iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Looking forward to presenting my research on how families sought to preserve the decency of relatives who died in the workhouse at @ssnci.bsky.social ‘Intimacies in 19th C Ireland’ conference. This year marks 10 years since I studied abroad at Maynooth, so it will be great to be back on campus

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Society for the Study of Nineteenth Century Ireland @ssnci.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Check out our wonderful conference schedule and join us for 'Intimacies in Nineteenth Century Ireland'! It promises to provide exciting new perspectives on old and new themes! @l19cmanmet.bsky.social @irishunireview.bsky.social @iaphistorians.bsky.social @efacis.bsky.social

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Saw ‘The Playboy of the Western World’ at @nationaltheatre.org.uk. The play did a great job depicting rural Irish folk traditions. My research examines keening and wakes, so it was amazing to see keening onstage. Definitely recommend this play! The cast, staging, and production were brilliant

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

A great content warning for the Beaney Museum’s ‘What Remains? Canterbury’s Ancestors, Ethics, History & Science’ exhibit. I was pleased to see how the warning sign highlighted the humanity and individuality of the human remains on display. #histmed #ethics

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 13/08/2025

When on holiday in Alaska, I visited the Gold Rush #Cemetery in #Skagway. The cemetery opened in 1898 and is the resting place of prospectors and those who settled in Skagway. The headstones are a mix of original and restored monuments. I am intrigued about the history of the unknown headstones

Wooden headstones from the 1890s and early 1900s

Beautiful White Pass Mountain in Skagway, Alaska

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

In the 1870s, the Holborn guardians built the Holborn Union Infirmary in Archway/Highgate, N London solely as a hospital distinct from the main workhouse site. Across the street at Whittington Hospital, is an 1848 Smallpox & Vaccination Hospital #workhouse #histmed #londonhistory #islington

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Trinity Long Room Hub @tlrhub.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

🎧 Tune in to @nearfm.ie tomorrow (May 29th) at 6pm to hear @shelbyzimme.bsky.social exploring the reality of death, dying, and medical care in Dublin city’s largest poorhouse. Supported by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television licence fee. 🔗 nearfm.ie/trinity-talk... #TrinityTalks

Dr Shelby Zimmerman (left) and Ciarán Murray (right) standing in front of a Trinity Long Room Hub banner. Both are smiling and wearing clip-on microphones, before their recorded conversation for the Trinity Talks: Dublin’s Hidden Histories series.

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 20/05/2025

Thank you @tlrhub.bsky.social and NearFMfor inviting me to speak on medical relief and death in the post-Famine Dublin #workhouses. It was a great conversation & I enjoyed hearing about the audience’s family history. The recording will be released on 29 May #irishhistory #histmed

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Honoured to have contributed to this volume on death and institutions. My chapter examines how the priorities of post-Famine Irish workhouse administration shaped institutional mortality Thanks to @cendeathsociety.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/death-and-in...

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

Excellent exhibition, ‘Making the Rounds’ at @rcnlibraries.bsky.social in London.This exhibit explores the experience and stories of workhouse nurses in Norfolk. As artefacts tend to not survive from workhouse infirmaries, artist Connie Flynn used textiles to share these stories #workhouse #histmed

Kidney dish similar to the ones used by workhouse nurses made of felt

White sheets with labels showing the types of cases and patients the workhouse nurses tended to

A district nurse’s medical bag from the 1920s. Workhouse nurses had similar tools and medicines at their disposal

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Looking forward to returning to Dublin to speak at the UCD Centre for the History of Medicine in Ireland’s seminar series on 6 Feb. My paper will discuss the institutional options for end of life in late 19th and early 20th century Dublin. #histmed #irishhistory #workhouse @tlrhub.bsky.social

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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Trade Card of Nathaniel Longbottom, “Supplier of Skeletons in St. Thomas's Street, Southwark,” late 18th century. Longbottom would likely have had interactions with bodysnatchers (or “resurrectionists”) to help him procure skeletons for his shop. Photo: Wellcome Collection

A trade card featuring two skeletons holding hands, at the top is the skeleton of an animal. And in the middle is script advertising the services.

