow (Early Modern Spanish Maritime History) 3497426AR at University of Southampton
An opportunity for an academic position as a Research Fellow (Early Modern Spanish Maritime History) 3497426AR is available, as advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Apply now and explore other academic job openi...
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The 2026 equivalent of wearing a wire
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
I love how the Victorian version covered up all the willies www.readingmuseum.org.uk/blog/compari...
readingmuseum.org.uk
Comparing the Bayeux and Reading tapestries
Reading’s Bayeux Tapestry is a full-size copy of the original 11th century tapestry. It was created in 1885-1886 by 35 women of the Leek Embroidery Society 'so that England should have a copy of its o...
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Manchester University Press @manchesterup.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Out now in paperback, leading experts @odavies9.bsky.social & @cerihoulbrook.bsky.social have written the definitive guide to British folklore past & present. From witches, wizards and wicker men, to UFOs and fanfiction, they show that folklore is not just something stuck in the past. #booksky
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Grumpy Philosopher @stevecooke.org · 28/08/2026
I learned today that some charitable trusts are now nervous about awarding grants outside the so-called Golden Triangle of Oxford-Cambridge-London. They‘re worried about wasting money as universities close departments & make staff redundant. Labour’s HE policy is entrenching elite privilege.
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Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 26/08/2026
The first known use of 'nine-to-five' as an adjective was in 1927. The first known use of 'nine-to-five' as a noun was in 1975.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Today we walked along the coast to a viewpoint where you can see Mont St Michel. You can *almost* recreate this painting by Louis Valtat
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Some great graffiti at Abbaye Hambye in Normandy. I liked this little skull
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Playing Scrabble on a French board. The letter values are different, which obviously reflects their usage, but it makes scoring interesting if you're playing in English
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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Worth reposting for the am crowd, especially for its pragmatic advice on how to support yourself or a colleague in a pile-on. So, essential reading for (among others) academic staff, deans, PVCs and VCs to have on hand.
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TheBossRoss 🧶 @thebossross.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This must be the third video of wonderful voices singing global scales I have seen, and each is mesmerising and has taught me things I didn't know. Such as: That these scales exist and how they, the bare backbone of tunes, reflect and unlock whole world regions' music. This is amazing.
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Brian Groom @groomb.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Secondhand book sales are booming. Is it because of AI?
Booksellers are reporting mysterious bulk orders. It's thought the books are being used to train AI - and ending up pulped.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The Wedding Present were terrific at the Roadmender last night. Mostly played favourites from the 80s and 90s, which were taken in new directions by Rachael Wood on lead guitar. They still don't do encores
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The game's gone
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
Maybe we should stop calling it a "heatwave". Extreme heat for several months is not a wave or even 5 in quick succession www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
bbc.co.uk
Brief relief ahead of fifth heatwave
While Monday won't be quite as hot as the weekend, temperatures will ramp up ahead of the fifth widespread heatwave of the year.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
A grand venue for my talk this afternoon! Doing a talk on shoes at the York Georgian Festival
York Mansion House
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
Watching Northants v Somerset. Glad to get a seat in the shade
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Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
It’s the 88th anniversary today of this immensely enjoyable headline 🧵
12 boys rout fascists
Twelve boys, some of them less than 10 years old, went to Weymouth beach and barracked Mr Robert Saunders, a Fascist speaker.
He ignored them, so they went away and returned with toffee tins half filled with stones.
Using the tins as rattles, they made so much noise that Mr Arthur England, a 63-year-old Weymouth magistrate and superintendent of the beach, approached to stop them.
A crowd of holiday-makers, sympathising with the children, booed Mr England and a sock filled with sand caught him behind the ear.
In the sand battle that followed, the Fascists were pelted off the beach.
About 5,000 people followed them to their car, overturned the trailer attached it, and filled the loud speaker equipment with sand.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The Guardian sounding like grampa from the Simpsons
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Prof Rachel Oliver @profrachelgan.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
From within the Cambridge ecosystem, I can state definitively that I have never seen any Cambridge professor receive anything like the amount of scrutiny that has fallen on Jason Arday. That is true even of a very small number of people whose behaviour I believe truly merits serious scrutiny.
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Matthew McCormack @historymatt.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
I like how the volume on BBC Sounds goes up to eleven. "Well, it's one louder isn't it? It's not ten."
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Dr Adam James Smith @elementaladam.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Come and see Professor Matthew McCormack at the York Georgian Festival next week! SHOES & THE GEORGIAN MAN Monday 10th August 1.30pm, York Mansion House Book tickets: www.mansionhouseyork.com/york-georgia... @historymatt.bsky.social #18C #18thC @bsecs.bsky.social
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Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 31/07/2026
conspiracy theorists: Fifa is trying to help Argentina win the World Cup! Fifa: how about we organise the next tournament without Europe?
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