Ford Lectures facts for kids
The Ford Lectures are a special series of public talks held every year at the University of Oxford in England. These talks are all about British history and usually focus on one big historical topic. There are usually six talks in the series, and they often get turned into books later on!
How the Lectures Began
These important lectures are named after a man called James Ford (1779–1851). He was a student at Trinity College, Oxford a long time ago, starting in 1797. After he finished his studies, he became a Fellow at Trinity College. James Ford loved collecting old things, and his collections can still be found in famous libraries today, like the Bodleian Library and the British Library.
When James Ford passed away, he left a large sum of money, £2,000, to Oxford University. He wanted this money to help create a new teaching position, a "professorship," for English history. The idea was that when the money grew enough to pay £100 a year, the professor could be hired.
By 1894, the money had grown, but £100 wasn't enough to pay a professor anymore. So, after a lot of discussion, the university decided to use the money for something else: an annual series of lectures instead of a full-time professor. A special group would choose a new lecturer each year to give talks on English history.
The very first person to give the Ford Lectures was S. R. Gardiner in 1896. For many years, they were called "Ford's Lectures in English History." But in 1994, the University of Oxford officially changed the name to "Ford's Lectures in British History." This change meant the talks could cover the history of all of Britain, not just England.
Who Has Given the Ford Lectures?
Many famous historians have been chosen to give the Ford Lectures over the years. They share their research and ideas about different parts of British history. The lectures are usually given in the spring term, called Hilary term at Oxford.
Here are some of the early lecturers and the interesting topics they covered:
- 1896–97: S. R. Gardiner talked about Cromwell's Place in History.
- 1897–98: Frederic William Maitland discussed Township and borough.
- 1898–99: Adolphus William Ward explored Great Britain and Hanover: some aspects of the personal union.
- 1899-1900: James Hamilton Wylie spoke about The Council of Constance to the death of John Hus.
The lectures continued through the 1900s, with historians covering everything from ancient Roman times in Britain to the history of the English Church, and even how different countries interacted with Britain. Some years, like during the World Wars, no lectures were held.
More recently, historians have explored topics like:
- 2019–20: Margot Finn talked about Family and Empire: Kinship and British Colonialism in the East India Company Era, c. 1750–1850.
- 2020–21: Jane Ohlmeyer presented on Ireland, Empire, and the Early Modern World.
- 2021–22: Robin Fleming shared Dogsbodies and Dogs' Bodies: A Social and Cultural History of Roman Britain's Dogs and People.
- 2022–23: Colin Kidd discussed Peculiarities of the English Enlightenment: Ancients, Moderns and Pagan Pasts.
- 2023–24: Alec Ryrie gave talks on The World's Reformation.
These lectures help us learn more about the past and understand how Britain and the world have changed over time.