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Irish Humanities Alliance @irishhumanities.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

The IHA Medical & Health Humanities Working Group have compiled an impressive Research Snapshot from across the island of Ireland. This report, launched on 27 Nov at the @ria.ie, includes an overview of research in this area from 138 colleagues in Ireland. www.irishhumanities.com/assets/Uploa...

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Spotted on London’s tube today. In the 1950s and 60s, there was a mass influx of Irish immigrants in England. It is great that the Irish government is reaching out to London residents who were confined in Irish mother and baby homes. Hopefully this is one step towards justice for these women

Advert on the London tube above the Circle and Hammersmith and City tube map. The advert has a white background with green leaves and says ‘The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is now open for applications.
The Payment Scheme provides financial payments and health supports to people who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions in Ireland.
Visit gov.ie/paymentscheme, or call our helpline at +353 1 522.9992.’

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Ciaran O'Neill @ciaranon.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

My book Power and Powerlessness in Union Ireland: Life in a Palliative State (OUP, 2024) was just published online. It is ludicrously expensive, so let me explain the basic premise of the book. If interested, please encourage your local/univ library to buy a copy. academic.oup.com/book/58980 🧵

The front cover of a new book, 'Power and Powerlessness in Union Ireland: Life in a Palliative State' by Ciaran O'Neill, and published by Oxford University Press.

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Smallpox Elf is learning about anatomy & dissection at the @oldoptheatre.bsky.social. Test your diagnosis skills on the museum’s ’Disease Elves’ trail. Although smallpox had less than 25% mortality rate, vaccination reduced the risk of serious infections. It is the only globally eradicated disease

A cute Christmas elf plushie has red and yellow dots on her face and limbs to represent smallpox. She is sitting next to books on anatomy and dissection

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

On 28 November, the Anaesthesia Heritage Centre will launch Mike Jay’s ‘Psychonauts: Drugs and the Modern Mind.’ The book discusses early scientists who experimented with mind-altering substances. Would interest historians of medicine, drug history, psych. #histmed #drughistory #psychiatry #london

eventbrite.co.uk

Exploring the Mind with Psychonauts: In Conversation with Mike Jay

Join us for an intriguing evening with author Mike Jay, who will discuss his latest book, Psychonauts: Drugs and the Modern Mind.

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

I am a historian based in London and am available for freelance research work. If there are any documents you would like to consult in London archives but unable to visit, I am happy to photograph or transcribe them. Please contact me if you’re looking for a research assistant

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

Yesterday I saw ‘Small Things Like These’ in the cinema. This brilliant film examines the power the Church had over Ireland in the 1980s and how it encouraged citizens to be complacent regarding the Magdalene Laundries. It is important to remember the stories of women in these institutions.

gov.ie

National Centre for Research and Remembrance

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 07/11/2024

Always fun going out into the community with the Old Operating Theatre Museum and using museum collections to share the history of medicine #histmed #london #museum

Woman holding a late 19th century brass syringe. On the table there are 19th century nursing and surgical tools

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 30/09/2024

Last year, my dad passed away from brain cancer (glioblastoma). In his honour, I am participating in London's Halloween Walk to raise money for Brain Tumour Charity. Thank you for helping to support an excellent charity in finding a cure for brain tumours. t.co/tD1VGy0vFg

t.co

https://www.justgiving.com/page/shelby-keeling-1726764933465?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fshelby-keeling-1726764933465&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

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Cat Irving @anatomicalcat.bsky.social · 17/10/2024

London folk! One week today I’ll be at Old Operating Theatre talking about the history of dissection - with a chance to explore this amazing museum after dark, with a drink!

oldoperatingtheatre.com

The Hand that Wields the Knife: A history of dissecting the human body (Museum Late) – The Old Operating Theatre

