will pooley
@willpooley.bsky.social
historian of witchcrafts, folklore, France 18-20th c
ass. ed. French History
ed. Cambridge Elements in Magic
also #CreativeHistories
that’s an actual photo of me
ass. ed. French History
ed. Cambridge Elements in Magic
also #CreativeHistories
that’s an actual photo of me
Pinned
will pooley
@willpooley.bsky.social
· Nov 10
Sheet Happens
When I started working on witchcraft cases in France from 1790-1940, I knew I wanted to count them. This, of course, was my first mistake. The oldest version I have of the Excel spreadsheet I built…
williamgpooley.wordpress.com
My reintroduction: historian of french magic, folklore, witchcraft, tarot. I blog about all that, as well as writing, creative historical methods, quantification and research process.
A surprising number of you sickos can’t get enough spreadsheet chat🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2024/05/22/s...
A surprising number of you sickos can’t get enough spreadsheet chat🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2024/05/22/s...
december is a good time to remind that, as i like to say, why stop at panettone when we could be thinking panettwenty?
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 PM
december is a good time to remind that, as i like to say, why stop at panettone when we could be thinking panettwenty?
Reposted by will pooley
The enchantment of modern housing estates through street names. That's what I'm into at the moment. Here's some Arthurian examples from 3 different towns.
December 2, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The enchantment of modern housing estates through street names. That's what I'm into at the moment. Here's some Arthurian examples from 3 different towns.
Reposted by will pooley
As I have noted before, almost half of everyone ever born died in childhood. There are people alive today who were already alive when this stopped being true for everyone born in the future.
All of pre-20th-century history is an emotional foreign country, for this reason alone.
All of pre-20th-century history is an emotional foreign country, for this reason alone.
Currently dorking out over this graph about child mortality with my brother. Just mind boggling to take in.
December 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
As I have noted before, almost half of everyone ever born died in childhood. There are people alive today who were already alive when this stopped being true for everyone born in the future.
All of pre-20th-century history is an emotional foreign country, for this reason alone.
All of pre-20th-century history is an emotional foreign country, for this reason alone.
Reposted by will pooley
www.iceho.org/prize First Verena Winiwarter Prize for global environmental history will be awarded in 2027 - articles published between 2024 and 2026 to be considered! Share widely @iceho.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social @eseh.bsky.social @esehnextgate.bsky.social @austhistassoc.bsky.social
Prize — ICEHO
www.iceho.org
December 2, 2025 at 6:46 PM
www.iceho.org/prize First Verena Winiwarter Prize for global environmental history will be awarded in 2027 - articles published between 2024 and 2026 to be considered! Share widely @iceho.bsky.social @nichecanada.bsky.social @eseh.bsky.social @esehnextgate.bsky.social @austhistassoc.bsky.social
Reposted by will pooley
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The real question is not "Why is Bluesky so left-coded," the real question is "Why can't the right exist in a social media environment without algorithmic assistance, where people can ignore them"
Reposted by will pooley
based on how often the naughty teens of major cities throw the rentable scooters directly into the river i've formed a theory that the many iron age swords and cauldrons found in lakes around europe that we've previously assumed were ceremonial and sacrificial in nature were in fact thrown by teens
August 17, 2024 at 4:38 PM
based on how often the naughty teens of major cities throw the rentable scooters directly into the river i've formed a theory that the many iron age swords and cauldrons found in lakes around europe that we've previously assumed were ceremonial and sacrificial in nature were in fact thrown by teens
Reposted by will pooley
Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.
The HE Ballot failed, now what?
If you’re reading this it is because today the UCU’s 2025 national ballot over pay and conditions in universities has failed. The last time…
hitchcockian.medium.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Unfortunately the HE 2025 ballot failed at 39% turnout. I have written about why and about what desperately needs to change in UCU's national structures off the back of this result. Some HEC members need to chi up and understand their role in all this, and how disconnected they are from members.
Reposted by will pooley
Inspirational quotes drawn from appropriate cultural sources like Squid Game, e.g. “You can’t grow without failure”, or Radar Men from the Moon (1952) "I have to report that our scheme for obtaining money was a failure, Your Excellency. Can you suggest some plan that might be more successful?" etc
December 2, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Inspirational quotes drawn from appropriate cultural sources like Squid Game, e.g. “You can’t grow without failure”, or Radar Men from the Moon (1952) "I have to report that our scheme for obtaining money was a failure, Your Excellency. Can you suggest some plan that might be more successful?" etc
Reposted by will pooley
Reposted by will pooley
I want one of those rock band tour t-shirts with the full set of dates on the back:
AH/RC
‘We Will Destroy You’
Support:
British Academy
Leverhulme Trust
ERC
HERA
2007: Rejected
2008: Revise and Resubmit
2009: Rejected
etc.
