Matt Shaw
@matthewshaw.bsky.social
In a library. Most likely just off Queen's Lane. #PrintHistory #Time #Newspapers
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-inky-business-a-history-of-newspapers-from-the-english-civil-wars-to-the-american-civil-war-matthew-j-shaw/5911999?ean=9781789143867
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/an-inky-business-a-history-of-newspapers-from-the-english-civil-wars-to-the-american-civil-war-matthew-j-shaw/5911999?ean=9781789143867
the return of cliometrics? on.ft.com/4iy57V2
Trading firm XTX donates £26mn for maths research at UK universities
Billionaire Alex Gerko says Britain is missing out on top academic talent
on.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:39 AM
the return of cliometrics? on.ft.com/4iy57V2
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
November 27, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Your universe is a photocopy of a photocopy of a…
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
on.ft.com/4ahkNKa
Reposted by Matt Shaw
What makes historic collections difficult? And how do researchers work with “difficult” collections?
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
Call for Papers: Difficult Collections | UCL UCL Special Collections
UCL Homepage
blogs.ucl.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 6:21 PM
What makes historic collections difficult? And how do researchers work with “difficult” collections?
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
New CFP from Paper Trails here:
blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...
Deadline for proposals 31/1/2026
🗃️
Forget about the mansion tax, what about the parchment and paper tax?
November 27, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Forget about the mansion tax, what about the parchment and paper tax?
Reposted by Matt Shaw
You've got a couple of hours before the official sign-up window closes! Or just come to Bloomsbury tomorrow, it's lovely even in wintery conditions. (did I mention the excellent Sichuan food?)
THIS FRIDAY! Come and hear the fabulous @ebenbow.bsky.social about #LowCountries Merchants in and around London: Specialising in the Trade of Everyday Goods
FRI 28 Nov, 17:30, @ihr.bsky.social & on zoom (register for link): www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... #MedievalSky #EarlyModern #Skystorians
FRI 28 Nov, 17:30, @ihr.bsky.social & on zoom (register for link): www.history.ac.uk/news-events/... #MedievalSky #EarlyModern #Skystorians
November 27, 2025 at 12:05 PM
You've got a couple of hours before the official sign-up window closes! Or just come to Bloomsbury tomorrow, it's lovely even in wintery conditions. (did I mention the excellent Sichuan food?)
Reposted by Matt Shaw
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A Provincial Market in Second-Hand Books: Book Sales in Devon, 1688–1725
Abstract. Comparatively little is known about England’s early book-auction trade outside of London and the university towns, with few catalogues surviving
doi.org
November 27, 2025 at 9:31 AM
*small embarrassed voice*
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
A little plug for my article on Devon book sales c. 1700, which has gone online open access. tl;dr book auctions weren't just a London/Oxbridge thing: a flourishing second-hand book market centred on Exeter included auctions from the 1680s.
doi.org/10.1093/libr...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
What else won't matter? Evidence from an author's handwriting, watermarks, paper, parchment, mold, folds, stains, seals, signatures, or other signs of usage. Guido Fawkes' signature after having been tortured will look the same as after he recovered; Emily's Dickinson's dashes will be em-dashes
November 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
What else won't matter? Evidence from an author's handwriting, watermarks, paper, parchment, mold, folds, stains, seals, signatures, or other signs of usage. Guido Fawkes' signature after having been tortured will look the same as after he recovered; Emily's Dickinson's dashes will be em-dashes
Reposted by Matt Shaw
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
November 26, 2025 at 12:28 PM
From now on, when discussing the budget, please use “is this measure bigger than the cost to the exchequer of gen Z drinking less” as your metric for assessing whether something actually raises or costs a significant sum
Reposted by Matt Shaw
I spy a conspiracy by Big Bike
Lol congratulations to whoever briefed that the chancellor was going to axe Cycle to Work, then didn't. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, you've just done wonders for London's bike shops pre-Christmas.
If my group chats are anything to go by, Treasury briefing "we're going to end the cycle to work tax break that enables people to buy a large family-sized e-bike" has done more than any other advertising campaign to boost the uptake of family-sized e-bikes. Sales must be through the roof this week.
November 26, 2025 at 1:53 PM
I spy a conspiracy by Big Bike
Reposted by Matt Shaw
🚨 Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Koch History Centre Fellowships at Oxford!
We are seeking 12 historians (9 junior, 3 senior) for a one-year fellowship at Wadham College & the Faculty of History.
This year’s theme: “Scarcity and Abundance”
Deadline: 17 Dec 2025
Please share widely!
We are seeking 12 historians (9 junior, 3 senior) for a one-year fellowship at Wadham College & the Faculty of History.
This year’s theme: “Scarcity and Abundance”
Deadline: 17 Dec 2025
Please share widely!
November 26, 2025 at 11:57 AM
🚨 Applications are now open for the 2026–27 Koch History Centre Fellowships at Oxford!
We are seeking 12 historians (9 junior, 3 senior) for a one-year fellowship at Wadham College & the Faculty of History.
This year’s theme: “Scarcity and Abundance”
Deadline: 17 Dec 2025
Please share widely!
We are seeking 12 historians (9 junior, 3 senior) for a one-year fellowship at Wadham College & the Faculty of History.
This year’s theme: “Scarcity and Abundance”
Deadline: 17 Dec 2025
Please share widely!
Reposted by Matt Shaw
EVENTS: This Thursday we’ll be joined by Emily Gee IHBC FSA for a seminar exploring campaigns to house a new generation of working Victorian and Edwardian women, the specialised design of their buildings, and the lives transformed by this architectural movement.
