Elle Larsson's Avatar

Elle Larsson

@ellelarsson.bsky.social

Historian of animals and science with a particular interest in natural history collections and zoos. Dabbles in public history. A co-founder of Animal History Group & Meetings Secretary @sochistnathist.bsky.social

154 Followers  |  160 Following  |  1 Posts  |  Joined: 19.01.2025  |  1.6662

Latest posts by ellelarsson.bsky.social on Bluesky


Photograph of an American bison standing beside a fence at the London Zoo in 1906.

Photograph of an American bison standing beside a fence at the London Zoo in 1906.

The research guide on Environmental History that I wrote for The National Archives, UK is now live! Includes research advice and resources on colonial environments, pollution, agriculture, and animal histories.

Available here: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-yo...

#envhist #envhum

30.01.2026 16:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 106    ๐Ÿ” 58    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
Dark green background with white text overlaid reading "call for papers", surrounded by various natural history illustrations of animals wearing party hats.

Dark green background with white text overlaid reading "call for papers", surrounded by various natural history illustrations of animals wearing party hats.

๐ŸšจWe have a SUPER exciting announcement!๐Ÿšจ

Our next Summer Meeting will be at @zslofficial.bsky.social on the theme of The Zoological Society of London at 200: Science, Society, and the Natural World ๐Ÿฅณ

๐Ÿ“…1-3 July 2026
๐Ÿ—บ๏ธZoological Society of London

Find out how to submit ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป
shnh.org.uk/all-events/c...

05.12.2025 20:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 46    ๐Ÿ” 29    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

Weโ€™re very excited to have you both aboard! Welcome to the team ๐Ÿ™Œ

24.01.2026 17:32 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Our second event of the year is next Wednesday at 8pm! Come along to a book release talk for @s-pooley.bsky.social's DISCOVERING THE OKAPI
Attendance is free, all are welcome, sign up on the Eventbrite link below. ๐Ÿ“—๐Ÿฆ“๐Ÿ’š

05.11.2025 16:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A deep green background with white lettering that reads "The society for the History of Natural History Call for Papers" surrounded by historic illustrations of different types od seaweed.

A deep green background with white lettering that reads "The society for the History of Natural History Call for Papers" surrounded by historic illustrations of different types od seaweed.

๐Ÿ“ข Call for Papers! ๐Ÿ“ข

We're excited to announce that in 2026 we will again be hosting an Early Career Researcher Symposium, and that this time it will be a partnership with @linneansociety.bsky.social!๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

We'd love to hear from all ECRs, so find how to submit a proposal ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿป
shnh.org.uk/news/cfp-ear...

12.09.2025 12:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 18    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
Seminar Series Term One Our Seminar Series is back for 2025/2026. Seminars will be held at 8pm (GMT). Please sign up using the links below. Joining information will be sent shortly before the event. 15 October 20โ€ฆ

Announcing the new Animal History Group seminar series for the 2025-26 academic year! - All seminars held online at 8pm UK time. ๐ŸŽ‰ The details are here: animalhistorygroup.org/seminar-seri...
And here is a list for your calendar! ๐Ÿงต๐Ÿ’š

25.09.2025 07:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 36    ๐Ÿ” 22    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2
Preview
The Sense of Nature: SHNH Summer Meeting, June 2025 byย Josephine Koopman - Society for the History of Natural History SHNH Summer Meeting by Josephine Koopman, Researcher (Department of History, European University Institute) โ€œThe senses,โ€ Michel de Montaigne wrote in 1588, โ€œare the beginning and the end of human kno...

I enjoyed reading this piece by Josephine Koopman on the SHNH summer conference. It offers a wonderful summary of the presentations we heard, and teases out the shared themes our papers raised. Thank you Josephine!

shnh.org.uk/the-sense-of...
@sochistnathist.bsky.social

18.07.2025 14:58 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

I had a great time talking about the optics of microscopy at this year's SHNH conference! ๐Ÿ”ฌ I come away feeling enriched by the papers we heard and the conversations we shared.

Thank you to @ellelarsson.bsky.social and @sochistnathist.bsky.social for organising such a fantastic conference!

23.06.2025 12:51 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 5    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The president of the SHNH, Jack Ashby, standing at the front of a lecture theatre with an opening 'welcome' slide on the screen behind him.

The president of the SHNH, Jack Ashby, standing at the front of a lecture theatre with an opening 'welcome' slide on the screen behind him.

Here we go! ๐ŸŽ‰

We've all gathered in Glasgow, and have a full few days lined up exploring and celebrating the intersection between our senses and natural history!

