Dr Allen Warren MA, DPhil (Oxon) Professor Richard Bessel BA (Antioch), DPhil (Oxon) 01904 432980 01904 432986 hist14@york.ac.uk www.york.ac.uk/depts/hist/ Department Profile The Department offers an intellectually exciting and wide-ranging programme of postgraduate study both through taught and research masters courses and individual research projects leading to the degrees of MPhil and DPhil. In association with the Departments of English, Archaeology, Politics and Sociology, we support a programme of interdisciplinary Masters degrees located in the Centres of Medieval Studies, of Eighteenth Century Studies and of Modern Studies, and taught by staff of international renown. Historians are actively involved in each of these centres. We have particular geographical strengths in British, European and North American history and in the regional history of Northern England. Our thematic strengths are in religious, economic, social and cultural history, the history of the middle ages, the history of gender and sexuality, and the history of modernism. Courses offered Diploma/MA in Historical Research MA in History by Dissertation MA in Medieval History MA in Early Modern History MA in Modern History (History and Culture) MA in History and Politics (Popular Movements) MA in Women's and Gender History Certificate/Diploma/MA in Local History MA in the History of Art MA in Medieval Studies (see Centre for Medieval Studies) MA in Eighteenth Century Studies: Representations and Contexts, 1750-1850 (see Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies) MA/Diploma in Eighteenth Century Studies: The Age of Revolutions 1750-1850 (see Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies) MA in Women's Studies (see Centre for Women's Studies) MA in the Culture of Modernism (see Centre for Modern Studies) Diploma/MA in Railway Studies (see Institute for Railway Studies) MPhil DPhil Staff and research interests Medieval Peter Biller, MA, DPhil (Oxon), FRHistS Heresy; condition of women; social history of medicine. Catherine Cubitt, MA (Cantab and London), PhD (Cantab) Anglo-Saxon history; early medieval religious and cultural history; gender. Mary Garrison, AB (Harvard-Radcliffe College), MA, PhD (Cantab) Early medieval literature and cultural history. Jeremy Goldberg, MA (Cantab and York), PhD (Cantab) English social structure, demography, women, the family. Jane Hawkes, BA, PhD (Newcastle-upon-Tyne), FSA Late antique and early medieval art and iconography. Matthew Kempshall, MA, DPhil (Oxon) Medieval political and ethical thought; early medieval historiography; the classical tradition. Richard Marks, MA, PhD (Courtauld Institute London), FSA Medieval art; stained glass production, imagery and patronage. Christopher Norton, MA, PhD (Cantab), FSA Art and architecture, especially of the monastic orders. Mark Ormrod, BA (London), DPhil (Oxon), FRHistS Political and administrative history of later medieval England. Sarah Rees Jones, BA (Oxon), DPhil (York) Later medieval English social, economic and urban history. Peter Rycraft, BA (Oxon), FRHistS Later medieval Catalan, Spanish and Mediterranean history. David Smith, MA (Oxon), DPhil (Nottingham), FRHistS, FSA English ecclesiastical history; editing of historical records. Craig Taylor, MA (Oxon), MA (Rochester), DPhil (Oxon) Politics and ideas in late medieval France and England; chivalry; the Hundred Years War. Early Modern Wolfgang Behringer, MA, PhD (Munich) Early modern history of central Europe: climate, mentalities, witchcraft, communication, Reformation. Stuart Carroll, BA (Bristol), PhD (London) Political culture of 16th century France; noble culture in late medieval and early modern France, especially the feud. Ron Clayton, MA (New England), DPhil (York) English political history, 1660-1714; Jacobitism. Simon Ditchfield, BA (York), MPhil, PhD (London), FRHistS Historiography; hagiography; early modern Italian ecclesiastical and cultural history. Mark Jenner, BA, DPhil (Oxon) Early modern English social and cultural history; the social history of medicine. Amanda Lillie, BA (Auckland), MA, PhD (London) Art, architecture, patronage and mentalities in Renaissance Italy. Jeanne Nuechterlein, BA (Rice University), MA, PhD (University of California, Berkeley) 15th and 16th-century northern European art, especially Flanders and Germany; Holbein. James Sharpe, BA, DPhil (Oxon), FRHistS Crime; witchcraft; popular culture; the family. William Sheils, BA (York), PhD (London), FRHistS English reformation; agrarian and landscape history. Simon Smith, MA, PhD (Cantab) British economic and social history 1688-1720; colonial trade; coffee. Christina Strunck, MA (Freie UniversitŠt Berlin) Interrelationship between art, politics and society in Italy and France (16th century to the 18th century). Modern Richard Bessel, BA (Antioch), DPhil, (Oxon), FRHistS Modern German history; aftermath of the World Wars; history of policing. Elizabeth Buettner, BA (Barnard College), MA, PhD (Michigan) Social and cultural history of 19th and 20th century Britain and the British Empire, particularly concerning enthnicity, childhood, gender, personal narratives, memory and colonial culture. David Clayton, BA, PhD (Manchester) British and Chinese economic history; post 1945 international history. Geoffrey Cubitt, BA, MA, PhD (Cantab) Political, religious and intellectual history of France. Colin Divall, MSc, PhD (Manchester) Railway and transport history; social history of engineering; technology and museums. Alan Forrest, MA (Aberdeen), DPhil (Oxon) French history, especially the social history of the French Revolution. Natasha Glaisyer, BA (Canterbury, NZ), PhD (Cantab) Cultural history of commerce in the 17th and 18th centuries. Joanna de Groot, BA, DPhil (Oxon) Cultural and social histories of race, empire and ethnicity: some Indian and Iranian history in 19th and 20th centuries; women's and gender histories. Mark Hallett, BA (Cantab), MA (London) Graphic arts in 18th century Britain; urban society in art. Ralph Harrington, BA (London), MSt (Oxon) History of urban transport; cultural history of railways. John Howard, BA (Virginia), MBA (Mississippi), MA (Alabama), PhD (Emory) 20th century America; US south; history of sexuality; queer studies. Rodney I. Hills, BA (York) British electoral politics; post-World War II social issues. Shane O'Rourke, BA, MA (East Anglia), DPhil (Oxon) Russian history in late 19th and 20th centuries. David Peters Corbett, MA (East Anglia), MPhil (Cantab), PhD (Manchester) English art, literature and culture 1880-1930; modernism, world and image studies. Jane Rendall, BA, PhD (London) Women's and gender history in 18th and 19th century Britain. Edward Royle, MA, PhD (Cantab), FRHistS Social history in 18th and 19th century Britain; popular politics; religion and free thought. Bill Trythall, MA (Oxon) Spain in the 20th Century. James Walvin, BA (Keele), MA (McMaster), DPhil (York) Slavery; West Indian history; modern British social history. Allen Warren, MA, DPhil (Oxon), FRHistS Anglo-Irish and later 19th century British politics; youth movements. Michael White, BA (London), MA, PhD (Essex) 20th century European art and architecture, especially constructivism and surrealism. About the Department The Department believes strongly that postgraduate study and research should reflect both the pursuit of individual research and group scholarly endeavour. All taught MA courses therefore involve a substantial dissertation, and all research students are encouraged to break down the isolation of the individual researcher by participating in the scholarly community of the Department's active graduate school through attendance at relevant MA seminars, research training sessions and the weekly departmental research seminar. Each research school has an active programme of academic seminars, small conferences and reading groups involving both the academic staff and graduate students. Each MA student has a personal supervisor in addition to specialised tutors; and the progress of each research student is assisted by a panel of at least two members of staff in addition to the nominated supervisor. The Department of History has over 40 full-time academic staff, making it one of the largest in the country. Funding Interested applicants will be concerned about how to fund their research proposal. As well as applying to the AHRB, ESRC and other public funding bodies, candidates may also be interested in the University, College and Departmental Awards available. Details of the scholarships and studentship on offer at any one time can be obtained from the Graduate Schools Office or the Departmental Graduate Secretary and are included in the standard pack sent to all enquirers. Teaching in the Department of History received a rating of 'Excellent' in the HEFCE Teaching Quality Assessment. Candidates for postgraduate courses at York are now eligible for ESRC funding. MA The University's Masters graduate programme is modular. For taught Masters programmes in History, the general structure is as follows. In each programme, the student takes two modules in each of the Autumn and Spring Terms - an obligatory core course (one or two modules) and two or three option courses with assessment essays, handed in at the beginning of the following term. At the same time they will undertake a training programme in Research Skills, which will lead into the preparation of a dissertation proposal. Students complete this preparation by the beginning of the Summer Term. The remainder of the course is devoted to the research and writing of the dissertation, which is a piece of original scholarship of up to 20,000 words in length. The modular structure allows students a wider choice of options from other cognate Masters programmes, encouraging greater interdisciplinarity and a richer research culture. For more details on any particular programme please consult the Department's Web site, or write to the Department's Graduate Secretary. The Research Skills module provides a theoretical and practical introduction to the conduct of historical research and includes classes in ways of looking at the past and thinking about sources, as well as illustrating their possibilities for original research. There is an introduction to the University Library and visits to other locations including the Borthwick Institute, the Minster Library, the City Archives and other libraries