Register Now:
sahgb.org.uk/whatson
Register Now:
sahgb.org.uk/whatson
November 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
EVENTS: This Thursday we’ll be joined by Emily Gee IHBC FSA for a seminar exploring campaigns to house a new generation of working Victorian and Edwardian women, the specialised design of their buildings, and the lives transformed by this architectural movement.
Register Now:
sahgb.org.uk/whatson
Register Now:
sahgb.org.uk/whatson
Reposted by Matt Shaw
BTW some of you may know this but others won't. If you're in a place that's free WiFi is _TheCloud then it will give you unlimited credits to the BNA.
Key places are Wetherspoons (which is cheap and quiet during the day) and Cafe Nero (who don't do booze and whose coffee is good)
Key places are Wetherspoons (which is cheap and quiet during the day) and Cafe Nero (who don't do booze and whose coffee is good)
November 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM
BTW some of you may know this but others won't. If you're in a place that's free WiFi is _TheCloud then it will give you unlimited credits to the BNA.
Key places are Wetherspoons (which is cheap and quiet during the day) and Cafe Nero (who don't do booze and whose coffee is good)
Key places are Wetherspoons (which is cheap and quiet during the day) and Cafe Nero (who don't do booze and whose coffee is good)
As it’s budget week…
November 25, 2025 at 5:21 PM
As it’s budget week…
Reposted by Matt Shaw
IALS is inviting applications for a practitioner in residence for the academic year 2025-26.
We would be especially interested in proposals that respond to the building, its past and potential futures.
Full details here 👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/news/call-pr...
#LawAndCreativity
We would be especially interested in proposals that respond to the building, its past and potential futures.
Full details here 👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/news/call-pr...
#LawAndCreativity
Call for Practitioner in Residence 2026
Please enable JavaScript in your web browser to get the best experience.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
IALS is inviting applications for a practitioner in residence for the academic year 2025-26.
We would be especially interested in proposals that respond to the building, its past and potential futures.
Full details here 👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/news/call-pr...
#LawAndCreativity
We would be especially interested in proposals that respond to the building, its past and potential futures.
Full details here 👇
ials.sas.ac.uk/news/call-pr...
#LawAndCreativity
zooming in to watch the sold-out GLAM Environmental Impact of Digital event live from the Weston. Now feel slightly bad about the Co2 footprint of this. And this skeet...
November 25, 2025 at 11:16 AM
zooming in to watch the sold-out GLAM Environmental Impact of Digital event live from the Weston. Now feel slightly bad about the Co2 footprint of this. And this skeet...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Somewhat notoriously, Dad loved all sorts of pens, including the Parker Rollerball.
To this day I have no idea why he taped the cap on the end.
To this day I have no idea why he taped the cap on the end.
November 25, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Somewhat notoriously, Dad loved all sorts of pens, including the Parker Rollerball.
To this day I have no idea why he taped the cap on the end.
To this day I have no idea why he taped the cap on the end.
Reposted by Matt Shaw
Happy St Katherine's Day to all scholars, librarians, and Katherines. May you win an argument against an annoying man today, in the true spirit of Katherine herself.
November 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM
Happy St Katherine's Day to all scholars, librarians, and Katherines. May you win an argument against an annoying man today, in the true spirit of Katherine herself.
It was in the online edition a couple of weeks ago, but you may want to know that Gillian Tindall's obituary is in the print version of the Guardian today.
November 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
It was in the online edition a couple of weeks ago, but you may want to know that Gillian Tindall's obituary is in the print version of the Guardian today.
Reposted by Matt Shaw
We're so pleased that our friends @balhnews.bsky.social have chosen to highlight the work of our friend and colleague Sarah Rose and VCH Cumbria - do take a look!
In one of our latest blogs, Dr Sarah Rose of the Victoria County History reflects on the publication of the first VCH volume to cover Cumbria - it's also the 250th in the "Big Red Book" series!
Learn more: www.balh.org.uk/blog-bringin...
#WeAreLocalHistory
@vch-home.bsky.social
Learn more: www.balh.org.uk/blog-bringin...
#WeAreLocalHistory
@vch-home.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
We're so pleased that our friends @balhnews.bsky.social have chosen to highlight the work of our friend and colleague Sarah Rose and VCH Cumbria - do take a look!
yeah, but red rot +chilly upper library means tweed/old town is genuine workwear www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
‘It’s an acceptance of where my body is now’ – the modern-day appeal of workwear
Its popularity is as enduring as its fabrics – and it allows men to age stylishly without worrying about their waistlines. One collector delves into the reasons the ordinary clothes of workers past li...
www.theguardian.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
yeah, but red rot +chilly upper library means tweed/old town is genuine workwear www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
Reposted by Matt Shaw
What was ChatGPT? Now nearly three years old, we can look at OpenAI's LLM as a product of its time, optimized ever since to its earliest uses. While this period of deep disorientation and social isolation has been obscured from public memory, it remains embedded within the interface.
What Was ChatGPT?
A Chatbot Optimized for Social Distance
Three years after the launch of ChatGPT, we can finally speak in hindsight about what it was and how it came to be. Its meteoric rise shocked the world, gather...
mail.cyberneticforests.com
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 PM
What was ChatGPT? Now nearly three years old, we can look at OpenAI's LLM as a product of its time, optimized ever since to its earliest uses. While this period of deep disorientation and social isolation has been obscured from public memory, it remains embedded within the interface.