Birkbeck: 200 Years Of Radical Learning For Working People
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Author Description
In 2023, Birkbeck, University Of London Celebrates 200 Years Of Educating Working People In Central London. It Was Founded In 1923 As The London Mechanics' Institution And, From Its Inception, Was A Pioneering And Radical Institution. This History Is Animated By The Conviction That Birkbeck Is Its People. Their Thoughts And Ambitions, Hopes And Dreams, Labour And Laughter Are What This Book Describes, Celebrates, And Occasionally Laments. It Explores The History Of Education As Well As The History Of Place, Politics, Radicalism, Class, Race, Gender, Disciplinarity, Theatre, Food, Leisure, War, And Everyday Encounters. Most Of All, This Book Is About Ideas. What Does It Mean To Be Educated? How Have These Meanings Changed Over Time? What Makes Birkbeck Students Unique? What Does It Mean To Be Fully Human, Exploiting Our Faculties In Order To Become Better People?
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates the two-hundred-year evolution of Birkbeck, University of London, as a radical institution dedicated to providing higher education for working people. Professor Joanna Bourke utilizes archival records, personal testimonies, and institutional history to argue that the identity of the college is defined primarily by the diverse experiences and intellectual ambitions of its students and staff. The text frames the history of the university within the broader context of social, political, and cultural shifts in London since 1823.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological account of the institution from its origins as the London Mechanics' Institution to its modern status.
- Analysis of student life, including social activities, political engagement, and the impact of global conflicts.
- Examination of the changing definitions of education, class, gender, and academic discipline over two centuries.
Scope Limits
- The text focuses specifically on the internal and external history of Birkbeck and does not provide a comprehensive history of the entire UK higher education system.
- It prioritizes the human experience and institutional culture over purely administrative or financial records.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and academic reviewers recognize this volume as a thorough and human-centered institutional history that successfully captures the unique ethos of Birkbeck. Readers frequently note the accessible prose style, which balances rigorous research with the personal narratives of those who shaped the college over the last two centuries.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press,
ISBN-10:
0191939129
ISBN-13:
9780191939129
History
Social History
University History
Education
Academic Biography
British History
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