and archives in York and elsewhere, not least a virtual visit to sources and research aids on the World Wide Web. There is also the opportunity to acquire additional skills in IT, palaeography and elementary statistics. Finally, guidance is given on organising and presenting a piece of research. Candidates for admission to the MA degree courses should normally have a good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject. All these courses are intended to be of interest to home and overseas candidates who (a) are seeking a basis for further research in history or related disciplines, or (b) are wanting to extend their interests after an undergraduate course through a short period of further research before embarking on other careers, or (c) are teachers or other professionals in a field related to the subject matter of the course they wish to follow and who are looking for a year's advanced study leading to a further qualification. Diploma/MA in Historical Research This course is intended for students who want a broad training in historical skills and methods leading to the creation and fulfilment of an original research project in the student's own area of particular interest. The MA has been developed with the specific funding requirements of the AHRB in mind, and may be taken full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. Those students who have applied for and secured funding from the AHRB or the ESRC for a course of research training leading to a further three years of research may if they wish complete the course at Diploma Level after nine months and then proceed immediately with their doctoral research. Applicants should discuss possible strategies with the Course Director before completing their AHRB or ESRC form. The taught components of this course are (with the exception of the technical skills) assessed by revised coursework essays of up to 5,000 words each which collectively make up 90 credits out of 180 credits for the MA or 120 credits for the Diploma. Core Modules in Historical Research (Autumn and Spring Terms) These modules build on the Research Skills course to allow students to explore in depth different kinds of sources and the methodological problems that they pose. Topics include such matters as: problems of bias and interpretation; postmodernism and its critics; history as literature; history as social science; reading pictures as text; maps as historical documents; critical analysis of books, periodicals and newspapers; state and parliamentary papers; self-representation through autobiography; oral history; and how to find out about individuals. Optional Module (Autumn or Spring Terms) In order to relate some of these issues to a historical theme of interest to individuals, each student selects one 20-credit Optional Module from among any of those offered on other MA courses available to History students. This module may be taken in either term, depending on work-load and choice. If no Option module appears relevant to a student's research interests a tailor-made topic may be devised with an individual tutor. Holders of ESRC awards take three courses: Economics for Economic and Social Historians, Social Methods and Data Collection and Data Analysis. Research Training (Autumn and/or Spring Terms) This is an opportunity to acquire technical skills of general use to the practising historian, some of which may be necessary for the fulfilment of a particular piece of research. Skills taught include palaeography; medieval Latin; a modern language at various levels - usually French or German (but others may be possible by arrangement); elementary statistics, advanced word-processing; and other computing applications such as bibliographic and other databases, spreadsheets, statistical packages and web page design. The choices to be made from this list will be negotiated with individual students. Assessment is by formal tests. Research Proposal (Spring Term) During the Spring Term students prepare a proposal for their research dissertation. This provides a training in the art of presenting one's ideas to an external funding body and will be of particular help to those applying for public funding for their continuing research. The assessed work may take the form of a literature review or discussion paper of up to 5,000 words. Research Dissertation (Summer Term and vacation) This is a major piece of original research and enables the student to put into practice some of the skills and approaches learnt during the course. Students may select any general topic from among those listed under staff interests and with individual tutorial guidance write an essay of up to 20,000 words for presentation by 30 September. Students for the Diploma write a shorter essay, developing a 7,500-word essay from the research proposal. Part-time students take the Core Course in Historical Research in the first year and complete the Research Dissertation in the second. Other elements in the course may be taken when convenient in either year or across the two years. MA in Medieval History The MA in Medieval History builds upon York's international reputation in medieval studies. It is a distinctive master's programme designed