Conference: The Great War in the Middle East 1911-1923, 20-21 April 2016

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This conference marks the one hundredth anniversary year of the Arab Revolt, a significant event in the region during the Great War and after, but not, of course, an indicator of the allegiances of many Arabs who remained on the Ottoman side until 1918. The military success of the Arab Revolt was squandered in 1919-25 by the failure of the Arabs to remain united, and European peace-making, while laudable, sought to break up the region for its own interests.

The conference is focussed on the contrasts and confluences of military operations and peace-making in the Middle East between 1915 and 1922. Scholars are invited from a cross section of international institutions, seeking to return the Middle East and the Western Empires to their proper place in the history of that war, not as sideshows, but as important theatres in their own right. Oxford is well placed for this endeavour, with its Middle East Studies Centre, large numbers of scholars working in this field, and strong links with the modern Middle East.

The first two days of the conference will take place at RMA Sandhurst, the third day will take place in Oxford.

Further information will be posted here when available.

Forthcoming WW1 related seminars

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In addition to the GLGW events planned for this academic year, the following seminars have so far been advertised:

11 November 2015 at 17.00
Heather Jones (LSE) – ‘The British blockade of Germany 1915-1919: redefining the status of civilians in wartime?’
German History Research Seminar, Colin Matthew Room, History Faculty

27 November 2015, 12.30-14.00
Duncan Kelly (Jesus, Cambridge) – ‘Elie Halevy and the First World War’
History of Political Thought seminar, Swire Room, University College

2 March 2016, 12.30-13.45
Michael Roper (Essex) – ‘Growing up in the aftermath of the First World War: issues of oral testimony’
Centre for the History of Childhood seminar, Summer Common Room, Magdalen College

 

Two of our researchers are presenting papers as part of the Modern European History Seminar series for Michaelmas Term 2015:

5 Nov:
Jaclyn Granick (Oxford)
‘Jewish humanitarian relief in Europe in the Great War era’

26 Nov:
Gabriela Frei (Oxford/Brussels)
‘The Conscience of Jurists: The Experience of the First World War and the Future of International Law’

The seminars will be held at 5 p.m. on Thursdays in the Modern History Faculty Building, George Street, Oxford. All are welcome to attend, and tea will be available in the Common Room before the seminar. For all queries, please contact the co-organisers:
Tom Buchanan (Kellogg)
Martin Conway (Balliol)

CFP: 1916 in Global Context: Connections and Comparisons

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National University of Ireland, Galway
Thursday, 16 June – Friday, 17 June 2016

The purpose of this conference is to explore the significance of Ireland’s Easter Rising and other revolutionary events in the year 1916 in the context of growing challenges to the global imperial system. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that the Irish revolutionary generation was embedded in a range of global transnational networks and that the Rising itself has parallels with other revolutionary events around the world in 1916. The Easter Rising took place during a period of global revolutionary transformations that are often overshadowed by the 1917 Russian Revolution. These include the Mexican Revolution, the Arab Revolt, the Basmachi Revolt, as well as street protests and food riots in European cities.

Prospective participants should send a paper title and a 300-word abstract, accompanied by a one-page c.v. to enrico.dallago@nuigalway.ie by the deadline of 1 December 2015. They will be notified of acceptance by 18 December 2015. Participants will be provided with meals during the conference.

Further information here. Poster: Cfp 1916 Global

Oxford Images of War project, Oxford Castle Quarter

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Volunteers are being invited to explore the lives of young people in the city and county through photographic and written records from between 1914 – 1918 as part of the ‘Oxford Images of World War One’ project.

Volunteers aged 16-25 will have the opportunity to research the stories of soldiers, nurses, academics, students, priests and even conscientious objectors, all with professional support.

The outcome will be a high profile outdoor photography exhibition at Oxford Castle Quarter next summer and online resources developed in partnership with the University of Oxford.

Places are free but limited. If you would like to be involved in this project, please contact:
Ameneh Enayat: fetedaycontact@gmail.com

Further information here.
Publicity

Press release

Oxford DNB: First World War biographies released

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The latest update to the Oxford DNB, a History Faculty project, has been released, includes 30 new entries on figures connected with the First World War, and the events of 1915 in particular.

The authors are drawn from around the country, and beyond, but two entries on classical music composers who died in the conflict, Cecil Coles and Ernest Farrar, are contributed by Rachel Moore of New College, and Martin Holmes, Alfred Brendel Curator of Music, The Bodleian Libraries, where Farrar’s papers are preserved.

Further details are on the front page at www.oxforddnb.com.

Forgotten landscapes of the Great War: The case of a prisoner of war camp in Czersk, Poland

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For researchers interested in archaeology and the First World War, please see here for a paper, which presents survey information relating to the prisoner of war camp in Czersk, Poland.

WW1 Wiki-edit-a-thon, IT Services, 10 November 2015

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On Tuesday 10th November 2015 the University of Oxford IT Services are hosting a Wikipedia Editathon on the theme of World War I and Oxford.

Time: Tuesday 10 November, 2-5pm
Location: IT Services, 13 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 6NN

The focus of the session will be on editing and improving existing Wikipedia articles and adding images. The theme is WW1 with a particular focus on Oxford so subject expertise is useful (though not necessary – an interest in the topic and in learning about Wikipedia is a good starting point). No previous experience of wiki editing is necessary. The aim is to improve or create Wikipedia articles on World War I topics and highlight the role of Oxford as both a city and a university, in this historical conflict.

Training will be led by Martin Poulter, the Bodleian Libraries’ Wikimedian In Residence. Expert knowledge about the War or previous Wiki editing experience is NOT necessary, though subject experts and experienced editors are also welcome.

This is a free event, run as part of the University’s centenary activities. Non-University members are welcome.

For more information, see here. To book a place please visit: https://courses.it.ox.ac.uk/detail/TWOHE (University members) or email courses@it.ox.ac.uk (non-University members).