Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 3h

Exploring Sustainability in Archival Conservation

Postgraduate student Hollie-Sophia Stoner conducted her student placement at the Design Archives, where she explored how archives care for the past and the present - read her reflections on our site here
blogs.brighton.ac.uk/brightondesi...

image of unsorted photographs waiting to be repackaged

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 5h

New in Transactions: 'Russian History without Russia: Archive Encounters in an Era of Restricted Access', by Jamie Bryson bit.ly/3IUFMr5

What's the experience of an independent early career historian of Russia today? What are the challenges since 2022 of conducting research at distance? 1/2

Opening page of Russian History without Russia: Archive Encounters in an Era of Restricted Access by Jamie Bryson. Full abstract: 'This comment is the personal reflection of an early career historian on the challenges of working on Russian history during a time of geopolitical change and declining access. As libraries and archives in the Russian Federation become increasingly difficult to use following the invasion of Ukraine, early-career and younger historians are being forced to adopt remote or indirect methods of research due to formal and informal barriers. I reflect on some of the ethical, practical and epistemological dilemmas of conducting historical investigations at a distance, drawing chiefly on my own experiences working on the tsarist secret police during the First World War. I argue that this is not a return to Cold War constraints, but a new era that demands fresh strategies and a redefinition of expertise.'

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 5h

Now open: call for the Royal Historical Society's First Book and Early Career Article Prizes, 2026.

Eligible titles, published in 2025, may be submitted by the author before the closing date of 15 December. Further details and how to apply: bit.ly/3KnR47v

#Skystorians

Royal Historical Society Book and Article Prizes, 2026: submissions now invited - RHS

The Royal Historical Society invites applications for its First Book Prize, 2026 and Early Career Article Prize, 2026. The call for submissions opens on Monday 29 September 2025 and runs to Monday 15 ...

bit.ly

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Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 3h

For reasons, it would be v. helpful to have information from a broad range of academic and non-academic (incl. GLAM) users of the BBC Written Archives OTHER THAN historians, briefly on: 1) What you've used it for and 2) How the proposed changes would impact on your research.

Reposts welcomed.

Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to...

Critics say new limit to trove of information sounds knell for independent research

observer.co.uk

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Bryony Hooper @bryonyhooper.bsky.social · 1d

Archives in the news!

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

Great coverage on the project Leontine and @camdiglib.bsky.social

#archives #digipres

A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks

From lectures by Stephen Hawking to the letters of British politician Neil Kinnock – it's a race against time to save the historical treasures locked away on old floppy disks.

www.bbc.com

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 1d

#OTD in 1984 The Pastels played the Basement Club at Brighton College of Art, which is now the Uni of Brighton.
#DYK that our offices are located where the Basement Club was? Read more about the history of the art school here blogs.brighton.ac.uk/artsbrighton...

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 5d

For this month's @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social theme #EYAMonsters, these illustrations by Dorrit Dekk for a mural for the Trust Houses Forte Edinburgh, now known as the Balmoral Hotel

Dorrit Dekk Archive
DDK/4

colourful illustrations of mythological or medieval creatures like a sphinx with wings, beaked armadillo, a winged goat, a dragon, and so on

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Reposted by University of Brighton Design Archives

New Professionals @aranewprofs.bsky.social · 7d

Back in July, we were delighted to host @sharonmcmeekin.bsky.social of @preservetogether.bluesky.social sharing experience from their nearly 20 years in #digitalpreservation for #archives. Check out our write-up - and resource list - here:

19.5 years in Digital Preservation

On Wednesday 23rd July, the ARA Section for New Professionals were joined by Sharon McMeekin to discuss her experiences and lessons learned from two decades in Digital Preservation – or 19 ½ years …

aranewprofessionals.wordpress.com

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Internet Archive @archive.org · 6d

This week, join Sir Tim Berners-Lee & Brewster Kahle for a conversation on the past, present & future of the Web.

📅 Thurs Oct 9, 7:30 PM PT
🎟️ In-person
➡️ blog.archive.org/event/buildi...

Headshots of Sir Tim Berners-Lee and Brewster Kahle.

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Lambeth Palace Library @lampallib.bsky.social · 6d

🎓Join us for our Careers Open Day - a chance to explore exciting roles, meet the team and discover how to enter these professions.

📅What's on📅
👤Chat with staff!
📚Book a Library tour!
🕰Enjoy our collections!
🤝Meet professional bodies and learn about the wider sector!
🎶Explore our current exhibition

Picture of the reading room with yellow text over the top, reading Lambeth Palace Library Career Open Day, for ages 16-18 plus undergrads and career changers, 30th October opening times 10am-4pm, 15 Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 7JT

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Design History Society @sodesignhistory.bsky.social · 6d

We cordially invite contributions to the Design History Society Annual Conference 2026 – Design in an Age of Uncertainty ⚡️

For submission guidelines and more details: buff.ly/vGoiQth

#designuncertain #dhsconference2026

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 7d

Brilliant! Thanks so very much!

University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 7d

Brilliant, thank you!

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 8d

When was that, do you know? We like to keep track of the various bands that played the Basement Club since our offices are where the Basement Club was. Thanks!

