Sign in

Robert Piggott

@rpiggott.bsky.social
677 followers 1.4K following 14 posts

Historian. Researching a disparate mix of voluntary action, medical, religious, and media histories in modern Britain.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
ICYMI Shirley's talk is now online 🗃️ youtu.be/WhIZcMDWpP0
youtu.be
Scottish Charities and the State 1980 to 2010: reflections from a Trustees’ lens - Shirley Otto
YouTube video by Voluntary Action History Society
031
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Not to be missed!
030
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Oxford Centre for the History of Childhood @histchildoxford.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Reminder - not long to register for our colloquium on Charity, Humanitarianism and Childhood - 22nd June 2026 in person and online; please share
Programme for History of Childhood workshop; Oxford, 22nd June 2026
Register to attend in person, Oxford, UK: https://tinyurl.com/3snzem8x
Register to attend online: https://tinyurl.com/2x2cwnsw
9.15 Welcome – Siân Pooley (University of Oxford)
9.30-11.30 Children as humanitarians– Chair: Siân Pooley (University of Oxford)
• Layla Koch (University of Heidelberg): Dear Samuel, Dear Children: Interdependent Ideas of Charity and Childhood in the Early U.S.
Missionary Movement, 1830-40
• Fiona Maxwell (North Central College):“The Faithful Band of Young Folks”: Children as Charitable Actors in Chicago Settlement Work, 1890–
1960
• Verónica Díaz-Cerda (University of Warwick): Beyond Solidarity: Children’s Memories of Communities of Care in the Chilean Exile in Britain
• Elizabeth Wehbe (Rutgers University-Camden): Childhood, Humanitarianism, and the Home in Asylum-Seeking Families
11.30-11.45 Tea & Coffee
11.45-12.30 Keynote Paper – Chair: Charlotte Canizo (University of Oxford)
Rebecca Clifford (Durham University): Humanitarianism and the making of child Holocaust survivors: the case of the Lingfield children
12.30-1.15 Lunch
1.15-2.45 Humanitarianism and war – Chair: Susannah Wright (Oxford Brookes University)
• Dror Sharon (Tel Aviv University): A Lever and a Place to Stand: Humanitarian Child Evacuation as Political Protest in late 1930s Britain
• Camille Jaccard (University of Lausanne): Humanitarian Frameworks and the Making of Post-War Child Psychiatry: Transnational Training for
the Care of War-Affected Children (1944–1950)
• Lukas Schretter (Ludwig Boltzmann Institute): “Occupation Children”, Charity, and the Struggle for Responsibility: Humanitarian Efforts for
Children of British Soldiers in Post-World War II Austria and Germany
2.45-3.00 Tea & Coffee
3.00-4.30 Colonial and postcolonial humanitarianism– Chair: Joseph Leidy (University of Oxford)
• Anaïs Faurt (Chestnut Hill College): Child protection, private charity, and colonial humanitarianism at the end of …
212
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Our next talk is in less than a week! 🗃️ Raphael Allerton, Rebecca O’Connell, & Helen Abnett will be talking about the historical and contemporary politics of providing food in hospitals. Monday 1 June 2026. 6pm. Online Via Zoom As ever it's free. Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
011
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Our next seminar is next week! 🗃️ Prof. Cait Beaumont (London South Bank University) will discuss Women’s Grassroots Activism in England and Ireland, from 1918 onwards. 18 May 2026. 6pm. Online via Zoom. As ever it's free & all welcome. Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
0105
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Raphael Samuel History Centre @rshc.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
A few places remain! Join us for Charity After Empire: British Humanitarianism, Decolonisation and Development 24th March, QMUL, London E1 Book here eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-charity-after-empire-tickets-1981162909594 @bbkhistorical.bsky.social @qmul.bsky.social @qmcbs.bsky.social
058
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Obligatory "I wrote this" skeet: 'It’s Green Gym, but not as we know it' in the next issue of Medical Humanities mh.bmj.com/content/earl... It looks at the historical roots (ho ho) of gardening on prescription and adds a very tiny contribution to the history of tuberculosis treatment in England.