AH/RC
‘We Will Destroy You’
Support:
British Academy
Leverhulme Trust
ERC
HERA
2007: Rejected
2008: Revise and Resubmit
2009: Rejected
etc.
December 2, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I want one of those rock band tour t-shirts with the full set of dates on the back:
AH/RC
‘We Will Destroy You’
Support:
British Academy
Leverhulme Trust
ERC
HERA
2007: Rejected
2008: Revise and Resubmit
2009: Rejected
etc.
AH/RC
‘We Will Destroy You’
Support:
British Academy
Leverhulme Trust
ERC
HERA
2007: Rejected
2008: Revise and Resubmit
2009: Rejected
etc.
Reposted by will pooley
it says "totes a loser, ha ha" in a fun font
December 2, 2025 at 9:27 AM
it says "totes a loser, ha ha" in a fun font
Reposted by will pooley
'Rejected when it was still the AHRB' vintage fit
all academic applications should have consolation prizes.
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
December 2, 2025 at 9:02 AM
'Rejected when it was still the AHRB' vintage fit
Reposted by will pooley
“The funders did not recognise my genius!” on one side and “But they will be sorry!!!” on the other. Picture of Victor von Doom shaking his fist optional.
December 2, 2025 at 9:05 AM
“The funders did not recognise my genius!” on one side and “But they will be sorry!!!” on the other. Picture of Victor von Doom shaking his fist optional.
Reposted by will pooley
Little pins with quotes from the reports "it's a fundable project but"
December 2, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Little pins with quotes from the reports "it's a fundable project but"
Reposted by will pooley
"Mid-Career Fellowship Application Finisher 2024"
December 2, 2025 at 8:35 AM
"Mid-Career Fellowship Application Finisher 2024"
Reposted by will pooley
"I applied for a position at X University but all I got was this lousy t-shirt, a long train journey, and a better understanding that when they said religion and science in the advert, they really meant public theology"
December 2, 2025 at 8:37 AM
"I applied for a position at X University but all I got was this lousy t-shirt, a long train journey, and a better understanding that when they said religion and science in the advert, they really meant public theology"
Reposted by will pooley
"I flew to Switzerland for an SNF interview and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
December 2, 2025 at 8:35 AM
"I flew to Switzerland for an SNF interview and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
all academic applications should have consolation prizes.
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
December 2, 2025 at 8:33 AM
all academic applications should have consolation prizes.
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
doesn’t have to be much, like a mug that says “i applied for leverhulme 2020”
or a t-shirt “UKRI reject 2023”
Reposted by will pooley
i’m setting you free. i’m releasing you from the discourse
December 2, 2025 at 1:39 AM
i’m setting you free. i’m releasing you from the discourse
“It goes in fits and starts, but I’m still here, publishing posts infrequently, to no particular schedule.”
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/t... 🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/t... 🗃️
December 2, 2025 at 7:26 AM
“It goes in fits and starts, but I’m still here, publishing posts infrequently, to no particular schedule.”
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/t... 🗃️
williamgpooley.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/t... 🗃️
babe u aren’t just the real deal, you’re the NEW DEAL
thinking about this Brautigan short again
December 2, 2025 at 5:53 AM
babe u aren’t just the real deal, you’re the NEW DEAL
Reposted by will pooley
I feel this SO MUCH. Being a History professor has allowed me to live amid the little guys and the details, even as I write about structures and institutions. The latter can’t be fathomed without the former
to diminish the humanities is to miss out on a lot of little guys. that’s no way to live.
Netsuke of a Rat Grasping a Soybean Pod, 19th century Japan
December 2, 2025 at 5:06 AM
I feel this SO MUCH. Being a History professor has allowed me to live amid the little guys and the details, even as I write about structures and institutions. The latter can’t be fathomed without the former
when we got our cats from the rescue home they promised us that they had treated them for parasites, almost comprehensively
buy one, get one flea
buy one, get one flea
December 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
when we got our cats from the rescue home they promised us that they had treated them for parasites, almost comprehensively
buy one, get one flea
buy one, get one flea
stand by this too tbqh, written even before the mod meltdown on here
December 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
stand by this too tbqh, written even before the mod meltdown on here
December 1, 2025 at 5:25 PM