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.


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.
Want to join us? It is only £15 a year for membership , open to both current and former OU students. Maybe you too could be published in our magazine?
History book reviews from OUHS members
In Hitler’s Munich – Jews, the revolution, and the rise of Nazism
Michael Brenner, Princeton University Press. £28.00. ISBN 9780 691191034This book started out with...
The End of Ambition: The United States and the Third World in the Vietnam Era
Mark Atwood Lawrence, Princeton University Press. £28.00 hardback. ISBN 9780691126401According to...
Birmingham and the Black Country
(Pevsner Architectural Guides The Buildings of England) Andy Foster, Nikolaus Pevsner and...
Mehmet the Conqueror and Constantinople: A Portrait of Youth and Ambition
By Christopher Eimer, Spink Books Hardback, £25.00. ISBN 9781912667 666. Available from...
Roman Britain’s Missing Legion: What really happened to IXHispana?
by Simon Elliott, Pen & Sword Books Ltd, ISBN-10 : 1526765721, ISBN-13 :...
The Ratline: Love, Lies and Justice on the Trail of a Nazi Fugitive
Philippe Sands,Weidenfeld andNicholson.Hardback, £20 ISBN 9781474608121As a title, ‘The Ratline’...