246
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Our next seminar is in less than two weeks! 🗃️ Aoife O’Leary McNeice (University of Galway/Ollscoil na Gaillimhe) will be presenting their research on the history of volunteering and the River Lee Hydro Electric Scheme 23 March, 6pm online via Zoom Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
A picture of Aoife O’Leary McNeice seated by a window in front of a seascape.
052
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 02/03/2026
Our next seminar is next week! 🗃️ Peter Wood (Birkbeck College) will be discussing his research on activism in support for homeless people in 1970s London. 9 March, 6pm. Online via Zoom. Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... As ever, it's free - all welcome 🙂
043
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Huddersfield Local History Society @huddersfieldhistory.org.uk · 06/02/2026
OUR NEXT TALK - in person. Monday 23 Feb at the University of Huddersfield, Oastler building. All welcome Full details Here: tinyurl.com/4a2khbtz
024
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
🗃️Our next seminar is in 12 days time! Wendy Wiertz (Utrecht University) will be sharing her research on Belgian War Lace and tracking its change from luxury item to humanitarian handicraft. 23 February, 6pm Online via Zoom. Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... As ever, it's free...
021
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
🗃️Our next seminar is next week! Delzar Sadiq (Salahaddin University in Erbil) will be talking about his use of Geographic Information Systems to reconstruct forgotten volunteer networks in 19th-century London. 6pm, Monday 9 February, Online via Zoom Sign up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
042
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
🗃️ The video for last night's seminar is now online youtu.be/_TbdujOX2Kc
youtu.be
Charitable giving in Victorian Britain: Lord Overstone’s philanthropy. 1843-1883 - Sarah Flew
YouTube video by Voluntary Action History Society
054
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
🗃️Tonight! There's still time to sign-up - www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
011
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Huddersfield Local History Society @huddersfieldhistory.org.uk · 20/01/2026
Our first talk of the season, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN'S THRICE CHAMPIONS: 100 YEARS ON revisits the glory years of Huddersfield Town FC in the 1920s. Monday 26 January, Oastler building, Huddersfield University, 7.30pm. All welcome - more details here: www.huddersfieldhistory.org.uk/event/hudder...
huddersfieldhistory.org.uk
Huddersfield Town’s Thrice Champions: 100 Years On – Huddersfield Local History Society
A presentation by local historian James Chisem.
073
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Looking forward to this!
000
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 24/11/2025
It's publication day! My new article in Northern History builds on work by @millieqed.bsky.social to produce a study of the League of Hospital Friends in Halifax mostly using local newspapers. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
A League of Their Own: Halifax Hospital League of Friends
This article develops academic literature on the history of the Hospital League of Friends, using the Halifax League as a case study. The League of Friends of the Halifax Hospitals was one of the f...
194
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
📣Our next seminar is less than two weeks away! 🗃️ Penny Wilson will be discussing 'Charity trusteeship today'. 1 December, 6pm-7.30pm Online via Zoom As ever it's online and free, so why not sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
021
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
🗃️Two weeks to go until our next seminar! Marty Sulek (LCC International University) will discuss: Humanities and normative theory scholarship in philanthropic studies, as viewed through a Kuhnian philosophical lens 17 Nov - 6 to 7.30pm Online Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
021
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
🗃️ICYMI! The recording of last night's seminar is now available on YouTube: Ruth Hansen, University of Wisconsin 'Managing Mission and Uncertainty in the US Civil Rights Era: A Historical Case Study of Gary, Indiana's Neighborhood House' youtu.be/OM6cblHhrX8?...
youtu.be
Managing Mission and Uncertainty in the US Civil Rights Era
YouTube video by Voluntary Action History Society
022
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
Time flies! Our next seminar is in 1 week 🗃️ Ruth Hansen (University of Wisconsin) Managing Mission and Uncertainty in the US Civil Rights Era Monday 20 October, 6pm till 7.30pm Online Via Zoom As ever its free. Sign -up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
A slightly grainy picture of the speaker, Ruth Hansen.
