While we do not have an official date for our first release (yet), we're announcing this so we can open submissions for topic ideas! If you have something you’re curious about or someone you want to guest star (even you!), let us know at the link below! ✨
forms.office.com/e/nS3de2RJaA
✨AND, one more BIG announcement... GET READY TO WELCOME BACK THE MEMSA PODCAST! ✨
We, your two temporarily-mysterious hosts (shh let us have this🤭), invite you to join us for casual chats discussing the wildest and most fun parts of the Medieval and Early Modern world—maybe with some guests, too! ✨
🎺 Our FINAL TALK of term is coming NEXT WEEK! 🎺
We're excited to have Elisabeth Lee from the University of St. Andrews for her paper, "Reviving the Medieval in the German Democratic Republic (GDR): Werner Tübke's Panorama"!
Join us 6pm on Monday, 16 March, 7 Owengate! 💕
🎺 IT'S THE FINAL WEEK! 🎺
If you want to be a part of the 20th annual MEMSA conference, Connection, Conversation, Contention: Encounters in the Medieval and Early Modern World, this is your last chance! Submit your application of 300 words no later than Monday the 9th! We hope to hear from you soon!
An exciting release from the IMEMS Press with @boydellandbrewer.bsky.social! Many congratulation to its author, Dr Sara Ayres.
Today sees the beginning of a two-day conference hosted by @thehuntington.bsky.social, organised by Dr Vanessa Wilkie and IMEMS member Dr Amanda Herbert, 'United Queendom: Legacies of Gendered Power in the Early Modern British World'. 👑
#CfP 'Connection, Conversation, Contention: Encounters in the
Medieval and Early Modern World'
13-14 July 2026, St John’s College, @durham.ac.uk
With Keynotes by Dr Natalie Goodison (Durham), Dr Lisa Kattenberg (Amsterdam) and Professor Stuart Carroll (York) @durhammemsa.bsky.social
Join us next Monday, 2 March, to hear Durham's Keerthi Vasishta present his paper, "Romantic Restoration: The Seventeenth Century in William Wordsworth's Politics and Poetry"! As always, join us at 6pm at 7 Owengate for some tea and biscuits before the talk begins!
See you all there 😉
🎺 What's this? A wild change has appeared! 🎺
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Elisabeth Lee's talk has been moved to 16 March, and Ellen Duggan's talk has been cancelled.
Instead, we're excited to announce our own Keerthi Vasishta will be taking a swing at something a bit different!
🎺 A brief reminder! 🎺
Our 20th annual conference is accepting proposals for papers!
We invite abstracts of up to 300 words for papers from postgrads and early career researchers covering any time and many topics in the medieval and early modern periods. Applications close on 9 March!
We invite 20-minute papers for our 2026 Summer Conference 'The Church and Race' #CfP #history
Keynote speakers:
▪️Prof Miri Rubin, EHS President @qmul.bsky.social
▪️Prof Herman Bennett, @cuny.edu
▪️The Right Reverend Rowan Williams
Deadline: 15 April
ecclesiasticalhistorysociety.com/26summer/
🎺 We're opening applications for the last term of our biweekly seminar series!!! 🎺
Submit your abstract/proposal of no more than 250 words to our email, memsa.committee@durham.ac.uk, by Sunday 15th March. Check the post for further details!
We can't wait to have you join us next term!
🎺 The next term talk is almost here!!! 🎺 Join us next Monday, 16 February, 6pm at 7 Owengate, to hear our own Mara Watling present her paper, "From Pastoral Counsel to Comedy: John of Wales' Communiloquium as a Hidden Source for Chaucer's Merchant's Tale"!
We can't wait to see you all there 😉
Discover 17th-century codes with our new online course, 'Working with Early Modern Letters'! 🤫✒️ tinyurl.com/5d9r8rcp
✔️A week's worth of content for just £100
✔️Optional Q&A sessions with an expert
✔️Learn at your own pace
Pictured: John Pell's 17th-century equivalent of an Enigma machine.
Very privileged to have provided some voice acting in Latin, Old English, and English for #RiversofInk, thanks to the brilliant @laurenrndll.bsky.social. Looking forward to its debut today at St. Laurence's, High Pittington. @durhammemsa.bsky.social www.durham.ac.uk/news-events/... #Amiatinus
Why did 17th century letter writer Katherine Thimelby use this curious patchwork style? ✒️
📅 Find out more about women's letter-writing in the new IMEMS online short course 'Working with Early Modern Letters'! Available to book from Monday 9 February 2026.
