Senate House Library and the Institute of Historical Research (IHR) marked a triumphant return to in-person engagement with history enthusiasts as they jointly hosted History Day 2023 on November 23. After a hiatus from physical gatherings since 2019 due to the pandemic, this year’s event welcomed a vibrant congregation of 64 esteemed organizations, assembling students, researchers, and history aficionados alongside collections professionals from diverse institutions spanning the UK and beyond.
Under the theme of “Discovering Historical Collections,” the event’s inauguration commenced with a riveting session chaired by Neil Stewart, Head of IHR Library and Digital. Eminent panelists from The National Archives, Archives Portal Europe, Community Archives and Heritage Group, and the IHR’s Bibliography of British and Irish History illuminated the audience with insights, sparking intellectual discourse and igniting the passion for historical inquiry.
The subsequent History Day fair provided attendees a platform to intimately engage with information professionals, fostering vibrant discussions and ideation around their research projects. Feedback echoed the resounding success of the day:
Florence Dall, Archives Officer at Queen Mary University of London, enthused, “Everyone on our team enjoyed themselves, and we had some great chats with researchers.”
Phyllis Vangelder, Trustee of Archive of Market and Social Research and editor of its quarterly newsletter, reflected on the event, stating, “We made a lot of contacts both with people from the Archives world and history researchers.”
Although History Day 2023 has drawn to a close, the exploration of historical treasures persists. Enthusiasts are encouraged to delve into history collections nationwide at the Discover Collections gallery or relive the insightful sessions through the History Day 2023 playlist.