031
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Colm Murphy @colmpm.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
*Calling PhD students of modern British and imperial history in London* The @ihrbritainseminar.bsky.social's first session this Thursday (9 Oct.) is dedicated to PhDs, at any stage, for elevator pitches and meet-and-greet. Do come along! Details in the link. www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
history.ac.uk
New PhD Student Session
For the first session of term we will be hosting a meet and greet at the IHR for all PhD students in modern British and imperial history.
02533
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Aaaaand we are BACK! Our next seminar is in 3 weeks time: Ruth Hansen (University of Wisconsin) Monday 20 October, 6pm till 7.30pm Online Via Zoom Managing Mission and Uncertainty in the US Civil Rights Era As ever its free. Sign -up here: www.history.ac.uk/news-events/...
A picture of the speaker, Ruth Hansen.
011
Reposted by Robert Piggott
History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 28/05/2025
📣 Call for participants 📣 Have you ever used any History Workshop Journal articles in your teaching practice? We’d love to hear from you for the 100th issue of HWJ! Please let us know by sending an email or feel free to DM.
Green and red poster with History Workshop Journal printed in the corner, black and white illustrations in the corner, and short text under the title ‘Can you help us?’ requesting participation.
33846
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick @mrcwarwick.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Yorkshire Miners online! 74 editions from 1977-1983 - read the NUM Yorkshire Area newspaper in full through our online catalogue at mrc-describe.epexio.com/records/YMA/... Possibly the only publication to feature both Arthur Scargill and Dr Who (Tom Baker era)
Front page of 'Yorkshire Miner', no.25, April 1979, on the upcoming general election. It includes the headline 'Keep them out' and a cartoon which shows men marching under the banner of the Jarrow Crusade, with Margaret Thatcher wielding an eraser, changing the caption 'At a stroke - 1980s' to 'At a stroke - 1930s'.Front page of the 'Yorkshire Miner', special edition from March 1983 produced as part of the campaign against pit closures. It includes the headlines 'Stop the rot! Join the fight!' and 'Vote 'Yes' for jobs', with a photo of South Wales miners lobbying the Yorkshire NUM Area Council for support.Front page of the 'Yorkshire Miner', no.20, November 1978, published to mark the Bentley colliery disaster, in which 7 men died and a further 19 were seriously injured. It includes the headlines 'Yorkshire mourns' and 'Bentley', with a photo of people in grief after the disaster.Front page of 'Yorkshire Miner', no.6, July / August 1977. It includes the headline 'Incentive to dig and let die', about fatalities amongst contract workers, and a photograph of Tom Baker (in full Dr Who gear) with the Yorkshire Coal Queen.
04622
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Social Policy Association @socialpolicyuk.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
🚨Call for papers on voluntary action history. 🚨 The Voluntary Action History Society 8th holds its 8th International Conference at the University of Liverpool, 2-4 July 2025. Abstract deadline 15 March 2025. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ www.vahs.org.uk/events/confe...
vahs.org.uk
Conferences
CALL FOR PAPERS Voluntary Action History Society’s 8TH International Conference: ‘New Ways of Doing Voluntary Action History? University of Liverpool, UK, 2-4 July 2025 The Voluntary Action History…
036
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
Our next seminar is in two weeks! 🗃️ Alex Murdock (London South Bank University), Liz Thackray (u3a) will be sharing their research on the history of the University of the 3rd Age Monday 3rd March, 6pm Online, via Zoom As ever it's free to attend. Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/u3a-y...
041
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 20/01/2025
Our next seminar is two weeks away! 🗃️ @georgesevers.bsky.social (Geneva Graduate Institute) will share his research on voluntary action, paid work and the constellation of HIV/AIDS activism in England. 3 February 2025, 6pm Online via Zoom Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/where...
A picture of George Severs
095
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 25/11/2024
🚨Our next seminar is just a week away! 🗃️ 👉Ann Hindley will be talking about the history of community centres! ⏲️Online! Monday, 2 December, 6pm to 7.30pm 🆓Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/bingo...
