Matthew Stephens - 19th-century Newshound

Thanks so much, Priti.

Thanks Mia!

Thanks Mary!

Thanks Jim. I'm looking forward to the viva...

It has been a momentous week for me. Four years on from starting my PhD, my thesis has been submitted for examination. What a journey it has been! To mark the occasion I chose this newspaper, printed 200 yrs prior to my submission date, from Newcastle where academic life began for me some time ago.

Those volumes are lovely and incredibly well preserved.

bernie sanders is wearing a jacket and glasses and is asking for help . Alt: bernie sanders is wearing a jacket and glasses and is asking for help .

I am once again asking for leads on part-time research, editing, and administration jobs - I have some freelance and hourly paid projects on the go and am not able to take on full-time work in order to accommodate them (and my pro-bono talks/research for charity/vol. orgs). DMs/emails welcomed!

a typewriter has a red sign that says visit on it ALT: a typewriter has a red sign that says visit on it

You can read my latest blog post about my experience in the Windy city - at the Research Society for Victorian Periodicals conference - here, www.matthewstephens.org.uk?p=225.

Ah yes, the focusing power of avoidance! Hope you get it (all) done.😂

Looks good! 😋

Sure you'll find a superstar. It would be a great place to work.

Wonderful stuff. The last paragraph of 'The Dead' is some of the most beautiful prose ever written, for me.

Back at my desk today after a couple of days based here - the wonderful Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge - where I learned about museum-community collaboration. Fascinating perspectives, provoking much debate. Great to catch up with fellow CDP students too.

A rare visit to the Edge Hill Uni campus today, where I presented a paper at my dept's postgrad conference @edgehist.bsky.social. Bittersweet as probably the last time I'll do that as a postgrad. Campus is always beautiful in spring - here's a shot of one of its more unusual outdoor sculptures.

That's brilliant news, Emma. How exciting!

This looks amazing. What a moment to treasure!!

This looks fantastic! Sadly too far away from me, but I'm sure it'll be a success on a galactic scale.

A March to the Scaffold moment today! I had the thrilling (but slightly terrifying) experience of giving my first public lecture, to the Friends of @ironbridgegmt.bsky.social. Great audience, knowledgeable & engaged. A surprise was seeing scaffolding at the Coalbrookdale site, for roof refit work.

Photo of front cover of Victorian Periodicals Review, Vol 57 Number 1 &2, Spring/Summer 2024, print edition

Photo of rear cover of Victorian Periodicals Review, Vol 57 Number 1 &2, Spring/Summer 2024, print edition, with summary of contents.

This was a genuine - and thrilling - surprise in today's post, all the way from Maryland. How lovely that @vpreditors.bsky.social retains the custom of sending a print copy of the journal to its contributors. My first published piece and it's all the more special to have it in physical print. 😀

Interesting! Does 'hands' include journalists and editorial personnel, do you think? If not, there's a pretty large expense overlooked...

Masthead for the Age and Argus. It includes the motto ‘The very Age and Body of Time, it’s Form and Pressure.’ It lists this issue as part of the United Series, Saturday, October 7, 1843. The price was six pence.

A final twist in our recent #MastheadMonday saga. The Age & The Argus competed for four years, but by 1843 both were struggling financially. They agreed a merger to survive, becoming the Age and Argus (1843-45). Digitised by the BL & free to view: www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/titles/age-l...

Front cover of 'Black & White.' The march of the suffragettes.

Join us for the Post-1800 and Contemporary British Society & Culture Doctoral Open Day on Friday 14 March:

- Discover our rich collections
- Connect with our expert curatorial teams
- Expand your network with like-minded researchers

Book your place: bit.ly/BLPhDOpenDay...

C19 people! @RRRJournal's Call for Submissions is open for Issue 8, 'Play in the Long Nineteenth Century.' 🧸🎭🤽‍♂️🩰

Please share widely! ⏰

So happy to see this published. Huge thanks to the many people who helped to get it done - especially @digivictorian.bsky.social, @bethgaskell.bsky.social and, of course, Kathy at VPR.

David Cameron was more than happy to 'let them at it' in 2010, I recall...

Mr Palmer reading a copy of The Porcupine - still image from 1995 film adaption of Sense and Sensibility.

Hey! Read my latest blog post to find out why this choice of newspaper as a film prop was an intriguing one. www.matthewstephens.org.uk?p=213

a picture of a window with the words every window is a blog on it ALT: a picture of a window with the words every window is a blog on it

What has today's date got to do with a First World War army medic? Find out on my latest blog post here: www.matthewstephens.org.uk?p=204

This sounds like great fun!

Congratulations! Great news - what a serendipitous publication date!

Genuinely interesting historical research which also has resonance today in respect of the abiding socio-cultural tensions between the metropolis and the provinces. Thanks for sharing it.