Charles Fonge

Red ink fills the page with a series of abstract, geometric and generally symmetrical doodles — circles, spokes, mirrored shapes, and quasi- mechanical‑looking motifs.

Doodles. 〰️ 🍥 〰️

Some lovely examples from a 1970s notebook. I wonder if the author was in thrall to deep thoughts or deep boredom?

A view of Derwent College’s modular “CLASP” buildings on York’s university campus. Low, rectangular concrete panels with repeating window units form a linear cluster. A paved walkway runs through the scene with a few people walking, bordered by a lawn and a leafless winter tree. In the foreground stands a stylish metal street lamp. On the roofline, several triangular roof lights rise above the flat roofs, adding a distinctive geometric accent.

A campus works best when movement fosters connection. As York’s planners put it:

“it should ideally be impossible to go from one unit of accommodation to a similar one without coming into contact with at least one of completely different academic or social character on the way”

Public ownership of water is the only way to deliver security, efficiency, investment and value for money 37 years of privatisation has been a disaster

England's water companies have paid £85bn in dividends.

Borrowed £82.7bn. 35% of customer covers interest payments and shareholder payouts.

Sewage in rivers, insecure water supplies. Customer complaints up 50% last year. No exec prosecuted

Govt response - abolished fines on water companies.

Thanks to @thefnl.bsky.social this exceptionally rare Tudor map of Kingsbridge in Devon has been acquired for public research at the Devon Heritage Centre, after more than four centuries in private hands.

🤩New out: Universities and the Purpose of Higher Education by @joshpatel.bsky.social, which includes a York case study based on our archives.

A brilliant and timely look at how ‘New Universities’ like York navigated post‑war expectations, and the enduring question of what universities are for.

400 jobs at risk. A campus set to close.

This film explains what’s happening at the University of Essex and why staff, students and the local community are organising to stop it.

📍 Southend rally | 5 February

Grey, concrete CLASP buildings of what is now Eric Milner White Court (part of Vanbrugh College) are shown on the left with the university’s lake in the foreground, spanned by a thin steel footbridge. Recently planted trees and spice vegetation with neatly mown lawns surround the lake. More mature trees, mark the horizon.

Goodricke College (as was, now part of Vanbrugh and James) @york.ac.uk with the weathering steel footbridge leading to Biology and a campus landscape in its formative years. The landscaping has matured somewhat since this picture was taken!

Our Principal, Prof Andy Schofield, took a walk through our fantastic archives, revisiting moments and members of our community who have helped shape the University of Glasgow.
 
We are proud to celebrate our 575th Birthday. #TeamUofG #UofG575 @uofglasgowasc.bsky.social

How universities can cultivate arts and humanities in practical, affordable ways Are the arts and humanities still needed as universities retrench staff and cut costs? Patty Raun explains why curtailing or eliminating these disciplines is an egregious mistake

'Despite persistent myths, employment rates for humanities graduates are comparable to those of STEM graduates, as Humanities Indicators data shows. Early earnings differ but the salary gap narrows significantly mid-career, particularly for graduates who pursue further study'. 1/2

When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.

Today the Sunday Times discusses the decline in students studying A-level and beyond. I believe this is reversible. I believe it is necessary. And I’m glad to have some of my words on the importance of the discipline and the vibrancy of our degrees in English at York in the article.

Britain’s population could start shrinking sooner than we think

Successive changes to immigration rules are seeing visa applications plummet. Meanwhile, revisions to data - plus an expected student exodus next year - should send the official emigration figures higher

1/4

'The analysis revealed large disparities...LGB students made up 24 per cent of the student body at York University, 22 per cent at the University of Oxford' but 6% at QMUL, 9% and Birmingham and at Imperial.' 2/2

The first person recorded wishing someone "Merry Christmas" was Bishop John Fisher, in a letter to Thomas Cromwell #OnThisDay, 22nd December 1534.

"And this our Lord God send you a mery Christmas, and a comfortable, to your heart’s desire."

🖼️ Wikimedia Commons

A fascinating interview with Dr McGuinness and nice shout out to his fantastic edition, which is our latest Canterbury and York Society volume (vol. 114) and a great addition to the series and history of the Church in Wales.