From touch to temperature, it's sure to be fascinating ๐Ÿชถ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿปโ€โ„๏ธ

19.06.2025 10:22 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 12    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
Booking open: 'A Sense of Nature', SHNH International Summer Meeting, University of Glasgow, 19-20 June 2025 - Society for the History of Natural History A Sense of Nature The โ€˜sensory turnโ€™ in a range of humanities and social sciences disciplines has led to innovative research exploring how sensory experiences shape cultural and historical narratives....

โœจBooking is OPENโœจ

Join us for our Summer Meeting in Glasgow on the theme A Sense of Nature! Two days of talking about history and nature, including museum tours ๐Ÿฅฐ

๐Ÿ“…19-20 June
๐ŸฆKelvin Hall, University of Glasgow

Follow the link for the list of speakers and how to book ๐Ÿ‘‡
shnh.org.uk/news/booking...

13.04.2025 15:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 28    ๐Ÿ” 10    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 4
The famous flamingo, stuffed and on display in a glass case, seen today

The famous flamingo, stuffed and on display in a glass case, seen today

The VCH entry, published 1901. 'An adult Flamingo was shot on November 26th, 1883, on the mud banks at the mouth of the Beaulieu river, which it had frequented for about a fortnight. There is every reason to consider it a genuinely wild bird.'

The VCH entry, published 1901. 'An adult Flamingo was shot on November 26th, 1883, on the mud banks at the mouth of the Beaulieu river, which it had frequented for about a fortnight. There is every reason to consider it a genuinely wild bird.'

The information card on display at Beaulieu, confirming this is the same bird and describing it as a 'very rare vagrant'

The information card on display at Beaulieu, confirming this is the same bird and describing it as a 'very rare vagrant'

Every day's a @vchlondon.bsky.social research day! Spotted in Palace House on the #Beaulieu estate today - *the* celebrity #flamingo famous from its entry in the #VictoriaCountyHistory #NaturalHistory of #Hampshire (published 1901) - shot in 1883 at the mouth of the Beaulieu river.

21.04.2025 17:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 20    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
Natural History: A Reading List - JSTOR Daily This annotated bibliography samples scholarship on the richโ€”and difficultโ€”history of natural history.

Just come across this really useful list on the links between natural history and empire, featuring moi as โ€˜essential readingโ€™. Perfect if youโ€™re interested in museums or science more broadly too. Also ideal for passing to students as a starting point.

daily.jstor.org/natural-hist...

29.03.2025 14:19 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 69    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 2

๐Ÿ“ขOne week to go!

If you want to join us in Glasgow this year for our Summer Meeting on the theme of A Sense of Nature, then we can help!

๐Ÿ“šCurrent doctoral or post-doc researcher within 2 years
๐Ÿ’ตReceive between ยฃ300-400
๐Ÿ“…Deadline Friday 5 April 2025

More information in the link below ๐Ÿ‘‡

29.03.2025 18:50 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 6    ๐Ÿ” 9    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
AHG Reading Group - The Animal History of 20th-century Palestine Join us for a reading group on animal history: The Animal History of 20th-century Palestine, led by Lee Raye.

The Animal History of 20th Century Palestine. ๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿพ

Wednesday 19th March at 7pm GMT (+0). โฐ

We'll be reading historical primary sources and discussing what we make of them. ๐Ÿค“๐Ÿ

Online event hosted by @animalhistories.bsky.social. Entry is free, all welcome. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ahg-readin...

07.03.2025 20:42 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 16    ๐Ÿ” 6    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
A deep green background on which white lettering reads "The society for the history of natural history - call for papers", along with historical botanical illustrations of red, purple and pink flowers.

A deep green background on which white lettering reads "The society for the history of natural history - call for papers", along with historical botanical illustrations of red, purple and pink flowers.

๐Ÿ“ขCalling all natural historians!

This year our Summer Meeting is exploring the โœจsensesโœจ

So we want to hear from you! We're looking for papers that explore the intersections of the senses - including sight, sound, smell, taste and touch - with the history of natural history.

08.03.2025 11:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 28    ๐Ÿ” 24    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

๐Ÿ“ขEarly Career Researcher Symposium

Later this month we have a range of โœจFREEโœจ online talks covering a huge range of topics on the history of natural history.

๐Ÿ“…Thursday 20 February
๐Ÿ™ŒFree
๐Ÿ’ปOnline

Check out the link below for more information, including how to book your ticket! See you there! ๐Ÿฅฐ

03.02.2025 09:48 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 9    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

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