for applicants whose interests lie in the study of medieval history, and who feel that they have much more to discover. The course provides both a thorough research training and an opportunity to explore new approaches to the history of medieval England and Europe. Particular emphasis is laid upon working at first hand with primary sources. By introducing students to a wide range of sources drawn from the entire span of the Middle Ages, they gain an unusual breadth of vision, but also a range of critical skills and analytical methods that are transferable across the more conventional boundaries between the early, high and late Middle Ages, and between British and European history. Students have the opportunity to apply these techniques in option courses, and subsequently through an individually supervised research dissertation on a topic of their own choice. The MA is structured in two stages. The first (taught) element spans the Autumn and Spring Terms. During this time students follow a core course, which runs over both terms, and choose an additional option courses in each of the two terms. The core courses introduces students to different types of evidence and research techniques. The first term of the core courses focuses on approaches to medieval history, in which particular topics or problems (for example: gender; saints and their cults; feud and violence; political ritual) are studied, with examples from more than one period. In the second term, the core course will look at a series of specific historical problems, the sources relevant to them and the problems of interpretation encountered. Option courses are taken with leading specialists who will cover the latest developments in certain fields. The particular option courses on offer may include: n Saints and Sanctity in the early Middle Ages n Kings, missionaries and markets: Viking-age Europe n Christians and Muslims in Spain, 700-1200 n Heresy and inquisition in Languedoc n Chivalry in the late Middle Ages. The second (research) stage comprises the preparation, researching and writing of the dissertation. Advice about research topics and instruction in bibliography, plus additional specialist advice and guidance from a supervisor, is given. Because of the range of expertise of staff members and the wealth of source material available in York, it is possible to provide supervision on a wide range of topics, both chronologically and geographically. Particular areas of strength are: early medieval Europe, particularly Anglo-Saxon England, the Frankish Empire and the Vikings; high medieval Spain; heresy and religious thought in the high Middle Ages; late medieval English society; states and political ideas in late medieval Europe, particularly England and France. The MA is normally taken full-time over one year, though arrangements for part-time students are available. Assessment is by means of four essays or exercises in source criticism (one in respect of each option and each part of the core course), each of 2,500 words; and a dissertation of not more than 20,000 words submitted by 30 September. Instruction in medieval Latin at different levels and in palaeography and related technical skills are also provided. MA in Early Modern History (Society and Culture in early modern Europe c1500-c1750) Taking as its context Britain within Europe this course focuses on the exploration of mentalities, and aims to enhance awareness of key historiographical and methodological debates in social and cultural history 1500-1750. It provides opportunities for interdisciplinary work, with literature and art history, as well as the opportunity to engage with primary material from the rich archival and print resources of the period deposited at the Borthwick Institute and the Minster Library. During the first term two core courses taught by means of seminars introduce students to key issues through study of particular topics, such as The Self, Mind and Body or The Circulation of Ideas, Writing, Reading and Hearing. In addition to the core there training courses are available for specific skills. These may take place in either the first or second terms. During the second term students choose two option courses, at least one of which will be from the list below, to complete the taught part of the course. The second option may also come from this list or from another option taught within the departmental graduate programme or those offered in related departments, subject to the approval of the course convenor. Both option courses are assessed towards the degree. Each core and option course normally is assessed by a 5,000-word essay. Option courses usually available include: n The Radical Reformation in Germany n Religious Conflict in France 1500-1700 n Rome and Representation c1575-c1660 n Graphic Satire in eighteenth-century England n From Body Politic to Body Beautiful: the Politics of the Body c1600-c1700 n The Politics of the Parish in Early Modern England n Change and Division? Religion and Locality in England c1550-c1720 For the second half of the MA, students engage on a dissertation of 20,000 words on a topic of their own choosing and under the supervision of a member of staff. This