Celebrating 50 years of Medieval Studies

The Institute for Medieval Studies has recently celebrated the launch of its 50th anniversary exhibition. Read more about its achievements and its plans for this milestone year.

Vice-Chancellor, Sir Alan Langlands speaking at the launch of the Institute for Medieval Studies' 50th anniversary exhibition

Vice-chancellor Sir Alan Langlands speaking at celebration of Institute of Medieval Studies 50th anniversary exhibition November 2017

Believed to be the oldest interdisciplinary centre in the University, the Institute for Medieval Studies has been home to an internationally leading community of medievalists since 1967.

John Le Patourel, Professor of Medieval History, led a group of pioneers to form a centre of graduate studies; since then, the IMS has flourished, with over 70 staff, students and associates from around the world.

The leading bibliography on the Middle Ages, the International Medieval Bibliography was founded at Leeds in 1967 – with over 500,000 articles, periodicals and other content now available in digital and print formats. 

The International Medieval Congress – now a key date in academic calendars across the world – began in 1994, and celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Every year, over 2300 medievalists join us here in Leeds to discuss, debate and disseminate the latest research. 

Knights fighting at Medieval Congress July 2017Knights at the International Medieval Congress at the University in July 2017

Over the next year, the Institute will be organising a series of events to commemorate this milestone:

  • the Anniversary Public Lecture Series, this year focusing on former Leeds staff and students discussing their current research - open to all
  • The Future of Medieval Studies, a two day conference to be held on 31 May to 1 June 2018, focusing on diversity in the academic field. The conference will discuss diversity in the Middle Ages, the diversity of scholarship and the diversity of academics in the field. A call for papers will be forthcoming.
  • a workshop on promoting diversity through curricula, reading lists, research, and recruitment
  • events as part of Be Curious 2018.

As part of the celebration, the Institute is looking for memories and stories from our community to feature online and in future IMS publications. If you have a memory you would like to share please contact the IMS Anniversary Intern at: imsanniversary@leeds.ac.uk.

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