Oxford Centre for the History of Childhood

Two more days to get your abstracts in for our annual workshop

Now today!!

When there are no sources: an English Historical Review symposium The EHR is hosting a one-day symposium in St John's College, Oxford, to celebrate the recent publication of the journal's 600th issue.

News! EHR is hosting a free one-day symposium at St John's College, Oxford, on Friday 17 April, 10-6, on the theme 'When there are no sources'.
Further details and how to sign up here:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/when-there...

DPhil Research Presentations – Oxford Centre for the History of Childhood 11 March, 5pm, Maison Française d'Oxford

And tomorrow (11/03) 5pm Maison Francaise d’Oxford, join us for two great talks - Hannah Stovin on youth cross-dressing in late 19th England and Charlotte Canizo on Jewish humanitarianism & orphan migration after WWI www.mfo.ac.uk/dPhil-resear...

'Enfants au Moyen Âge (XIIe-XVe siècle)' by Didier Lett (Université Paris Cité) 10 March, 12pm, Maison Française d'Oxford

Today looking forward to hearing Didier Lett at Maison Française on his work on Enfants au Moyen Âge www.mfo.ac.uk/enfants-au-m...

Fantastic conversation about children’s dress, reading, libraries and literature with Kiera Vaclavik and Sophie Ratcliffe at our seminar yesterday, followed by fascinating talk at MFO by Maya Gratier in the history of infant psychology

Today! Join us if you can

Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood Monday 22nd June 2026 One day colloquium: Centre for the History of Childhood, University of Oxford Magdalen College Oxford, UK, and online Call for Papers We welcome papers that consider the theme of ‘Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood’ from a wide variety of perspectives. Areas that papers might explore include: • Children’s experiences as recipients of charity and humanitarianism, including in the context of conflict and displacement • Children’s experiences as charitable and humanitarian actors and providers • Representations of childhood within charitable and humanitarian discourses • Institutions and communities that mobilise around charitable and humanitarian relief for children • Memories, intergenerational transmission, and legacies of charity and humanitarianism • Failures, limitations, and tensions resulting from charitable and humanitarian actions • Archives for, approaches to, and public engagement with the study of charity, humanitarianism, and childhood in the past • Conceptual connections between care, vulnerability, and age We welcome papers from any disciplinary or professional background and career stage, including advanced undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage papers that engage with the diversity of children’s and young people’s experiences in any historical period and place. Please send abstracts of c. 250 words for a fifteen-minute paper and a brief bio to sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 13th March 2026. We plan to offer in- person and online participation, so please indicate your preference when submitting. Organising Committee: Charlotte Canizo, Joseph Leidy, Siân Pooley, Susannah Wright

ICYMI: cfp for our 2026 Colloquium on Monday 22nd June: Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood, in Oxford and Online; deadline Friday 13th March.

Coming up Monday 9th March: Kiera Vaclavik (QMUL) & Sophie Ratcliffe (Oxford) in conversation on 'Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries in Childhood Studies’ - join us for what will be a fascinating discussion - in person at Magdalen College, 11am or online (email sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk for a link)

Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood Monday 22nd June 2026 One day colloquium: Centre for the History of Childhood, University of Oxford Magdalen College Oxford, UK, and online Call for Papers We welcome papers that consider the theme of ‘Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood’ from a wide variety of perspectives. Areas that papers might explore include: • Children’s experiences as recipients of charity and humanitarianism, including in the context of conflict and displacement • Children’s experiences as charitable and humanitarian actors and providers • Representations of childhood within charitable and humanitarian discourses • Institutions and communities that mobilise around charitable and humanitarian relief for children • Memories, intergenerational transmission, and legacies of charity and humanitarianism • Failures, limitations, and tensions resulting from charitable and humanitarian actions • Archives for, approaches to, and public engagement with the study of charity, humanitarianism, and childhood in the past • Conceptual connections between care, vulnerability, and age We welcome papers from any disciplinary or professional background and career stage, including advanced undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage papers that engage with the diversity of children’s and young people’s experiences in any historical period and place. Please send abstracts of c. 250 words for a fifteen-minute paper and a brief bio to sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 13th March 2026. We plan to offer in- person and online participation, so please indicate your preference when submitting. Organising Committee: Charlotte Canizo, Joseph Leidy, Siân Pooley, Susannah Wright

ICYMI: cfp for our 2026 Colloquium on Monday 22nd June: Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood, in Oxford and Online; deadline Friday 13th March.

