Archive

Our Criminal Past

‘Our Criminal Past’ is an interdisciplinary research network of UK-based stakeholders who are working academically and/or professionally in the field of the criminal, legal and penal history of Britain.

The creation of the network was in recognition of the growing importance of ‘our criminal past’, not only to academics but also to archivists, heritage professionals, educationalists and others in the wider community who have an investment in how our criminal past is to be preserved, presented and transmitted. Three inter-related themes have been identified as important areas of cross and multidisciplinary interest in terms of previous, current and future research that have contemporary and cultural significance beyond the academia. These are: Digitisation: Social Media and Crime History; Educating Historians of Crime: Classroom, Archive, Community; and Representing Penal Histories: Displaying and Narrating our Criminal Past.

Our series of network events brought together experts from a range of disciplines, including history, criminology, education, tourism and cultural studies, with archivists and those engaged in an educational and heritage capacity in museums and prisons. The events were a forum for discussion and debate about future strategic research planning and collaborations, the sustainability of research in relation to new technology and funding streams, and the role of individuals, communities and institutions in shaping and preserving our criminal past. Through the sharing of expertise and good practice, we explored ideas that would lead to new projects in the history of crime, thus ‘Caring for the Future’ of the history of crime.

 

Key Contacts

Professor Helen Johnston, University of Hull: h.johnston@hull.ac.uk

Professor Heather Shore, Leeds Beckett University: h.shore@leedsbackett.ac.uk

 

Events

Event 1: Our Criminal Past: Digitisation, Social Media and Crime History, London Metropolitan Archives, 17 May 2013

Event 2: Our Criminal Past: Educating Historians of Crime: Classroom, Archive, Community, Broadcasting Place, Leeds Beckett University, 6 September 2013

Event 3: Our Criminal Past: Representing Penal Histories: Displaying and Narrating the Criminal Past, Galleries of Justice, Nottingham, 31 January 2014

Latest Updates on Twitter

After four and a half years of research and writing (and grappling with technology!), I’m delighted to say that I’ve submitted my thesis! It has been a huge learning experience, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Now off for a liquid lunch… 🍾🥂

The Tolpuddle Martyrs were convicted #OnThisDay (17 March) in 1834 in the case of R v Lovelass… https://twitter.com/HistoriesC/status/1635599900581740545

Our friends @Hullhistorynews have a new exhibition on display...

British Jews in the First World War: We were there too is on display Tuesdays - Thursdays until 30 March.

Find out more at https://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/current-events.aspx

Research Associate in Criminology at University of Sheffield - fascinating interdisciplinary oral history project looking for a researcher #histcrime #probation https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/CYC172/research-associate-in-criminology

The Rising Star Seminar Series, hosted by @CrimSocHull at the @UniOfHull returns for 2023!

Next up!!
Join Dr. Sam Hanks (Swansea University)

🗓️29th March 2023
⏰1pm
ONLINE
Free to all🎟️https://bit.ly/3K2z2Wh

Full programme here: https://bit.ly/3E5TaTq
@FACEHubUoH

As part of the @UkNatArchives Postgraduate Archival Skills Training (PAST) programme, I’m running an online workshop on early modern colonial records. Please share with any interested PGRs!

PAST Thematic Overview: Early Modern Colonial History
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/past-thematic-overview-early-modern-colonial-history-registration-526415291307?aff=odcleoeventsincollection&keep_tld=1

Taking Back Control of the Prosecution Process | History and Policy by Prof Barry Godfrey https://www.historyandpolicy.org/opinion-articles/articles/taking-back-control-of-the-prosecution-process