Now part of the University of York campus, Heslington Hall is a Grade II listed manor house dating from 1565–8, It was largely rebuilt between 1852-4. It was constructed for Sir Thomas Eynns, the Secretary and Keeper of the Seal to the Council of the North;

Now part of the University of York campus, Heslington Hall is a Grade II listed manor house dating from 1565–8, It was largely rebuilt between 1852-4. It was constructed for Sir Thomas Eynns, the Secretary and Keeper of the Seal to the Council of the North; and his wife Elizabeth.

British Library catalogue search page displaying the new main catalogue, designed to make finding and requesting published items easier.

We’re excited to share our new main catalogue, making it easier for you to find and request the majority of our published collection. We’ve also launched an interim version of our Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Find out how to start searching and requesting on our website bit.ly/BLNewCatalogues

Don't steal pies this Christmas.

There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom

A Carp‑uchin fryer 😀

There is another issue here - "cutting-edge" sciences need properly functioning library services too. I think it is actually operational delivery of valuable services, everywhere, that is considered dull and old - the day-to-day delivery of services that constitute vital infrastructure.

Clifford’s Tower in York illuminated at night, its curved stone walls glowing orange on top of the castle’s motte and set against a dark sky.

Clifford’s Tower channeling the Red Keep #GameOfThrones #GOT

Architectural model of Langwith College buildings, featuring a cluster of interconnected rectangular structures with varied heights and orientations. The model includes a central courtyard, walkways, pathways, and wire trees, all set on a landscaped base representing the surrounding environment.

A Friday Find. A rare image of the architects’ model for what looks to be the original Langwith College. With Derwent College, Langwith celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

As far as I can see, if students are excluded immigration in the year to June 2025 was just 381,000 and falling rapidly.

Headline 'Scientists have discovered "third state" between life and death'.

Is it 'online training course'?

The economic disaster that is Brexit The chancellor admitted last week that Brexit has hit productivity and the economy much harder than previously thought, a fact that the budget - courtesy of the OBR - would recognise. In a little-reported speech last week, Bank of England monetary policy committee member Swati Dhingra gave a hint at official thinking, citing recent independent research suggesting that Brexit had lowered Britain's output by between 6% and 8% and investment by between 12% and 18%, compared with what it would have been had the UK remained in the EU. Worse, these losses are permanent. The devastating numbers, much worse than the OBR's earlier official estimates, are the single most important cause of weakened productivity. They also mean that the exchequer has lost not £40bn but up to £80bn of tax revenue every year. Outside wartime, no leading country has ever committed so much economic self-harm.

"The economic disaster that is Brexit"

(A lot worse than I had thought)

Will Hutton in @theobserveruk.bsky.social

Canterbury and York Society 2025 Annual Lecture. Professor Chris Given-Wilson on ‘Archbishop, Chancellor, Kingmaker: Thomas Arundel, 1353-1414’. To be held at the Parker Library, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, on Wednesday, 5 November 2025 at 3:30 pm.

Excited for this year’s Canterbury and York Society Annual Lecture.

Join us in the amazing Parker Library @corpuscambridge.bsky.social to hear Professor Chris Given-Wilson on

‘𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽, 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗿, 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿: 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹’

5 November 2025, 3:30pm

Graphic of the parchment Declaration of Independence in the background with the SAA logo on an archives box that reads, "Safeguarding America's Many Histories"

Did you know that access to government records was one of the many grievances enumerated in the Declaration of Independence. That's right, transparency and access to government archives and records has been a paramount value of the US from day one! #AskAnArchivist

Poster for the event 'Rowntree newspaper ownership in the early 20th century' to be held at Bootham School auditorium on Monday 3rd November, 7pm-9.30pm.

On 3rd November The Rowntree Society will be shining a light on a little known aspect of Rowntree history - their newspaper ownership in the early 20th century. You can find out more (& get your free tickets) at the link below, or scan the QR code on the poster!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/rowntree-n...

Brilliant news! Congratulations 🥂