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 8d

For a glimpse into university life in the late 19th century, this complaint letter from May 26 1893 from the Brighton School of Art archive. Needless to say campus life in Brighton has come a long way since then!

A typed letter that reads, 'May 26 1893, Dear Sir, I have if you will remember complained more than once of the great nuisance caused by the childrens playing on the school steps, & throwing rubbish, dead cats & fish etc. down the front area: the caretaker has just called my attention again to the state of the area; there are at present six heads of mack[erel] with a quantity of other fish refuse on the ground together with a rotten herring on one of the window panes, & a quantity of entrails hanging from the brickwork of the other win[dow]. Cannot this state of things, constantly re curring be put an end to? or would it be advisable [to] write to the Watch Committee about the same. Yours faithfully

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Society for the Study of Labour History @sslh.bsky.social · 14d

Historians, archivists, librarians and historians working in the field of labour history. A starter pack to get you going…
go.bsky.app/CUqdx9a

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British Records Association @britrecs.bsky.social · 8d

🎟️ Book your ticket for our conference 'Safeguarding Future History: Meeting the Challenge of Records at Risk' on November 4th in London.
Join us for insights from academics, funders, and representatives from The National Archives and British Council.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/safeguardi...

Safeguarding Future History: Meeting the Challenge of Records at Risk

Join the BRA as we examine past, present and future risk to UK archives and discuss preservation strategies for the 21st century

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 13d

Design, October 1955
Symbol for The Design Centre by Hans Schleger
@designcouncil.bsky.social archive

blue journal cover with the word Design written at the top in black, with a large white diamond in the middle. Inside the white diamond is an arrow pointing right made out of black lines, and inside that is the shape of an eye, in red.

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Reposted by University of Brighton Design Archives

History Workshop @historyworkshop.org.uk · 14d

How has paperwork served as a tool of empowerment for people who often find power elusive?

In our latest podcast, a group of historians, archivists, and activists met at the Raphael Samuel History Centre (@rshc.bsky.social) to discuss the hidden history of paperwork 🗃️🎙️

Changing The Record

How has paperwork served over time as a radical tool for empowerment and change?

www.historyworkshop.org.uk

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Digital Scholarship @ British Library @bldigischol.bsky.social · 15d

A semi-regular reminder that all our photos on Flickr Commons are public domain - you don't need to ask us to use them in any way you can imagine! Though we do love hearing about how you've used them, so you can let us know if you want
https://www.flickr.com/photos/britishlibrary/

British Library

Explore British Library’s 1,073,564 photos on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

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Feminist City @feministcity.bsky.social · 14d

Today's the day! Join us on Zoom at 3pm: peoplespapers.eventbrite.co.uk
@cperguom.bsky.social @wcmlibrary.bsky.social @rememberlop.bsky.social @writerlytone.bsky.social

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Royal Historical Society @royalhistsoc.org · 15d

'History and Archives in Practice, 2026': call for participation now open bit.ly/4pITZrs

HAP26 takes place @unisheffieldlib.bsky.social
on the theme of 'Shaping Societies, Improving Lives: The Impact of Archives & Historical Research'. With @ihr.bsky.social & @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy

Image of historical map with text: Call for papers: History and Archives in Practice, 16 April 2026, University of Sheffield. In partnership with the University of Sheffield Library.

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University of Brighton Design Archives @designarchives.bsky.social · 18d

A look a some of the material taken out for a special visit from the attendees of the Dress and Textiles Specialists (DATS) Conference 2025 including material from the FHK Henrion, Alison Settle, Dorrit Dekk, HA Rothholz, Vokins, and @designcouncil.bsky.social archives

metal mid-century sewing machine designed by FHK Henrion

Table with archival material laid out including photo albums, advertisements, books, draft artwork, textiles, newspaper clippings, photographs and magazines

two pages of a book of textile samples. Each swatch is a rectangle and has an ID number of some sort printed or stamped next to it. On the left-hand page are black, green, red and yellow plaid fabric swatches, on the right are multicoloured striped swatches

A selection of Council of Industrial Design / Design Council award winning fabrics from 1958 and 1960 including (top to bottom) 'Adam' furnishing fabric designed by Keith Vaughn which is olive green, black and white, a cream lace curtain, and 4 colourways - black, yellow, blue and pink - of the print Le Bosquet designed by Shirley Craven

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History & Policy @historyandpolicy.bsky.social · 19d

We have published a new Policy Paper by @jmoss88.bsky.social & @emilyrobinson.bsky.social. They argue that Mass Observation @massobsarchive.bsky.social should be revived with state funding to help us understand the reasons behind contemporary voter apathy. historyandpolicy.org/policy-paper...

j.mo

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Mass Observation Archive @massobsarchive.bsky.social · 19d

We've been having a look through some of the photographs from when the papers from Mass Observation arrived at @sussex.ac.uk! We won't lie, it makes very glad we're working with the materials now that they're boxed up and catalogued...

A black and white photograph taken in the early 1970s. There are shelves to the left of the photo. They reach from the floor to the ceiling and are filled with stacks and stacks and stacks of paper....To the right a white man in shirt and tie (Tom Harrisson) is stood at a table looking at something.

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