Projects

Close-up bottom row. “A Reverie at the Crystal Palace” in Punch magazine, 1854, volume 26, pages 250-251. Published 17 June 1854.

Reverie at the Crystal Palace – 1854 poster in Punch magazine

No-one was surprised when Punch magazine celebrated the grand opening of the Crystal Palace in Sydenham, with opening ceremonies on 10 June 1854. Illustrated London News, its competitor on the weekly magazine market, did the […]

Close-up. Cartoon appearing in Punch 1855, volume 28, page 50, “The Effects of a Hearty Dinner After Visiting the Antediluvian Department at Crystal Palace,” featuring Crystal Palace Dinosaurs.

Punch 1855 Cartoon Dreaming of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

The cartoon depicting a man dreaming of monsters is one of two famous illustrations from Punch magazine referencing Crystal Palace Dinosaurs. In a previous post, I presented the other 1855 cartoon, “A visit to the antediluvian […]

Punch's Almanack for 1855 cartoon titled, "A visit to the antediluvian reptiles at Sydenham – Master Tom strongly objects to having his mind improved".

Punch 1855 Cartoon Visiting Crystal Palace Dinosaurs

Punch, or The London Charivari, was a British weekly magazine famous for its illustrated commentary and satire of politics and culture across the nineteen century and twentieth century. Mr Punch became a cultural icon: part […]

St Paul's Cathedral, London, UK, and close-up of Queen Anne's statue at West Entrance

Did You Say ‘Alligator’? Mystery Animal Outside St Paul’s Cathedral

There’s a mystery animal outside St Paul’s Cathedral in central London. What is it? The best, first historical source describes it as an alligator. Seriously? To locate it, visit St Paul’s Cathedral churchyard. Move to […]

Karl Pearson (1907) A First Study of the Statistics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Karl Pearson and the History of Eugenics at UCL

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? George Forster investigates Karl Pearson (1907) A First Study of the Statistics of Pulmonary Tuberculosis (Studies in […]

Cyril Burt (1955) ‘The Meaning and Assessment of Intelligence’, The Eugenics Review, 47(2), pp. 81-91.

Cyril Burt in the History of Eugenics at UCL

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and its sister institutions? Beata Luchanskaya investigates Cyril Burt (1955) ‘The Meaning and Assessment of Intelligence’, The Eugenics Review, 47(2), pp. 81-91. […]

John Maynard Smith. 1937. Some economic consequences of a declining population, published in Eugenics Review 29(1): 13-17.

John Maynard Keynes in the History of Eugenics

What was the research and advocacy that took place by personnel associated with UCL and sister institutions? Seth Jamieson investigates John Maynard Smith. 1937. Some economic consequences of a declining population, published in Eugenics Review 29(1): 13-17. […]

Professor Joe Cain

UCL Professor of History and Philosophy of Biology