Coming up Monday 9th March: Kiera Vaclavik (QMUL) & Sophie Ratcliffe (Oxford) in conversation on 'Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries in Childhood Studie's - join us for what will be a fascinating discussion - in person at Magdalen College, 11am or online email sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk for a link.

Check out this exciting series of events on childhood at Maison Francaise Oxford in w/c 9 March - www.mfo.ac.uk/event/childr... featuring Didier Lett, Hannah Stovin, & Charlotte Canizo

Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood Monday 22nd June 2026 One day colloquium: Centre for the History of Childhood, University of Oxford Magdalen College Oxford, UK, and online Call for Papers We welcome papers that consider the theme of ‘Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood’ from a wide variety of perspectives. Areas that papers might explore include: • Children’s experiences as recipients of charity and humanitarianism, including in the context of conflict and displacement • Children’s experiences as charitable and humanitarian actors and providers • Representations of childhood within charitable and humanitarian discourses • Institutions and communities that mobilise around charitable and humanitarian relief for children • Memories, intergenerational transmission, and legacies of charity and humanitarianism • Failures, limitations, and tensions resulting from charitable and humanitarian actions • Archives for, approaches to, and public engagement with the study of charity, humanitarianism, and childhood in the past • Conceptual connections between care, vulnerability, and age We welcome papers from any disciplinary or professional background and career stage, including advanced undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage papers that engage with the diversity of children’s and young people’s experiences in any historical period and place. Please send abstracts of c. 250 words for a fifteen-minute paper and a brief bio to sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 13th March 2026. We plan to offer in- person and online participation, so please indicate your preference when submitting. Organising Committee: Charlotte Canizo, Joseph Leidy, Siân Pooley, Susannah Wright

Excellent talk yesterday at our seminar by Ian Archer 16thC children's work - some of it under the aegis of charity - beginning a conversation tbc in our colloquium this year - Monday 22nd June, 'Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood' get your abstracts in! deadline 13th March 2026

Can you help one of our Centre members out with their research on school mock elections? #histchild #histed

Full details including how to join online ⬇️ talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/series...

Come along to our next seminar on Monday 23 February! Ian Archer will be speaking on Setting the Children to Work in Early Modern London: Some Methodological Challenges. 11am Magdalen College Sophia Sheppard Room & online. All very welcome!

"Through retrospective life story interviews, we can trace how the gifted label continues to influence an individual's sense of belonging, identity, and recognition long after their formal education has concluded." A must read for researchers interested in childhood, education, memory & emotions!

Revisiting the Gifted Child in England: Emotional Memory, Recognition, and Healing in Adult Testimonies Buse Demirkan (PhD candidate, University of Bristol)

Fantastic new blog post from Buse Demirkan @busedp.bsky.social on how childhood giftedness is remembered in adulthood. Read more about her fascinating PhD project & findings from retrospective life story interviews ⬇️ www.history.ox.ac.uk/article/revi...

TODAY at 11am! See you there!

CFP for a Special Issue of Gender & History on childhood and crises to be edited by Katie Barclay and Emily Ward. Abstracts due 31 May 2026; then hybrid workshop; full articles due 31 Jan. 2027. Please share widely.
#Skystorians #GenderHistory #HistChild 🗃️

More details and info for how to join us online here: talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/series...

Join us on Monday 9 February for our next seminar of term! Emma Arthur @emmaarthur.bsky.social will speak on “Fairies and Music, Gipsies and Flowers”: Music Pedagogy and Performance in the Nineteenth-Century Convent School. 11am at Magdalen College Sophia Sheppard Room & online. All very welcome!

