Monthly Archives: January 2019

MEMS Welcomes Dr Paul Dryburgh as an Honorary Fellow

It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Dr Paul Dryburgh, Principal Record Specialist at the National Archives, as an Honorary Fellow of the Centre of Medieval and Early Modern Studies (MEMS) for the next three years. Said Dr Ryan Perry, Co-Director of MEMS:

A number of our PhD students whose research has taken them to the National Archives will already know of the advice, support and training that Dr Dryburgh has generously given to members of the MEMS community, particularly to those who have taken up placements in the National Archives. Paul has an impressive constellation of skills and interests that makes him a fantastic asset to the National Archives- and now a most welcome addition to the MEMS team. We are hoping to celebrate Paul’s official affiliation with MEMS in the near future, including having him lead a workshop for postgraduates on using the archives and documentary materials as part of research projects.

Dr Dryburgh’s online staff profile at the National Archives describes him as, ‘an archivist and historian who specialises in government and society in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. After completing his doctorate at the University of Bristol, Paul worked for a decade on academic research projects, which included the creation of a handbook for sources relating to medieval Ireland at The National Archives and an online and in-print edition of the Fine Rolls of King Henry III (1216-72).
Prior to joining The National Archives as a Medieval Record Specialist in 2014, Paul worked as an access archivist at the Borthwick Institute, University of York.
Paul’s current research interests include ecclesiastical records, medieval Ireland, and the materiality of collections, particularly seals. He is also has a keen interest in the training of training of linguistic and palaeographic skills needed to access medieval records.
Paul’s work has involved considerable engagement with digital humanities and the creation of large datasets with potential for linking data, and he is keen to explore future opportunities in this field.
Paul is Joint General Editor of the Pipe Roll Society, Honorary Secretary of the Lincoln Record Society, and President of the Mortimer History Society. He is also a member of the AHRC peer review college’.

Details of the research workshops which Dr Dryburgh will be running for postgraduate students at the University of Kent will be announced soon.

Workshop on the Lyghfield Bible

From Paris to Canterbury: the Lyghfield Bible in Context
Monday 4th March, 1.00-5.30pm, The Peter Brown Room (Darwin College, University of Kent)

MEMS invites you to a half-day workshop run in collaboration with Canterbury Cathedral to celebrate the return to the city of a gem of a manuscript, a Parisian Bible of the late thirteenth century. Its early history places it in Canterbury so it was highly appropriate that the Cathedral should purchase it, with the support of the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the Friends of the National Libraries and the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral when it came up for auction in the summer of 2018.

The workshop is organised by Drs David Rundle and Emily Guerry. It will bring together experts on the Bible in the thirteenth century and on manuscript culture who will present short papers intended to stimulate questions and discussion. The event will begin with a light lunch at 1pm, and will run until 5:30pm. It will be followed by a public lecture organised by the Cathedral and held in its precincts, given by Dr Alixe Bovey (Courtauld Institute, London), and entitled ‘Illuminating the Bible in Medieval Canterbury’. The lecture will start at 6:45pm, and will be followed by a drinks reception.

While the lecture is open to everyone, please note that workshop numbers are strictly limited and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Please register on Eventbrite as early as possible to reserve a place.

Early Modernist Research Associate opportunity

The Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies and the School of English are seeking to recruit a Research Associate for a two-year contract to work with Professor Catherine Richardson (Principal Investigator), Dr Tara Hamling at the University of Birmingham and Professor Graeme Earl at King’s London (Co-Is), on the AHRC-funded project entitled The Cultural Lives of the Middling Sort: writing and material culture 1560-1660. The project will examine the cultural lives of the literate, urban ‘middling sort’ in early modern England, analysing the broad range of written and material forms with which they were engaged as producers and consumers.

As a Research Associate you will:

•Transcribe manuscript writings in personal and urban archives, and evidence of textual engagement from probate materials.
•Assist with the project’s impact activities, including working with the project partners on the selection of material for an online exhibition and KS3 educational resource.
•Write a series of blog posts for the project’s website that reflect upon the development of your research.

To be successful in this role you will have:
•Completed a PhD in a relevant area of Early Modern Studies.
•Have Palaeographical skills in 16/17C handwriting of various kinds.
•Have experience of archival work and research interests in early modern literature or social and cultural history.

The closing date for applications is 1st March 2019, with interviews held on 12th March 2019 (interviews are expected to take place in London). For a full job description and to apply, please see the University of Kent’s recruitment website.