counts for 60% of the total assessment, and the taught elements for 40%. MA in Modern History (History and Culture) This MA course explores recent developments in social, intellectual and cultural history. The purpose of the course, which is taught by staff whose interests lie mainly in the post-1500 period, is to study the interactions between social problems, ideas and 'culture' in its broadest sense, drawing where appropriate upon other disciplines. The course involves a year's intensive teaching and research, but it can be taken through part-time study over two years. During the first two terms, all students take a core course, made up of a series of short units, some of which focus on the theoretical and conceptual issues, others of which are case studies. The core course takes such themes as political culture, gender, language, and material culture, and asks how they can be integrated into studies of social change. In addition, each student takes two option courses, one in the Autumn and one in the Spring Term, which examines issues raised in the core course in greater depth. There will, normally, be at least two such courses to choose from in each term, and these may include the following: n Cultural History of the French Revolution n Gendering and the Exotic, Exoticising Gender c1750-1900 n Heritage Studies as Applied History n From Body Politic to Body Beautiful: the Politics of the Body c1600-c1700 n Politics, History and Art in France, c1799-1848 n Exhibition: Art and Display in Eighteenth-Century England. From the beginning of the Summer Term students concentrate on an individual research dissertation of up to 20,000 words. Students also participate in the core research training seminars. In the assessment for the degree, the core and option courses count for 50% of the degree and the dissertation for the other 50%. MA in History and Politics - Popular Movements This course, which is open to both full and part-time students, offers a unique combination of methodological training and substantive study across the disciplines of History and Politics. It provides an introduction to political theory and historical methods related to the study of popular movements from the early modern period to the present, and is intended for students from both a historical and a social science background. During the first two terms students take three taught elements: a core course stretching across the two terms, and two other courses drawn from a given list of options. Training is provided in basic research skills: students are required to attend the course on Historical Research offered by the Department of History and on Comparative Political Enquiry, offered by the Department of Politics. In the Summer Term they prepare a 20,000-word research dissertation on a topic of their choice, making substantial use of primary materials; this has to be submitted by 30 September. The core course is designed to introduce students to major historiographical debates on popular movements and to discuss some of the theoretical frameworks that have been proposed. Seminars will be devoted to leading theorists, from Marx to Foucault; to specific case-studies, drawn from both European and non-European sources; and to issues of ideology and empowerment, from class and gender to millenarian beliefs and the nation-state. They focus on methodological texts and help provide a foundation for more specialised study in the course options. Students also take two option courses from a list offered by the Departments of History and Politics, one in each of the first two terms. These courses reflect the research interests of members of the two Departments and cover a wide range of problems and societies. Options examine instances of popular mobilisation based on class, gender, ethnic and national identities: they emphasise analytical themes and invite students to make appropriate connections with the methodological core. Current options include: n Writing about Slavery n Women, Enlightenment and Revolution, 1750-1850 n A Cultural History of the French Revolution n Socialism and Nationalism in South Africa n Marxist Theory n The Contemporary European City n Comparative Labour Movements. Essays from the core and option courses count for 50% of the degree; the other 50% is derived from the research dissertation. MA in Women's and Gender History This course explores both the subject matter and the ideas and methods used in the study of women's and gender history. It examines major themes, controversies and theories in this dynamic field and provides an introduction to comparative and interdisciplinary approaches across time and space. The course may be taken either full-time over one year or part-time over two. Full-time students take a core course and an option course in the Autumn Term and two further option courses in the Spring Term. The core course includes nine seminars on theoretical and comparative perspectives on gender history. Examples of option courses offered are: n Medieval Women: Work and Life Cycle n From Body Politic to Body Beautiful: the Politics of the Body c1600-c1700 n Gendering and the Exotic, Exoticising Gender c1750-1900 n 19th Century Feminisms