Aberdeen lecturer who taught for three decades to be remembered at May Festival

Aberdeen lecturer who taught for three decades to be remembered at May Festival

An academic who taught for more than three decades at the University of Aberdeen will be remembered through a new lecture series which gets underway at the May Festival.

Dr Joan MacCormack, who died in July 2012, joined the English Department in 1964 was a well-known figure at the University, retiring in 1996 but continuing her association with the institution for many more years as a Research Fellow.

Dr MacCormack taught hundreds of students over her 32 years, including the radio presenter James Naughtie, and was a driving force in creating a new form of integrated study.

In the 1980s she worked tirelessly to establish the UK’s first degree in cultural history – despite a backdrop of swingeing cuts to University funding – which combined literature with other disciplines, such as history, philosophy, anthropology, and the history of art, to provide a more rounded understanding of the way in which modern society has developed.

Her widower Geoffrey MacCormack, who also taught for many years at the University and who she married in 2011, said the lecture series was a fitting tribute to her memory.

“Joan and I spent our careers in the University of Aberdeen, greatly enjoying our time there teaching and learning. It therefore seemed appropriate that on her death a memorial to her life and work should take the form of a visiting lectureship in which scholars from different disciplines might further explore and develop wide ranging cultural issues. This kind of intellectual inquiry was very dear to her heart”.

The first lecture will be delivered on May 10 as part of the University’s May Festival, and will then continue on an annual basis.

For the inaugural event Professor Peter Mandler, President of the Royal Historical Society and lecturer at Cambridge University, will consider how the Victorians were not only great ‘preservers’ but also great destroyers with their roads and railways and great cities were built on the rubble of medieval and Renaissance towns.

Geoffrey added: “Joan was a dynamic teacher who made a deep impression on students in both English and cultural history.

“It took huge drive and determination, and the support of many of her colleagues, to get the course up and running and it was an achievement that meant a lot to her.

“It came to attract many gifted students, provided a more comprehensive approach to the study of the diversity of cultural and social conditions at particular periods in the past than had perhaps been possible in more orthodox courses focused on particular disciplines.

“Joan herself saw cultural history as ‘an exploration of different modes of feeling and perception, of debating problems and asking questions’ and the lecture series will continue this approach and be a lasting legacy to her memory.”

The event will take place on Saturday May 10 from 4pm to 5pm in the King’s College Conference Centre, University of Aberdeen. It is free of charge but booking is required at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/mayfestival/events/5091/ or by calling 01224 641122.

The generous donation received from Professor Geoffrey MacCormack to enable this lecture series is channelled through the University of Aberdeen Development Trust.  The Trust raises essential funds to support much of the University's activities such as vital medical research as well as supporting students through the provision of scholarships, bursaries and facilities.  Funding from our world-wide family of supporters including alumni, individuals, companies, organisations and the community is essential for the development of inspirational learning opportinities and many other activities.

Search News

Browse by Month

2018

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2018
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2018
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2018
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2018
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2018

2017

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2017
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2017
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2017
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2017
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2017
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2017
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2017

2016

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2016
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2016
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2016
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2016
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2016
  10. Oct
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2016
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2016

2015

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2015
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2015
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2015
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2015
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2014

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2014
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2014
  6. Jun There are no items to show for June 2014
  7. Jul
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2014
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2014
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2014
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2014
  12. Dec

2013

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep There are no items to show for September 2013
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2012

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2012
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2011

  1. Jan
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2011
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2011
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2011
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2011
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

2010

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2010
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2010
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2010
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2010
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul There are no items to show for July 2010
  8. Aug There are no items to show for August 2010
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2010
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2010

2009

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2009
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2009
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2009
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct There are no items to show for October 2009
  11. Nov There are no items to show for November 2009
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2009

2008

  1. Jan There are no items to show for January 2008
  2. Feb There are no items to show for February 2008
  3. Mar There are no items to show for March 2008
  4. Apr There are no items to show for April 2008
  5. May There are no items to show for May 2008
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec There are no items to show for December 2008