Confraternitas x Chorley Talk, 15th October 2019

A joint talk with The Chorley Society.

Dr Catherine Sumnall addressed the Confraternitas, as well as members of The Chorley Society, on the subject of ‘Making Wrigley and Schofield cry: the case for emotional demographies’. She outlined the historiography of demographic studies, and highlighted the way in which emotional and moral aspects are beginning to be seen by some as important alongside the quantitative data. She introduced her own research on the nineteenth and twentieth century illegitimacy patterns of the Gurk Valley in Austria, where rates of illegitimacy are unusually high, presenting this as a contrast to the trends set out by Wrigley and Schofield, and therefore as an opportunity to take a different approach. There were several pertinent questions at the end of the talk by history and geography students and fellows, with the first as usual asked by a first year history student. Some of the members also attended a formal hall afterwards, and then retired to the college bar.

Magister Rotulorum – Rosella Pennycook

Princeps Senatus – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Confraternitas Talk, 12th March 2019

At the final Confraternitas talk of the year Professor Alexandra Walsham and Dr Rachel Leow discussed the Decolonise the Curriculum movement in the History Tripos. Dr Peter Sarris had planned to also attend, but had been forced to withdraw. In their speeches and questions from the audience they explored issues of staffing, funding, and the need for a ‘decolonised’ perspective to all areas of history. Members attended their final formal of the term, which was also attended by the crest competition winner.

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos

Confraternitas Talk, 26th February 2019

Professor Rosamond McKitterick joined the Confraternitas to deliver a talk on ‘Perceptions of Rome in the Early Medieval West’. Through use of the Liber Pontificalis she offered insights into perceptions of the Popes described in the biographies, and into the changing landscape of the city of Rome. There were a number of highly perceptive questions, the first being asked as usual by a first year. Some of the members also attended a formal hall.

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos

Confraternitas Talk, 12th February 2019

Dr Gabriella Ramos delivered a speech to the Confraternitas titled ‘The South American Epidemic 1717-1720: A Historical Conundrum’. Her talk centred around the difficulties posed by the available primary sources, which provided very little information about an epidemic that had killed large numbers of people, in addition to the obstacles that had prevented her from accessing certain sources. This was explored in greater length as Dr Ramos answered questions from the audience. In a deviation from the normal schedule members, including Dr Ramos, attended a meal at Pizza Express instead of a formal meal in college.

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos

Confraternitas Senate Meeting, 6th February 2019

The Senate convened to discuss creating a competition to design a new Confraternitas crest, which would be put on new society merchandise. The Princeps, Magister, Pontifex, Caeremonarius, Treasurer, Informaticus and one of the Tribunes were in attendance. It was decided that after the submissions were made a poll would be carried out amongst members to decide the winner, and that the prize for the winner would be a free formal at the last meeting of term. There were subsequently five submissions, out of which Ethan Lees’ design was the winner with 38.9% of the 36 votes cast.

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos

Confraternitas Annual Dinner, 26th January 2019

The guest speaker for the annual dinner was professor of imperial Russia Simon Dixon, who gave a fascinating insight into the workings of the Foreign Office in Moscow. Also invited to speak were Dr Rhys Jones, who followed Professor Gerstle’s example from the previous year by delving into the minutes from Confraternitas meetings taken around a hundred years ago. Lewis Thomas (Pontifex Maximus) also delivered a speech, as did Christos Constantopoulos (Princeps Senatus). Following the meal many of the members retired the bar, where they remained until closing time.

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos

Confraternitas Dissertation Evening, 17th January 2019

The evening provided an opportunity for third year students taking dissertations (Jono Faber, Lewis Thomas, Charlie Walton and Christos Constantopoulos) to discuss their research with members of the Confraternitas, and for younger members to ask about the practicalities of dissertation research and writing. Ella Nixon, a third year who chose to take an additional paper instead of a dissertation, also had the chance to talk to students about alternatives to taking a dissertation. We had also planned to hear from Tim Schmalz about his PhD research, but he was unfortunately delayed and so was unable to make the meeting. Attendees were invited as usual to formal hall after the talk.

 

Magister Rotulorum – Camille Houghton-Grimshaw

Princeps Senatus – Christos Constantopoulos