(Dr) Debbie Challis

We've got another busy week ahead at The Portico...

To mark this year's #BannedBooksWeek, we'll be exploring Machiavelli, whose work was banned across various states in Europe from the 15th to the 16th Centuries, and how his works have been reimagined today...

Private Sketches by M.S.: Moments from 1859 & 1860 One of the discoveries in the archive was 'Private Sketches' by Mary Severn. Some cartoons that made me L.O.L. Admittedly, I am a sad nerd who - in my head - lives as much in the 1850s and 1860s as th...

Mary Severn's 'Private Sketches' that depict moments in her working & home life 1859/60 made me LOL. Mary's ability to laugh at herself, her family & great artists - like G. F. Watts - & record it, is part of her immense talent. Uploaded the sketches in my blog
www.debbiechallis.com/post/private...

What's in the Box? Rummaging in the Archives One of my favourite pastimes is rummaging in archives, even in my own, and finding old things. I have pretensions to be a historian and writer, but really I'm just nosey.

Being a nosey parker is my favourite pastime. But I dress it up as being a historian.

#archives #romantic

www.debbiechallis.com/post/what-s-...

Drum roll, please....

We couldn't be more excited to share that historic transformation plans for The Portico Library have been submitted to Manchester City Council...

Display of black women & case with zebras in

Newspapers with Obama

Pan African conference history

Books & African women back ground.

Satisfying couple of days installing @porticolibrary.bsky.social main exhibition & a pop up for #blackhistorymonth❤️🖤💚 .

Am one of the 5 in portico with African diaspora- the one with guilt obvs - but did one section & used some of my archive too.

Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders, by Terrance Dicks

Well, bless my soul, another long, long post, this time Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders by Terrance Dicks, featuring Blackpool, Indiana Jones and Mr Toad. 0tralala.blogspot.com/2025/09/doct...

Kenya transgender rights victory hailed as African first QNews LGBTIQA+ News

it's so nice to see what a functioning judiciary looks like

"A transgender woman in the East African nation of Kenya has won a landmark court victory in which the judge not only found in her favour, but ordered the government to pass a Transgender Protection Rights Act."

fuck yeah

Watched this & felt like I was in Star Wars watching that message from Princess Leia.

The summer has seen anti-trans campaigns across the UK and US, alongside a crisis in healthcare. But what use could trans history have in these time, beyond proving 'we have always been here'?

Sam Rutherford @echomikeromeo reflects on Imagining Trans Futures:
www.historyworkshop....

This is beautifully written by @sturdyalex.bsky.social about ugly & dangerous events.

No one tells me to ‘get back where I was born, yet, I was born in Kenya. When in Kenya in August I was, the first time for me, a minority. I was regularly welcomed back to my birth home. My actual home is shaming

I even have a Ulysses broach that I bought in Dublin. This is one of my favourite books - or parts of it are.

Find out more about Banned Books Week on Index for Censorship: www.indexoncensorship.org/bannedbooksw...

Beyond Isis and Osiris - Alternate Sexualities in Ancient Egypt, Part 2: John J. Johnstone Alternate Sexualities in Ancient Egypt, Part 2: New Kingdom, Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt - Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Alexander the Great and Hadrian

2nd part of John J Johnstone’s alternate sexualities LGBTQ+ trail now online.

Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Alexander the Great & Antinous & more

#lgbtq #egypt #museum

www.debbiechallis.com/post/beyond-...

And this is what I went to the PV of - the nature of gothic @blackburnmuseum.bsky.social. It is stunning - urge people to visit.

Oh, I’ve had a few tricky days & was spiralling downwards this morning. Decided to goth up to cheer up.

Beyond Isis and Osiris - Alternate Sexualities in Ancient Egypt, Part 1: John J. Johnstone This is a trail written by the late John J. Johnstone, based in part on a talk he gave at the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology in February 2008. It was the first event recorded in a museum in Lon...

First part of John J Johnstone’s Alternate Sexualities in Ancient Egypt LGBTQ+ trail: www.debbiechallis.com/post/beyond-...

Annie's Grave Paying a visit to the grave of Annie Darwin in Great Malvern and how the Victorians used artworks and objects to mourn.

Have had a week of progress around the country (almost) to celebrate my half century. This included visiting Annie Darwin's grave. Anne, or Annie, was the eldest daughter of the scientist Charles Darwin & his wife Emma. www.debbiechallis.com/post/annie-s...