c1800-c1918 n Men, Masculinity and Manliness in Britain and America from 1860-1940. As with other MAs in the Department of History all students follow a course in research methods for historians to support both their taught and research work. Students submit four assessed essays, one from each course. The remainder of the year is devoted to the preparation and writing of a 20,000-word research dissertation. Part-time students take the core course in their first term and a further option course in the second, fourth, and fifth terms, devoting the remainder of the two years to dissertation preparation. In conjunction with the above MAs it may be possible to take the Spring Term option course Heritage Studies as Applied History, followed by a four-week Easter vacation placement with a heritage agency or museum, and to complete a project (to be submitted for 20% of the MA degree) usually in collaboration with another student. Certificate/Diploma/ MA in Local History This is a part-time course taught over three years, mainly through evening classes with occasional Saturday schools. It is intended for students from a wide range of backgrounds who wish to learn more about the theory and practice of undertaking local historical studies, whether subsequently applied to Yorkshire or any other part of the country. The course is structured to enable students with an interest in local history to work for different levels of qualification according to their abilities and opportunities. Over the first two years students are introduced to the sources and methods for local history in the periods 1500-1750 and post-1750 and take one advanced module in each period. Assessment is by revised coursework essays and an open examination on sources. A Certificate may be awarded for one year's work and a Diploma for two years' work at the appropriate level. Suitably qualified students may then proceed to a 20,000-word research dissertation for an MA. Students are also free to attend any of the training classes and research seminars conducted in the Department and its associated Centres. MA in the History of Art This is taught by Art Historians based in the History and English Departments and in the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies - see page 150. MA in Medieval Studies This is an interdisciplinary course shared by the History, English and Archaeology Departments in the Centre for Medieval Studies - see page 169. MA in Eighteenth Century Studies: Representations and Contexts, 1750-1850 This is an interdisciplinary course shared by the History and English Departments in the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies - see page 98. MA/Diploma in Eighteenth Century Studies: The Age of Revolutions 1750-1850 This is a history course offered by the Department through the Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies - see page 99. MA in Women's Studies This is an interdisciplinary course shared by the History and other Departments in the Centre for Women's Studies - see page 225. MA in the Culture of Modernism This is an interdisciplinary programme based in the Centre for Modern Studies, leading to an MA degree in English or History. It offers an opportunity to study key themes in and theoretical approaches to the culture and history of the 20th century, and to lay the foundations for study towards higher degrees within the various disciplines involved in the MA programme. For further details see page 176. Diploma/MA in Railway Studies This is a history course offered by the Department though the Institute of Railway Studies and run jointly by the Department and the National Railway Museum - see page 230. MA in History (by Dissertation) This course is open to both full-time and part-time students. The subject of the research must be chosen from the Department's main fields of interest listed above. The topic of the dissertation will be finalised within the first term after registration. Full-time students will be seen regularly by their supervisor and are subject to the University's normal residence requirements. The dissertation of up to 40,000 words must be submitted at the end of 12 months of study, ie by 30 September. Part-time students will be required to see their supervisor regularly, and will submit their dissertation 24 months after initial registration. Students who achieve the right standard may seek to be upgraded to the MPhil programme. MPhil and DPhil Research Degrees MPhil and DPhil research degrees in History are offered both in the Department and in the context of its associated Interdisciplinary Centres and the Institute of Railway Studies. They are examined by theses of 60,000 and 90,000 words respectively. Candidates for admission should normally have, or be expected to obtain, a good honours degree or its equivalent in an appropriate subject. The degrees are open to both full-time and part-time students. All students will be initially registered for the MPhil degree. Re-registration for a DPhil may follow, when the student's written work is assessed in their second year. Applications are invited from candidates wishing to work in all the major areas of interest in the Department. The particular research