On This Day She

Putting Women Back Into History One Day At A Time

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This event took place on 8 February 2021

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On This Day She
Putting Women Back Into History One Day At A Time

Watch event again now

This event took place on 8 February 2021

Join writers and co-founders of @OnThisDayShe, Jo Bell, Tania Hershman and Ailsa Holland as they celebrate the release of their new book and some incredible women from history.

@OnThisDayShe was launched on Twitter in January 2018 with one aim: to put women back into history, one day at a time. Women from across the world, across all time periods, from arts and sciences to politics, war, journalism, crime and invention. Featuring a different woman every day, not necessarily on her birthday or the day she died but on a day that was important to her. The day she qualified as the first doctor in her country, say, or she patented her first invention. Now with over 27,000 followers, Jo, Tania and Ailsa release their accompanying book, exploring intriguing topics and issues from wearing trousers to the language of history, the importance of tea, and even public toilets for women. With plenty of incredible facts, we share the stories of some important and influential women from history. Introduced by Isobel Church, the actor who voices the On This Day She audiobook.

This event was part of Unfinished Business: The Fight for Women's Rights, a UK-wide exhibition by the British Library and public libraries.. Event hosted in partnership with Warwickshire Libraries and the West Midlands Readers' Network.

Speakers

Jo Bell

Poet and Writer

Jo Bell is the author of poetry collections Navigation and Kith and co-author of writing handbooks How To Be A Poet and 52: Write a Poem a Week published by Nine Arches Press. Jo was the inaugural Canal Poet for the UK, appointed by The Poetry Society, and was formerly an industrial archaeologist. She was Director of National Poetry Day for six years. Jo is one of the three co-creators of the @OnThisDayShe Twitter account and co-author of the On This Day She book.

Headshot of Jo Bell

Tania Hershman

Poet and Writer

Tania Hershman is the author of three books of poetry, three short story collections, a hybrid book of poetry and prose, and co-author of Writing Short Stories: A Writers' & Artists' Companion (Bloomsbury, 2014). A former science journalist, Tania is co-creator of the @OnThisDayShe Twitter account, co-author of the On This Day She book, and has a PhD in creative writing inspired by particle physics. www.taniahershman.com

Headshot of Tania Hershman

Ailsa Holland

Poet and Historian

Ailsa Holland is the author of a poetry pamphlet, Twenty Four Miles Up. Her poems have also appeared in several anthologies. Ailsa creates word art for exhibitions and street installations. Formerly a literary historian—her PhD was about 1930s Vienna—she is the founder of Moormaid Press and the Library in the Landscape. Ailsa gave a TEDx talk about the Twitter account @OnThisDayShe, of which she is co-creator; she is co-author of On This Day She. ailsaholland.wordpress.com

Headshot of Ailsa Holland

Imogen Church

Actor and Writer

'I earn my living by doing silly voices, telling stories and generally speaking out loud into a microphone. It is just about the greatest job in the world.' Imogen Church is an actress, voice actor, writer, illustrator, Feminist and former Burlesque dancer. She has narrated hundreds of audiobooks, most recently lending her voice to On This Day She: Putting Women Back into History, One Day at a Time.

http://imogenchurch.com/

Headshot of Imogen Church