The Josephine Butler Seminar Series

Josephine Butler College, the newest college of Durham University, is named after the 19th Century social reformer, who played a major role in improving the conditions for women, both in terms of public health and education. She has been described as one of the most important early members of the feminist movement and we as a College are proud to bear her name.

In celebration of the naming of Josephine Butler College and indeed in celebration of the memory of Josephine Butler and her work, the lecture and seminar series began soon after the college opened in 2006.

The first lecture was given, appropriately, by Jane Jordan, Josephine Butler’s biographer. Jane spoke about Josephine Butler’s life and the extraordinarily wide-ranging influence that she had on the social and political standing of women in the UK and Europe in the late 1800s.

The lecture series has taken forward some of the issues that exercised Josephine Butler and expanded upon these to explore current themes that we believe may have drawn her attention were she alive today. With a broad focus on social welfare, women’s health and education, the College has welcomed a range of speakers who have shared their work with our students, staff and local community. This year's speakers and seminar topics can be found below and a list of past speakers and topics is available here.

The Josephine Butler Seminar Series

Josephine Butler Seminar: Larry Gurney

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