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine provides a fascinating look into the role of medicine during the US civil war including developments in ambulances and embalming the dead. Definitely worth a visit if in Frederick, MD. #histmed #maryland #history

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 30/09/2024

t.co

https://www.justgiving.com/page/shelby-keeling-1726764933465?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fshelby-keeling-1726764933465&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

Brompton Cemetery is one of London’s Magnificent Seven garden cemeteries and is the resting place for Emmeline Pankhurst and John Snow. As a medical historian, it was great to see the grave of the doctor who determined cholera was waterborne in 1854 #histmed #london #cemetery #bromptoncemetery

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 01/04/2024

Thank you RTÈ for publishing my piece on how Trinity College Dublin acquired the skeleton of a centenarian who died in the North Dublin Union workhouse in 1889 #medicalhistory #workhouse #ethics #provenance www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2...

rte.ie

How skeleton of 106 year old Dubliner ended up in Trinity College

The use of James Conway's body for medical research in 1889 says much about the unethical historical acquisition of human remains

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 09/08/2024

Such an interesting find! These types of records tend not to survive for the Dublin workhouses. As there were no standard regulations for what happened to the corpse between death and burial, this coffin ticket offers valuable insight into this Welsh workhouse’s mortuary procedures

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Department of History, Trinity College Dublin @historytcd.bsky.social · 17/06/2024

Congratulations to Dr Shelby Zimmerman, who received her PhD on Friday, with a thesis on 'The Medicalisation of Death in a Dublin City Workhouse, 1872-1920', supervised by Dr Georgina Laragy and Dr Ciaran O'Neill.

A young white woman with long dark hair and glasses, wearing a yellow and red robe and holding a mortarboard, and grinning.

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 14/03/2024

Join us on 21 March for the next Trinity Medical Humanities hybrid seminar. Dr Aisling Shalvey will discuss the role of women in biomedical experiments during National Socialism. Register: tcd.ie/trinitylongroo… #medicalhumanities #history #bioethics @ashshalvey.bsky.social @historytcd.bsky.social

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 12/12/2023

Passed my viva!! Thank you so much to my examiners Carole Holohan and Laura Kelly and chair, Joseph Clarke, for an engaging discussion. Extremely fortunate for my supervisors Georgina Laragy and Ciaran O’Neill’s support and guidance over the past 4 years . @TLRHub @historytcd.bsky.social

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 08/11/2023

The next @TLRHub hybrid Medical Humanities seminar will be on 30 Nov. Orla Fitzpatrick(@tcddublin) will speak about medical photography in an age before photo-mechanical reproduction. Join us for what will sure to be a fascinating event: ticketpass.org/event/ELEEWA/d…

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 06/11/2023

Are you a Trinity College Dublin researcher or student working in #medicalhumanities? The Medical and Health Initiative is hosting a 1 day symposium on 'Exploring Medical and Health Humanities' in TCD on 7 March to showcase current research and brainstorm future development @historytcd.bsky.social

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 01/11/2023

Interesting tour of the Irish Wake Museum in Waterford. The museum offers an overview of Irish dying and burial rituals from the Neolithic period to today. Highlights include mourning jewellery and ritualistic artefacts. The tour guide was an engaging storyteller. #ireland #irishhistory #death

Poem on a coffin shaped plaque- Separation by W S Merwin

18th century chest to store the oil used for anointing the sick and dying

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Dr Shelby Zimmerman @shelbyzimme.bsky.social · 23/10/2023

Join us on Thursday 26 Oct from 1-2 for the first Trinity Medical and Health Humanities seminar series of the semester. In this hybrid event, Kimberly Campanello from Leeds Uni will read from her work about her experience with chronic illness. Registration info: www.tcd.ie/news_events/...

Writing Chronic Illness Just in Time. 26 Oct from 1-2

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Department of History, Trinity College Dublin @historytcd.bsky.social · 22/09/2023

'Ireland has always done death a little differently'--Georgina Laragy interviewed in the Irish Times, discussing the event she has organised www.irishtimes.com/culture/2023...

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