In case you missed it - call for papers for the Centre for the History of Childhood's colloquium on Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood on 22 June. Get in touch by 13 March!

TODAY at 11am! See you there!

Join us on Monday for our 1st seminar of 2026! Amy Wells will speak on Childhood and Bookhood in the Nineteenth-Century Country House: Texts, Materiality, and Histories of Book Use. 26 Jan 11am Magdalen College Sophia Sheppard room & online. All welcome. More info ⬇️ talks.ox.ac.uk/talks/series...

Please share @histchild.bsky.social @shcy.bsky.social @histedsocuk.bsky.social @clpn.bsky.social

Call for papers for one-day colloquium: Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood. Monday 22nd June 2026. Centre for the History of Childhood, University of Oxford Magdalen College Oxford, UK, and online. We welcome papers that consider the theme of ‘Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood’ from a wide variety of perspectives. Areas that papers might explore include: Children’s experiences as recipients of charity and humanitarianism, including in the context of conflict and displacement. Children’s experiences as charitable and humanitarian actors and providers. Representations of childhood within charitable and humanitarian discourses. Institutions and communities that mobilise around charitable and humanitarian relief for children. Memories, intergenerational transmission, and legacies of charity and humanitarianism. Failures, limitations, and tensions resulting from charitable and humanitarian actions. Archives for, approaches to, and public engagement with the study of charity, humanitarianism, and childhood in the past. Conceptual connections between care, vulnerability, and age. We welcome papers from any disciplinary or professional background and career stage, including advanced undergraduate and graduate students. We encourage papers that engage with the diversity of children’s and young people’s experiences in any historical period and place. Please send abstracts of c. 250 words for a fifteen-minute paper and a brief bio to sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk by midday on Friday 13th March 2026. We plan to offer in person and online participation, so please indicate your preference when submitting. Organising Committee: Charlotte Canizo, Joseph Leidy, Siân Pooley, Susannah Wright

📢Call for papers📢 for this year's Centre for the History of Childhood colloquium on Charity, Humanitarianism, and Childhood on 22 June 2026. Please send us your abstracts by midday on Friday 13 March. We look forward to hearing from you! More details here: www.history.ox.ac.uk/centre-histo...

Programme for History of Childhood seminar series Hilary 2026. Seminars are on Mondays 11:00-12:15 at Magdalen College, Sophia Sheppard Room and online via Microsoft Teams. All are welcome – and to join us for lunch afterwards. On Monday 26 January, Amy Wells (Faculty of English, Oxford), will speak on Childhood and Bookhood in the Nineteenth-Century Country House: Texts, Materiality, and Histories of Book Use. On Monday 9 February, Emma Arthur (Faculty of Music, Oxford) will give a paper on “Fairies and Music, Gipsies and Flowers”: Music Pedagogy and Performance in the Nineteenth-Century Convent School. On Monday 23 February Ian Archer (Faculty of History, Oxford) will give a talk on Setting the Children to Work in Early Modern London: Some Methodological Challenges. Our final seminar on Monday 9 March will be a panel discussion on Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries in Childhood Studies. Kiera Vaclavik (Department of comparative Literature & Culture, QMUL) and Sophie Ratcliffe (Faculty of English, Oxford) will talk about how their work crosses the boundaries of childhood histories and literary studies, opening up a wider discussion about interdisciplinarity in childhood studies. To find out more, join the email list web.maillist.ox.ac.uk/ox/info/history-of-childhood or follow us on Bluesky @HistChildOxford or Instagram @histchildoxford. For online access, Microsoft Teams links will be sent to the mailing list in advance or email sian.pooley@magd.ox.ac.uk for a link.

We're excited to share this term's seminar programme starting 26 January at Magdalen College & online! We can't wait to hear from all our speakers and to explore different disciplinary approaches to histories of childhood. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

There's still time to share your school mock election memories for this exciting project on young people & democracy! @histchild.bsky.social @shcy.bsky.social @histedsocuk.bsky.social

Seminar CANCELLED - unfortunately today's seminar is cancelled due to illness. We hope to rearrange Aisha's talk for later in the year.