Joe Harley

Me when I cite myself:

Joseph Harley and Vicky Holmes eds., Podcast Episode · New Books Network · 03/12/2025 · 49m

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/n...

Listen to my awesome husband talk about his new book!

@joeharleyhistory.bsky.social

We're very excited to announce our collaborative PhD with @qubhistory.bsky.social on the residents of The Salvation Army's Bethel Rescue Home in Belfast in the C19th. Supervised by @elainefarrell.bsky.social (@badbridgetbook.bsky.social)
Applications by 13 Jan 2026.
www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post...

Cover of Objects of Poverty, edited by Joseph Harley and Vicky Holmes

“From Improvised to Subsidised Safety: Fireguards”, by Jonathan Reinarz and Shane Ewen

New publication!

“Objects of Poverty: Material Culture in Britain from 1700” is edited by Joe Harley & Vicky Holmes. Our chapter is on the fireguard - a consistent absence in the archival record - and the campaign to introduce it into working-class homes.

Order the book here: lnkd.in/eMz2kfkd

Sounds like fate to me… 👀

It was great having you - thanks for coming on board!

Thanks Elaine! I hope you like it 😊

Ah that’s great thanks - hope you like it! 😊

It’s here! Objects of Poverty: Material Culture in Britain from 1700 www.bloomsbury.com/uk/objects-o...

Histories of Resistance: Disability, Agency and Embodiment in the Long Eighteenth Century

Next week I'll be speaking on the long history of disabled people's agency and resistance at the Institute of Historical Research. Everyone welcome! www.history.ac.uk/events/histo...

Objects of Poverty is all wrapped up now! Just a few months to go. Cant wait to share it with you all.

Had a great time at #ESSHC25. Thanks to the organisers for doing such a great job. Here’s to 2027!

Found in the wild! #ESSHC25

Nice touch #ESSHC25. Day 1, session 1 Foucault has already come up!

Looking forward to a day of fascinating papers at #ESSHC25. Leiden is beautiful!

University of Edinburgh warns of staff cuts as it faces £140m financial deficit Vice-chancellor says large-scale savings are needed but union says university should instead use its wealth

This university crisis has gone too far. Even the likes of Edinburgh who will never struggle for students are broke. www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Hey Sally! I’m glad i finally took the plunge. There’s only so much right wing rubbish you can read!

Hi everyone! I’m Joe Harley, a historian specialising in poverty, welfare, everyday life, and material culture in Britain from the 1700s onwards. Interested to see what BlueSky is like!

Let me introduce my research...

#academicsky #history #bluehistory #skystorians

Got the proofs for our upcoming book back today.

#academicsky #historysky

Good to see this statement from the various professional associations for History about the current crisis in HE, and their support for my department in particular
royalhistsoc.org/more-than-ev...

Thanks, Izzy! Your work sounds really interesting.

6️⃣ Follow for research insights, book updates, and (inevitably) posts about history. Looking forward to sharing more!

5️⃣Poverty isn’t just a past problem. Understanding how people survived in tough times helps us rethink modern social issues. History gives us insight into resilience, adaptation, and the long-lasting impact of inequality.

4️⃣ Other research & projects
🔎 I’ve worked on topics like:

The everyday lives of the poor in the 18th & 19th centuries
How the poor furnished their homes
Pawnshops as a lifeline for working-class people
Dogs as companions for the poor in the past

3️⃣ My latest book: Objects of Poverty
📖 My new book (co-edited with Vicky Holmes) is all about the material culture of poverty in Britain from 1700 to today. It explores objects linked to survival, home life, workhouses, and more.

2️⃣ Why poverty history?
Poverty isn’t just about numbers or policies—it’s about people and how they made do. What did they eat? How did they keep warm? What objects were precious to them? These questions drive my research.

1️⃣ What I research
My work explores how poor and working-class people lived, what they owned (or didn’t), and how they navigated daily life. I focus on material culture—objects that shaped experiences of poverty

Hi everyone! I’m Joe Harley, a historian specialising in poverty, welfare, everyday life, and material culture in Britain from the 1700s onwards. Interested to see what BlueSky is like!

Let me introduce my research...

#academicsky #history #bluehistory #skystorians