New research - History
Our research is at the forefront of our fields in history. Read about new developments here.
Digital history
Professor Tim Hitchcock is creating new text mining methodologies for historical purposes, and the application of API architectures to existing resources.
He is supported by a ‘Digging into Data’ award, as well as international collaborations with:
- George Mason University, Virginia, USA
- University of Alberta, Canada
- William Turkel at the University of Western Ontario, Canada
Hitchcock is also working with Jason Kelly at the University of Indiana to create an open access publishing model for history.
Read more about the See History Working Papers Project for more details.
He is also collaborating with Simon Dedeo of the Santa Fe Institute to explore the application of a thesaurus methodology to the problem of mapping the semantics of meaning and affect in 19th century trial records.
Witchcraft and magic
Professor Owen Davies has recently completed a social history of witchcraft in America from the 18th to the 21st century - America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft after Salem (OUP).
He is beginning work on a global comparative study of witchcraft in the same period.
He recently submitted a European Research Council bid, 'Empire and witches: European colonial authority, cultural encounters, and double standards in the policing of witchcraft and magic from the 18th to the 20th century.'
British historical statistics
Professor Nigel Goose is part of a Cambridge University Press commissioned collaborative project to produce a new edition of British Historical Statistics, to be published in print and online.
Professor Goose's roles include:
- General Editor along with Prof Middelton (University of Bristol) and Dr Turner (Hull).
- Co-editor of Vol 1 Population with Dr Hinde (Southampton).
- Co-editor of Vol. 2 Work and Welfare with Prof Harris (Southampton) and Prof Gazeley (Sussex).