Open University

History Society

Promoting the scholarly study of history amongst OU students past and present

Upcoming events for OUHS members

Join us for our 2024 History Weekend

This weekend is designed to encourage members, especially new ones, to meet informally and discuss history with like-minded, friendly people.

Find out more here

No Tolerance of Undeserving Rank and Splendour, the wit and satire of Gilbert and Sullivan

2nd December 3pm on Zoom

An insightful presentation by Stephen Goss.

The talk is about the late Victorian politicians and public figures lampooned by G&S.

This event is FREE to members and all members will receive an email invitation to this Zoom event. Not a member yet? Join today.

'The match girls strike and how it changed British labour history

Saturday 3rd February on Zoom

This fascinating presentation will be delivered by Michael Astrop who is a writer and business skills trainer. In the summer of 1888, fourteen hundred young women and girls, walked out of an East End match factory and into the history books.

There will be an element of audience participation as we will be given a quiz to assess how much we each remember from the talk!

This event is FREE to members and all members will receive an email invitation to this Zoom event. Not a member yet? Join today.

Inside The Medieval Mind

Saturday 13th April on Zoom

The speaker is Don Chiswell who is a teacher in Further Education.

This talk will uncover the thoughts, superstitions and beliefs of Medieval people and show that they were not so different from ourselves

This event is FREE to members and all members will receive an email invitation to this Zoom event. Not a member yet? Join today.

History Weekend

At the small, friendly residential weekend some of the members make presentations of their own researches on the theme for the year which the rest of us discuss and enjoy.

History Magazine

The OUHS produces a journal, Open History, most of which is written by members. This gives a unique opportunity for members to have their work published and read by sympathetically minded peers.

History Day Trips

The Society organise trips to places of interest to historians and history students, both members and their family and friends are equally welcome to attend.