Institute of Design, Culture and the Arts
     

History

The history research group within the Institute of Design, Culture and the Arts is a long established centre of international research excellence at Teesside. This was confirmed at the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, where 50% of its research activity was held to be world-leading or internationally excellent in its originality, significance and rigour, and a further 30% internationally recognised.

Historical research at Teesside is focused on three key areas:

  • modern political history
  • regional and local history
  • cultural and intellectual history

Research in modern political history focuses on the following themes:

  • historical and contemporary manifestations of fascism and anti-fascism
  • civil defence in Cold War Britain
  • the French Revolution in its international context.

Research into regional and local history takes place within the centre for regional and local historical research.

It includes the study of the history of the North East of England as well as comparative historical analysis between regions, both nationally and internationally. Recent projects in regional and local history include:

  • the Reformation in North East England
  • nation and region in Bavaria
  • cultural policy in North East England
  • women and family in the Tees Valley.

The centre publishes papers in North East England history, a series of peer reviewed papers on a wide range of topics in the history of North East England.

Teesside is also a member of the North East England History Institute (NEEHI). This Institute is a partnership involving Teesside and the Universities of Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and Northumbria, and the Open University. Other partners include Beamish Open Air Museum and more than 30 regional institutions, many being local history societies. NEEHI also has more than a hundred members who have joined as individuals.

Research in cultural and intellectual history focuses on:

  • Ancient Greece and Platonic philosophy
  • Christmas in Nineteenth Century England
  • history of the South Asian Diaspora in Britain
  • cultures of slavery and the African American Diaspora.

The History research group also runs a programme of regular history research seminars in which staff and visiting scholars present papers on current research projects.

For more information see individual profiles of current members of the history research group: