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Writing and Research

AcWriMo 2022 – The Greatest Writing Challenge!

30 November 20221 November 2022 by rebeccawatterson

Welcome to November aka AcWriMo… where academia collectively agrees to write, write and write some more. Writing can be daunting, frustrating and overwhelming for many academics who wear so many hats and always have a lengthy list to do. Writing when you have a ‘to read’ book pile resembling the library from Beauty and the … Read more

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In Ireland’s Own – my first history magazine publication!

4 December 202224 June 2022 by rebeccawatterson

My article GOT ACCEPTED in Ireland’s Own. Being a historian is one of my favourite things, but I never thought I would get published in magazines. It never crossed my mind that it was something I could or should do. Weird, huh, as I am a massive cheerleader of local and public history. But then, … Read more

Categories News, Featured, Writing and Research Leave a comment

Recent Posts

  • The Final December of My PhD… An Intense Month, December 2022
  • AcWriMo 2022 – The Greatest Writing Challenge!
  • In Ireland’s Own – my first history magazine publication!
  • Welcome to History With Rebecca

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    • The Final December of My PhD… An Intense Month, December 2022
    • AcWriMo 2022 – The Greatest Writing Challenge!
    • In Ireland’s Own – my first history magazine publication!
    • Welcome to History With Rebecca

    ✨PHD MILESTONES✨ I got a print copy of my firs ✨PHD MILESTONES✨
I got a print copy of my first ever publication: a book review in the journal, Social History of Medicine.
I’m very excited! 

#phdstudent #phdjourney #phdchat #phdstudentlife #phdlifestyle #phdresearch #phdstudentsofinstagram #phdwriting #phdstudents #phddiaries #academic #academiclife #academicwriting #academicexcellence #academicchatter #academicsuccess #academicresearch #historian #historians #historiansofinstagram #historyofmedicine #historybloggers #historybooks📚📝 #thehistorygirls #historynerd #historylovers #historynerd #historynotes #historygeek #historygram
    Two years later than planned… I got to graduate Two years later than planned… I got to graduate from my MA. And in just over another year, I will (hopefully) be passing my PhD viva and getting ready to add Dr to my name. Life is wild. Truly wild. 

I thought my MA thesis was going to be the biggest thing I ever wrote… and now it forms only part of a chapter of my PhD thesis… which has only felt like the biggest thing I’m going to write for a hot minute because now I’m making post doctoral research plans and exploring how to publish my work.

Weirdest path I have ever walked. Massive adventure. And I love every second. Even when I work myself into the ground and get sick. And when I complain about having too much to do. The research keeps me going. 

It’s been a great year so far. And there’s a lot more coming up in 2022! 

#historystudent #phdstudent #phdlife #phdjourney #phdchat #phdstudentlife #phdstudentsofinstagram #phdlifestyle #phdresearch #phdwriting #phddiaries #phdwomen #graduationoutfit #mastersgraduate #historylovers #historystudent #lifeinpictures #thesemoments #lifelooksbetter #lookslikefun #niblogger #irishblogger #livingfree #livingforme #bigplans #adventuresinwonderland #adventurenthusiasts #geeklife #livetoread #behappyalways
    The health of the workers in linen mills is a topi The health of the workers in linen mills is a topic quite close to home for me. I come from a town where the linen industry and a mill played a huge part in the lives of many, including in my own family. The working conditions and the impacts of those on mill workers and the families saw many dealing with respiratory diseases such as byssinosis, bronchitis and tuberculosis. Tuberculosis could affect entire families who were usually living in cramped housing and in poverty. 

The spinners (often women) worked in rooms that were hot and wet. To stay cool they worked in their bare feet which caused many of them to suffer from toe root or foot rot. (An example can be seen in the image above).

Children as young as 8 years old were inhaling dust in badly ventilated rooms that would cause lasting damage to their respiratory systems.

The mills were dangerous places. Whilst we celebrate the industrial heritage of our place, we must remember the workers and what they went through in the production of linen on an industrial scale.

I’ve a podcast episode and an article with more information on the health of the Belfast mill workers. The link to both is in my bio.

Did any of your family work in the mills?

Rebecca - The Happy Historian

Image Credit: Diseased Tissue on the Toe and Nail of a Woman Showing Symptoms of Onychia. Watercolour by C. D’Alton c.1870. Wellcome Collection.

#historygirls #belfastcity #belfastireland #belfastblog #historymatters #bestofbelfast #lovebelfast #irishhistory #historylovers #historyinpictures #historyblog #historybuff #historygeek #historyphoto
#historyclass
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    Did you know that the portable defibrillator was i Did you know that the portable defibrillator was invented in Northern Ireland?

