Research project into slavery

LJMU is offering an opportunity to collaborate on a research project to examine the university’s historical associations with slavery.

In our Bicentenary year, it is one of several pieces of research to seek a deeper understanding of the people who have been part of the university’s community over the last 200 years.

LJMU is a member of the Universities Studying Slavery Consortium (USS) and the research strand will focus on the founding benefactors of the institution and those connected with our wide and varied activities over the past 200 years.

The university is now looking to recruit a postdoctoral researcher to lead the work.

Using a range of local and national archives, and online sources and databases, this project will trace and assess the financial, familial, social and political links of the university’s original donors, benefactors and gifts back to slavery.  

It builds upon the work of Dr Andrea Livesey and students on the MA module, Liverpool and Slavery, in understanding LJMU’s place in the wider Liverpool merchant economy. 

Dr Alex Miles, Director of LJMU’s School of Humanities and Social Science said: “LJMU’s Bicentenary year is a great opportunity to look back at the history of our university and the people who have made it the institution it is today.

“As part of that, and our work with the Universities Studying Slavery Consortium, we want to understand more about the people who founded our university and examine any historical associations with slavery. This vital work will draw on the expertise of the Centre for Modern and Contemporary History and academics in the History subject area, such as Dr Andrea Livesey, who is an internationally renowned specialist expert in the field.

“LJMU has an unwavering commitment to being a place where people of all backgrounds are welcome and can thrive. Understanding the history of our founders, our people and our city is an important part of that process.

“We look forward to engaging with our communities, partners and other academics and local experts in the region through this key research project.”