A picture of the speaker, Ann Hindley
054
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 19/11/2024
Call for Papers! The Voluntary Action History Society is returning to Liverpool for our 8th international conference in July next year 🗃️ Papers on ways of doing voluntary action history are particularly welcomed! More information can be found on our website: www.vahs.org.uk/events/confe...
vahs.org.uk
Conferences
CALL FOR PAPERS Voluntary Action History Society’s 8TH International Conference: ‘New Ways of Doing Voluntary Action History? University of Liverpool, UK, 2-4 July 2025 The Voluntary Action History…
0116
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Our next seminar is tonight! There's still time to sign-up 🗃️ 👉Michael Romyn (Queen Mary University of London) will be speaking about Women’s Space and Community Action in the Neoliberal City. ⏲️6pm to 7.30pm. 🆓As ever it's free! 👉 www.history.ac.uk/events/women...
134
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 13/11/2024
ICYMI!🗃️
011
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Society for the Study of Labour History @sslh.bsky.social · 07/11/2024
🗃️ #LabourHistory Our starter pack includes historians, archivists, librarians and writers working on labour history. Let us know if we’ve missed anyone go.bsky.app/CUqdx9a
186638
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 06/11/2024
Just under two weeks to go till our next seminar! 🗃️ 👉Michael Romyn (Queen Mary University of London) will be speaking about Women’s Space and Community Action in the Neoliberal City. ⏲️18 November, 6pm to 7.30pm. 🆓As ever it's free! 👉Sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/women...
043
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 04/11/2024
⏰This is tonight! 👉Don't forget to sign-up: www.history.ac.uk/events/commu... 🗃️
A black and white photograph of a man assisting a woman in some carpentry in a building that is under construction.
135
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 29/10/2024
Our next seminar is next week! #skyhistorians 🗃️ Dr Holly Smith will be sharing her work on 'Community Architecture in Post-War Britain'. 4 November, 6pm (in-person at the IHR and online via zoom) Sign-up here: history.ac.uk/events/commu...
Housing activists in London - Bartlett students led a squatting campaign to save Tolmers Square c.1970Dr Holly Smith
012
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 14/10/2024
🗃️
010
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · 23/09/2024
PhD studentship in History at the University of Hertfordshire. Do share among anyone who might be interested. www.herts.ac.uk/research/res...
herts.ac.uk
PhD Studentship in History
The History group at the University of Hertfordshire invites applications for a fully funded, 3-year PhD studentship. In principle, proposals are welcome on any topic in history. Potential applicants...
02140
Reposted by Robert Piggott
History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 17/09/2024
What is digital citizen history and how can we engage with it? Hannah Barker and Stefan Ramsden discuss their ongoing project, our Heritage, Our Stories.
historyworkshop.org.uk
Our Histories, Our Stories: Valuing and Accessing UK Digital Citizen History
What is digital citizen history and how can we engage with it? Hannah Barker and Stefan Ramsden discuss their ongoing project, 'Our Histories, Our Stories'.
12013
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Justine Pick @justinepick.bsky.social · 18/03/2024
📣CFPs Tuberculosis: The White Death as a Social Disease 🌎 Alghero, Italy 🗓️ 26-28 September 2024 Deadline for submissions 30 April 2024 @sshmedicine.bsky.social #skystorians #histmed
iussp.org
International Union for the Scientific Study of Population
024
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 26/01/2024
Excellent play! Highly recommended.
030
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Voluntary Action History Society @vahs.bsky.social · 18/12/2023
Stuck for talks to go to in the new year? Our seminar series begins again in January with the English National Opera's Marina Jones presenting her paper: 'I want to die in the auditorium' 8 January, 6pm online via Zoom Register for free here: history.ac.uk/events/i-wan...
051
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 04/12/2023
Tonight! There's still time to sign up 🙂
020
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 27/11/2023
One week to go! Sign up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/recor...
020
Robert Piggott @rpiggott.bsky.social · 20/11/2023
The next Voluntary Action History Society Research Seminar is in two weeks! Paul Beard will be sharing his research on record keeping cultures at Child Action Northwest. 4 December, 6pm Online via Zoom. As ever it's free - sign-up here: www.history.ac.uk/events/recor...
050
Reposted by Robert Piggott
Rob Ellis @rehistories.bsky.social · 10/11/2023
Draft programme for this ready to go. Should be a good few days.
043