Lecture.

Are you as excited as I am? I hope so! Preparations are fully under way for the last lab of the year (cake and tea, that sort of thing).

If you could look out your pinkest clothes (whatever they might be), then it will be extra cake for you! As you know, pink is the lab's trademark colour and it would be grand if we could all wear something pink. A scarf, tie, jumper, watch, whatever!

Great - see you tomorrow. Remember it is 3.30 (an hour earlier) for cake, for a 4pm start. Be there nice and early to be sure of a seat. All welcome, as usual.

Historical Photos on Flickr

Flickr seems to be being used more and more as a place to upload historical images, especially in America. The Library of Congress is a good source and recently posted some rare photos of Lincoln to celebrate President's Day. Check out the section News in the 1910s for some great photos of America and world in the early 20th century.

(Image from the Bain News Service 1910-1915 - Colliery Lasses, British Coal strike)

Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

Following our discussion at the book group meeting on The Jungle tonight, here is the industrial accident I was referring to: the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911. Fifty women jumped to their deaths, and the total death toll was 146.

eurovision, political, never!

'We don't wanna put in!' say it a few times quickly and contemplate the (even more) hilarious nature of Eurovision which is hosted in Moscow this year!

The above title of the Georgian entry has been told to be re-written or a new song has to be found.

Viva Eurovision for such joys!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7935865.stm

The Great Patriotic War?

The Great Patriotic War? A holocaust denial, without the holocaust?

Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika has suggested that the denial of the Soviet victory in WWII may result as a criminal offence.

See this article for a little more detail: http://www.rferl.org/content/State_Of_Denial/1502774.html

Russia as always is a facinating place, what more can I say!

(Thanks to Mark Hurst for forwarding me this article!)

A pink letter day!: the first NHL Lecture.

Our final session of the 2008/09 academic year approaches. You need not be disconsolate, as it is to be given by Dr Tristram Hunt (Queen Mary University), and is derived from his eagerly-awaited biography of Engels, The Frock-coated Communist: The Revolutionary Life of Friedrich Engels (Penguin, forthcoming i.e. April 2009). His abstract has been published here before, but it is worth reprinting it as a reminder.

Manchester, Engels and the Making of Marxism

Dr Hunt: "Friedrich Engels, co-author of The Communist Manifesto and life long ideological ally of Karl Marx, lived in Manchester from 1842-44 and 1850-1870. Each period of residency proved instrumental in the development of Marxism. The first gave Engels an understanding of materialism, the proletariat and the function of private property - all of which came to be expressed in The Condition of the Working Class in England (1845). His longer stay in 'Cottonopolis' - as a merchant in the cotton industry - not only brought to light the troubling contradictions of Engels's bourgeois existence, but through Manchester's public culture of science helped turn his thinking in a markedly scientistic direction. This proved the essential and under-appreciated intellectual preamble for Engels's far more scientific interpretation of Marxism in the 1870s and 1880s (Anti-Dühring; Dialectics of Nature) and much of what constituted official, 20th century Marxism. "

Wear Something Pink for Free Food

In honour of the occasion, please wear something pink. It could be anything - scarves, jumpers, pocket handkerchiefs, socks - you name it! Those wearing an item of pink clothing will be pleased to learn that the pub will be offering the complimentary nibbles to celebrate the occasion.

REMEMBER THAT WE START AT 3:30PM not 4:30PM this week. And I'd get there early to be sure of a seat.

As promised: Sheffield flood claims.

Usually, insurance claims are boring and annoying. If you've had the misfortune to make one, you'll understand. However the historical archive about which Gervase told us on Saturday may change your view of this. Follow the link to find out all about the claims people made to the water company. Because they accepted liability, you can find out about a full cross-section of the population, not just those with policies.

Sheffield: a city of seven hills, five rivers and two fine lead peregrinators.

Rome, infamously, was built on seven hills. So too, we learnt, was Sheffield. Whilst Rome was the pinnacle of the Grand Tour, Sheffield has not been the subject of quite so much antiquarian interest. Indeed, there might not have ever been a peregrination to Sheffield ever before, and chances are nobody will mount one any time soon. So we must have added to the history of this city.

What an unutterable success! Many thanks to our two lead peregrinators. Due to their scholarship and enthusiasm, we saw a very great deal, learnt a lot, and visited a number of fine hostelries. And, of course, thanks for coming! I do hope those who attended enjoyed themselves.

See you on Friday for the end-of-year lecture from Tristram Hunt. More details will follow throughout the week on the blog.