Branch History

Some of the branches of the HA have existed since the HA was formed in 1906 – they have survived World Wars, Cold Wars, recessions and so many Secretaries of State for Education that they have lost count. The branch records are themselves now a history of learning about and finding history interesting. To find out about the history of your branch read the articles below.

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  • History of the Gloucestershire Branch 1919-2021

    Article

    This article is based on a talk originally given after the 2003 Branch AGM which drew on branch records subsequently deposited with the County Archives. These comprise AGM and committee minutes as well as notes on, and some details of, speakers for each meeting from the 1928-9 season to 1957,...

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  • 70 years of the Isle of Wight Branch

    1st July 2020

    In June 2020 the HA Isle of Wight branch celebrated its 70th birthday. Here, Honorary Secretary of the branch Terry Blunden looks back at the history and development of the branch since 1950. Although the Historical Association was formed in 1906 sixteen years elapsed before a branch was established on...

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  • 100 not out: the Nuneaton branch centenary

    31st January 2019

    For the 2018–19 season, the Nuneaton Branch of the HA is celebrating its centenary. Founded in 1919, by 1921 there were 78 members. In 1924, members went on a ‘charabanc’ tour of Leicestershire churches, ending at Fenny Drayton, where they joined in the celebrations for the tercentenary of the birth...

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  • Bath Branch 90th Anniversary

    13th December 2016

    2016 marked the ninetieth anniversary of the founding of the HA's Bath branch. To honour this event the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Paul Crossley, invited members to attend a Civic Reception at the eighteenth-century Guildhall. Thirty-five members attended. They are pictured here in the Mayor's Parlour. Councillor Crossley welcomed the...

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  • Cornwall Branch to be revived

    26th October 2016

    The Cornwall Branch of the Historical Association is about to be revived after an EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting [date to be fixed soon]) with the support of the Penryn (Falmouth) Campus of the University of Exeter, its staff (particularly Dr Garry Tregidga [to be Chair], Bob Keys [to be Treasurer],...

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  • Re-Launch of Cambridge Branch

    18th June 2015

    Special Event: Sir Richard Evans on Hitler After two years in abeyance, the Cambridge Branch of the HA has a new committee and is running again.  The committee are in the process of preparing a full range of events for next year, with several speakers already confirmed, including Tracy Borman on...

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  • Swansea Branch's First Fellow: Dr Fred Cowley

    9th September 2014

    At Sketty Hall, Swansea, on Wednesday 13 August 2014, the Swansea branch of the Historical Association granted its first Honorary Branch Fellowship to Dr Fred Cowley in recognition of his significant contribution to the study, appreciation and promotion of history in south-west Wales. Dr Cowley lives in the West Cross...

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  • Welcome a new branch of the HA - City of Lincoln

    20th February 2014

    Television and the internet have not stopped people from leaving their homes and going out to listen to historians and historical experts - certainly not in Lincoln. A new branch of the Historical Association had its inaugural lecture on the 19th February 2014 at the Bishop Grosseteste University. Actually it...

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  • Flodden lecture write-up - Glasgow & West of Scotland Branch

    7th November 2013

    Speaker: Dr. Christopher Burgess, Flodden500 Archaeology project Our first meeting of 2013-14 got us off to a flying start with Dr. Chris Burgess' historical and archaeological power point presentation on Flodden.   Firstly, he sketched out the European context - a war involving the Papacy, France and England - and how...

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  • Exeter Branch History

    Article

    A Brief History of the Exeter BranchExeter was one of the seventeen pre-First World War branches, founded in November 1906, the same year as the Historical Association itself. The Exeter branch was founded by Professor Walter (W.J.) Harte who became President of the (national) Historical Association 1932-36. Harte was appointed...

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  • Nottingham Branch History

    Article

    A major feature of the Historical Association's branches has been their strong links with a variety of voluntary organisations focused on, or with interests in, history.  The Association's initial aims drawn up in June 1906 included 'Co-operation for common objects with the English Association, the Geographical Association, the Modern Language...

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  • Lincolnshire Branch History

    Article

    Brief History of the Lincolnshire Branch.When  the branch was founded There was a successful branch of the Historical Association in Lincolnshire after World War Two, centred in Boston, and run by staff from the schools there. In 1999, when I moved to Lincolnshire, I discovered there was no longer a...

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  • Birmingham Branch History

    Article

    The Branch was founded in May 1907, a few months after the Historical Association was established. The founding Branch President was Professor John Masterman, Professor of History (1902-09) in the University of Birmingham's Department of Commerce, as it was designated in those days. He was one of several historians in...

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  • Richmond & Twickenham Branch History 1964-2011

    Article

    Richmond & Twickenham Branch History 1964-2011In 1964 some members of the historical Association, mostly from the West London branch, met at Maria Grey Training College in Isleworth to set up a new branch for the Richmond & Twickenham area. A Provisional Committee was formed with George Bartle, a college lecturer, as...

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  • Essex Branch History

    Article

    Essex Branch - Early DaysEssex Branch was founded in 1920 or earlier and was active continuously until 1936.  In 1920-1 the president was H. de Havilland of The Manor House, Great Horkesley, and the secretary Mr. E.T. Baldwin of Earls Colne Grammar School.  There were 56 branch members and 8...

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  • The Norfolk and Norwich Branch History

    Article

    The Norfolk and Norwich Branch - a short historyThe branch was founded in 1920, at the instigation of two local teachers, W. J. Blake (the father the famous historian, Robert, Lord Blake) and Walter Stephenson, the father of our most long-serving (1941-1962) president, Andrew Stephenson, who was himself a distinguished...

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  • Manchester Branch History

    Article

    Manchester Branch is proud of its role in the foundation of the Historical Association (HA) in 1906.  Professor Thomas Frederick Tout and others at Manchester University had been discussing the idea of forming an Association to promote the teaching of a more relevant and vibrant form of history than was...

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  • Canterbury Branch History

    Article

    Although active between the wars, the Canterbury Branch had faded into oblivion by the 1960s.The arrival of the University of Kent at Canterbury brought about the Branch's revival in 1971-1972, led by Peter Roberts, Grayson Ditchfield and Donald Read, and a programme was arranged for 1972 -3.   Among those on...

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  • Portsmouth Branch History

    Article

    See the current Portsmouth Branch programme of events Portsmouth's Branch "Minutes Book No. 2" of the years 1946 -1981 is in the city Record Office. It records a Jubilee Dinner held in 1974: so the Branch was founded in 1924. Sadly, no "Minutes Book No. 1" has come to light....

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  • Birmingham Branch 1907-2007

    Article

    The Branch was founded in May 1907, a few months after the Historical Association was established. The founding Branch President was Professor John Masterman, Professor of History (1902-09) in the University of Birmingham's Department of Commerce, as it was designated in those days. He was one of several historians in...

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