Frank Pantridge, a cardiologist and doctor from Hillsborough, worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast from 1950 to 1982. His work introducing CPR led him to realise there was a need for specialist equipment before someone reaches hospital.

In 1965, he installed the first portable defibrillator into an ambulance in Belfast. It weighed a whopping 70kg and was powered by car batteries. Although by 1968 this would have shrunk to only 3kg (phew!)

Pantridge’s device and approach were of interest worldwide and the defibrillator became and remains today an important element in first aid. However, it wouldn’t be until 1980 when all UK ambulances would be fitted with the device.

Pantridge served in the Royal Army Medical Corps in WW2 and was a prisoner of war. His story can be read in Cecil Lowry’s recent book, “Frank Pantridge: Japanese Prisoner of War and Inventor of the Portable Defibrillator” of which I had the recent pleasure of attending the launch of. 

An early ambulance and the story of Pantridge and the portable defibrillator can be seen at the Ulster Transport Museum in their fantastic Museum of Innovation exhibit.

Pantridge is often termed the Father of Emergency Medicine, but as a medical historian, I often avoid phrases such as “pioneer” or “father” because without the misfortunes of many a patient and the assistance of many a person, the defibrillator wouldn’t be with us today. Frank had the idea and resource to carry it out but he certainly didn’t do it alone.

Did you know the defibrillator was developed so recently in NI?

Becca - The Happy Historian

#historyfacts #historylovers #historyinpictures #defibrillator #transportmuseum #museumlove #museumgram #irishhistory #britishhistory #20thcentury #historyofscience #sciencemuseum #phdstudent #phdjourney #localhistory #localhistorymatters #tellstories #finestinventions #oldstuffiscool #historybooks #socialhistory #warhistory #niblogger #irishbloggers #historyblogger #historyblog #historyfacts #historygirls #phdstudentsofinstagram #historyofmedicine
    Please talk to people when you are doing your gene Please talk to people when you are doing your genealogy! It’s good to talk ☺️

Three of the most common things that frustrate people researching their family history can usually be resolved with a little bit of talking! 

1.) people often start their research in/on the archives searching births and marriages and either get very confused or very stuck and frustrated. At this point they reach out for help and my question is usually- tell me everything you know and have been told. “Been told?” - yes by relatives, friends, people from your town. And then they usually say they haven’t spoken to anyone. It’s understandable- this seems like a very personal quest, but I promise that if you can do any talking - there will be stories and snippets that can help your research incredibly! This isn’t all about dates and times. 

2.) people also can make quite a dent in their research online and may see their family tree connect to others who they didn’t know about. Often that tree has somebody just like them curating it on the other side. REACH OUT! Talk to them. They know things! Share and watch your family history expand and come to life right before your eyes.

3.) Ask for help from a genealogist (like me!). If you get stuck - don’t abandon it! Just reach out for some advice. We might ask strange questions but we are professional diggers - and if we can help you over a hurdle then we will ❤️

Now, not all folks have the luxury of being able to talk. That doesn’t mean your journey will be harder. It just means we need to be much more creative. And in this day and age there are plenty of ways we can do that.

Have you started your family tree? Have you spoken with people?

Top tip - record it all and then go through it later.

Becca - The Happy Historian
    *Milk of Magnesia A colleague told me a local his *Milk of Magnesia

A colleague told me a local history story last week that I couldn't believe I didn't know about.

I am sure most of you recognise this little blue bottle. Well - it's contents - Milk of Magnesia - were invented right here in Ireland (in the North, although it was before partition so technically not Northern Ireland... but let's not split hairs over that details!) 

In circa 1809, Derry-Londonderry physician James Murray created Fluid Magnesia as an aid for digestion and constipation. He set up a company to sell it and it was advertised as a remedy for indigestion, heartburn, and even gout. 

James Murray would eventually be knighted in 1833, following several years as the resident physician to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey.

Murray never actually called his remedy, Milk of Magnesia. It wouldn't be until after his death that Charles Henry Phillips, an English Pharmacist, would coin the name and patent the remedy in America. 

Murray's contribution is marked and remembered by a blue plaque at his former surgical and apothecary premises: 16 High Street, Belfast (corner of High Street/Bridge Street).

Did you know that Milk of Magnesia was invented in Belfast by a Derry-Londonderry man?

Rebecca - The Happy Historian

#milkofmagnesia #historyfacts #historynerd #historybuff #historyofmedicine #19thcentury #historymatters #phdstudent #irishhistory #historylovers #medicalhistory #nineteenthcentury #historyofscience #historyinpictures #everydayliving #digestiontips #pharmacylife #apothecarycabinet #apothecary #belfasthistory #irelandhistory #victorians #oldstuff #niblogger #irishblogger #localhistory #phdjourney #phdcandidate #phdstudentlife #storiestotell

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