Remy Leighton

My thesis uses the library and associated books of Mary I to understand her conception of self as princess and queen, the impact of humanism during her education and later life, and her faith during the Henrician and Edwardian reformations. In particular, I would like to evaluate the question: was it really inevitable that she would restore England to papal obedience? Sources will include books with ownership records tracing to Mary, books dedicated to her, inventories, Privy Purse expenses, the Calendar of State Papers (Spanish, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I), and correspondence. 

My background is in early modern history (BA, Hunter College) and museum studies (MA, Queen Mary University of London). I have taken a keen interest in museum collection practices and advocated for streamlined accession/deaccession procedures complemented by rigorous and extensive digitisation projects to ensure all museum resources and collection objects are accessible to the public. My historical interests revolve around the figures of Henry VIII, Mary I, Thomas Cromwell; book history and marginalia; early modern bureaucracy and government; and the intersection of Reformation and politics.