interests of staff are outlined briefly above. Fuller details of these interests and the kinds of research topics they have supervised recently are outlined on the individual Web pages of each member of staff. If you have an enquiry about a particular research interest or area, please write and enquire through a letter or email to the Departmental Graduate Secretary in the first instance. Candidates are advised to make their proposals as specific as possible, indicating their own background in the proposed area of research, and where possible forwarding a piece of written work relevant to the proposal with their application. They should also indicate the member or members of staff with whom they wish to work. Preliminary enquiries are welcome and should be made to the Departmental Graduate Secretary. Interdisciplinary Centres The University of York has an international reputation for interdisciplinary study, and the Department of History is one of the leading participants in the research and masters' programmes of the following interdisciplinary centres. Interested applicants should consult the relevant pages of this prospectus and the website of each Centre or Institute. Centre for Medieval Studies See page 167. Centre for Eighteenth-Century Studies See page 95. Centre for Modern Studies See page 174. Centre for Women's Studies See page 223. Institute of Railway Studies See page 230. Research facilities The Department has its own computing facilities for graduates. The University Library (see page 28) has important collections on the English Civil War, French revolutionary history, 19th century British radicalism, and 19th and early 20th century women's history, as well as the British Parliamentary Papers on microfilm. The Wormald and Newton collections consist of books on art history, palaeography, bibliography and liturgy, and there is also a reference photographic collection devoted to medieval art. The Borthwick Institute (see page 228) is one of the major archive repositories in Britain, and is perhaps best known for holding the records of the Archbishop of York from the early 13th century onwards. But the Institute also possesses important Southern African holdings, the Rowntree Papers, the political papers of Lord Halifax, the Methodist archives for York and district and the archives of the York Health Services NHS Trust. The Gurney Library housed in the Institute is an important resource, especially for regional and ecclesiastical history, as is the Elton Library, a special collection which includes printed sources, notably for the 16th century. The Borthwick Institute is of interest and value to historical researchers working over a range of periods and a wide variety of subject areas. A research room is set aside for the use of postgraduate students with computer on-line, microfilm and coffee-making facilities. York Minster Library, in addition to its large collection of early printed books, has particular strengths in medieval history, patristic and liturgical writings, literature, iconography, and art history. It also possesses a number of Anglo-Saxon and medieval manuscripts, and holds the archives of the Dean and Chapter. It has additional holdings of manuscript materials for both the Church of England and Methodism, and its important holdings of printed works include books, pamphlets, newspapers, and ephemera. York City Library holds an important collection of printed works, including books, maps, and trade directories relating to the history of York and Yorkshire. The City Library also holds the J A R Marriott Collection of printed books and sources for the history of British foreign policy in the first half of the 20th century. York is a notable city of museums, including the Castle Museum of folk history and the National Railway Museum, each with its own archive collection. Research in railway history at the National Railway Museum is offered under the direction of Professor Colin Divall. There are other major medical and business archives available to support a wide range of research. York City Archives contain the records of over 500 years of civic life in York, including minutes and accounts, freemen's rolls, court records, improvement commission, poor law and school board records, civil parish, enclosure and manorial records, family and estate papers and a wealth of over materials for the city and its vicinity. The University Library is a member of the Yorkshire Universities Co-operative Library Scheme, enabling research students to use other Yorkshire libraries; further support comes from the extensive holdings at the York City Library; and York is the nearest university to the British Library Document Supply Centre at Boston Spa - the largest lending library in Europe - which has a reading room open to students. The Department also subscribes on behalf of its research students to the Institute of Historical Research in London. Further Information Leaflets describing individual courses are available; candidates interested in applying for research degrees are invited to request the Guide to Research in History at York, which gives full details of the interests and recent publications of all members of staff.