🎺IT HATH ARRIVED!🎺
The official MEMSA stash drop is now available to buy! You have 7 days to get what you want before it disappears into the mystical Otherworlds once more… 🤭
redbirdapparel.co.uk/collections/...
20th Annual MEMSA Conference With Keynotes by Dr Natalie Goodison (Durham), Dr Lisa Kattenberg (Amsterdam) and Professor Stuart Carroll (York) The Medieval and Early Modern Student Association (MEMSA) is delighted to present their 20th anniversary conference entitled: ‘Connection, conversation, contention: encounters in the Medieval and Early Modern World’. Just as MEMSA is an association that connects different people, all kinds of connections took shape in the Medieval and Early Modern period through different means, such as the founding and spreading of major religions like Christianity, Islam and Buddhism. However, with connection also comes contention, such as the Arabic conquests, the crusades and the colonial conquests.
#CfP: Connection, Conversation, Contention: Encounters in the Medieval & Early Modern World @durhammemsa.bsky.social 20th Annual Conference, St John’s College, Durham University, July 13 - 14 2026. Abstracts by 9 March 2026 #Skystorians www.rensoc.org.uk/event/cfp-co...
And the last big news for the day... 👀
🎺 The official MEMSA stash drop will be releasing on 29 January! It will be open until 5 February, so you’ll have a week to snag any of the goodies you want from Redbird Apparel! 🎺
Keep an eye on our Insta for the link when it opens!
Do you enjoy acting, directing, or watching theatre? Are you a Shakespeare enjoyer? Would you be interested in a 24 Hour Shakespeare challenge? 👀
🎺 Fill out the interest check form below! 🎺
Link here: forms.office.com/e/Uiq8r2ia6v
🎺 The MEMSA blog is accepting submissions! 🎺
Are you interested in writing for the MEMSA blog? Whether you want to snag the chance to put your name on a seasonal post or you have an idea all your own, fill in this form to propose an article to the team!
Link here: shorturl.at/9wEZg
🎺 Santiago García Sosa from Leiden University will joining us on 2 February to present on Queenship, Conduct, Counsel, and the Restoration of Order in Martín de Córdoba's Jardin de nobles doncellas! Mark your calendars for 6pm, 7 Owengate! 🎺
(And we have more news coming today too... 👀)
🎺 Don't miss our FIRST TALK OF TERM, coming this Monday, where Davide Salmoiraghi from the University of Cambridge will be presenting on 'The best knight that ever was': The Old Norse Lives of Hector of Troy! Remember to come by 7 Owengate at 6pm so you don't miss out on the action! 🎺
We invite abstracts of up to 300 words for papers from postgraduates and early career researchers covering any time and a broad variety of topics in the medieval and early modern periods. The official form opens on 12 January, and applications close on 9 March! We hope to hear from you soon!
🎺 Are you interested in exploring Connections, Conversation, Contention: Encounters in the Medieval and Early Modern World? Then consider submitting a paper to the 20th annual conference, taking place 13 and 14 July 2026 at St John’s College, Durham University!
Anyone feeling like a pub night? 👀
Come join us for some drinks and a good chat at the Swan and Three Signets on Monday 12 January, 7pm, to celebrate the start of epiphany term!!! We hope to see you there 😉
🎺 We have some more big news: our 20th ANNUAL CONFERENCE THEME! We are proud to present Connection, Conversation, Contention: Encounters in the Medieval and Early Modern World, coming on 13 and 14 July, 2026!🎺
Keep an eye out for more information on how to get involved in the coming days....👀
Though we suppose we can give you one extra teaser today 😉
🎺 THE OFFICIAL EPIPHANY TERM CARD IS HERE!!! 🎺 As always, all of our term talks will take place on alternating Mondays, 6pm at 7 Owengate on Palace Green. We can't wait to see you there!
Exciting things are happening this term... 👀
Welcome to our updated socials! Keep an eye out for some big announcements this week and as we head into 2026! 🎺
We are VERY excited to announce the MEMSA blog is BACK!!! 🎺
Our first post for this year is an interview with tonight’s speaker, Eugenia Vorobeva! Come along later to see her presentation, and take a look now to hear about her in advance!!
Link: durhammemsa.wordpress.com/2025/12/08/i...
