Library Stories from the Second World War

This illustrated talk will explore how the Leeds Library was mobilised during the Second World War. Dr Henry Irving from Leeds Beckett University will explain how the library became a nerve centre for fire watching during the Leeds Blitz. He will be joined by two students who have researched the library’s wartime archive and contributed to its exhibition on the Second World War. 

Henry is a Senior Lecturer in Public History at Leeds Beckett University and a British Academy Innovation Fellow. His research interests centre on the Second World War, especially the public’s response to wartime conditions, legislation and propaganda. Alongside his teaching and research, Henry is committed to making public history.