Angela Rayner accidentally pays less tax than she should have, resigns, and the media gives her hell.

Nigel Farage deliberately pays less tax than he should have, and the media gives him a free pass.

That, right there, is the problem.

I have never felt more strongly supportive of Angela Rayner in my life. Fuck these people.

We're delighted to announce that author & activist @elierlick.bsky.social is visiting the UK to speak about her new book, 'Before Gender: Lost stories from trans history 1850-1950'.

Discover the trailblazing lives of 30 trans people who will change everything you've been told about trans history.

Woke up early thinking I’m now 50, not nearly 50. Actually 50. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Couldn’t go back to sleep. Soon after 7am brought an enormous breakfast cookie handmade by the lady & cup of tea.

Should go back to sleep but want to read my new books. This has not changed I was 5.

#old #croning #books #50years

Sign the open letter: Women against the far right The far right is using women's safety as a weapon to spread racism and division. They are not defenders of women—they exploit violence against women and children to push hate. Together we can stand wi...

actionnetwork.org/petitions/e8...

Letter text reads: History written off 'I agree that the BBC’s decision, apparently a fait accompli, taken without prior consultation to refashion the BBC Written Archive Centre in Caversham (re Vanessa Thorpe’s article “Historians dismayed by ‘scandal’ of BBC cutting access to written archives”, News, last week), is very disappointing. It appears to run counter to the BBC‘s compact with the public, Our BBC,Our future, and arguably the broadcaster’s charter itself. This would have deeply disturbed my father, Asa Briggs, the first official historian of the BBC who played a key role in setting up the archive. As Adam Sisman writes in his new biography, my father rescued countless papers, broadcasts and artefacts. The archive has since provided a valuable and rich seam of research material. The plan to step up the release of material in themed batches, rather than as now, respond to specific research enquiries clearly ‘dumbs down’ the value of the archive as an open and accessible resource.' Dan Briggs Lewes, Sussex

Absolutely delighted that Dan Briggs, son of the BBC's first official historian Asa Briggs, has written to The Observer supporting the need for on-request vetting to re-instated at the BBC Written Archives Centre (p.29; not I think online).
Letter's wording is in the .alt element.

#waccampaign

Excavating a Television Classic: Pyramids of Mars (1975) The Doctor (Tom Baker) and his companion, Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) are travelling through the space-time vortex when an entity appears to enter the TARDIS, drawing the ship off course, to l...

The wonderful Angela Stienne jas made one of John J Johnstones’s talk / intros live & its on #drwho #doctorwho Pyramids of Mars. Perfect meeting of his who & egyptology. Please share @0tralala.bsky.social etc

www.mummystories.com/single-post/...

And here is the visual guide to the episode. Enjoy!

1. Prehistoric figures from Thessaly, believed to be early “gorgoneia”, c.6000 BCE

cc. @aalekas.bsky.social @poisonchallis.bsky.social @lindamarric.bsky.social @dr-ruthsmith.bsky.social

📣 It's National Wellbeing Week 2025
At UNISON, we believe that your health and wellbeing matter — in and out of the workplace

This week, we’re highlighting the importance of:
✅ Mental health support
✅ Work/life balance
✅ Respectful, fair working conditions

Let’s take care of ourselves & each other

🤣

Wah! The final - so enjoyed doing these. Yet to listen so trying to guess if play it car home with family. Or am I talking ‘dirty’ again.

MEDUSA - Here's Looking at You, Kid Podcast Episode · Alex Andreou's Podyssey · 01/09/2025 · 1h 35m

🐍 MEDUSA - Here's Looking At You, Kid 🪦

Before Medusa was monstrous, she was beautiful. And before she was beautiful, she was powerful. She is a riddle that defies solution, from a time before the shape of things was settled.

🍊 open.spotify.com/episode/67sR...

🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...

Woman drinking a glass of fizz

Woman in glow of sunset

Setting sun through trees

A glass of pink fizz to remember John J Johnstone in the glow of a beautiful sunset, as glowy & warm as his soul. A statue of antinous is all that is needed

We’re very sorry to share the sad news that former Vice-Chair and long-time supporter of the Society, John J Johnston, passed away this morning following a short illness. Aidan Dodson has kindly provided a short memorial to John here: www.ees.ac.uk/resource/joh...