The International Scholars for the History of Women Religious Association (ISHWRA) was founded in 2021 to create a global network of scholars working on the history of women religious (nuns and sisters) around the world. Its principal aim was to create an association of researchers that reached beyond previous chronological, geographical, and disciplinary boundaries.

In doing so, ISHWRA seeks to raise awareness of the widespread significance of women religious for so many areas of history, while fostering dialogue about wider methodological developments in the field. Themes of interest include gender, race, education, politics, class, faith and spirituality, and social care, explored via a consciously transnational and multidisciplinary approach.

ISHWRA brings together scholars through a monthly research seminar and a biennial workshop.

Seminar speakers to date have presented on the history of women religious from the medieval period to the twenty-first century, exploring the past of communities located worldwide and the societies with which they are enmeshed. Presenters come from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds, including history, art history, sociology, musicology, and literature. Seminars are hosted virtually to allow for global participation and attendance is open to anyone with an interest in the history of women religious.

ISHWRA’s biennial workshops pursue a dedicated theme, with its 2024 workshop awarded a BA/Leverhulme Trust Small Research Grants 2023 | The British Academy for its project exploring cultures of engagement among eighteenth- and nineteenth-century women religious. ISHWRA also liaises closely with other research groups focused on the history of women religious, including KADOC, Sorores | Les religieuses non cloîtrées en Europe (XII-XVIII) (hypotheses.org) and ISAC Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics, Singapore (isac-research.org).

Who We Are

The convening committee of ISHWRA is composed of the following, from whom any further information may be requested:

• Sarah Barthélemy (Durham University, UK, and UCLouvain Saint-Louis, Belgium) (sarah.barthelemy@durham.ac.uk)
• Cormac Begadon (Durham University, UK) (cormac.s.begadon@durham.ac.uk)
• Gemma Betros (Australian National University, Australia) (gemma.betros@anu.edu.au)

The work of ISHWRA benefits from the support of an Advisory Committee, comprising: 

• James E. Kelly (Durham University, UK) 
• Liliana Pérez Miguel (PUCP, Peru)
• Sergi Sancho Fibla (Université Clermont-Auvergne) 
• Kristien Suenens (KULeuven, Belgium)
• Shannen Dee Williams (University of Dayton, USA)

Seminars last around 75 minutes. The seminars are being held fully online, and the seminar start times shown below are London (UK) time.

All are welcome to attend. 

Please note that details about registration for this online event will be sent out to our mailing lists three weeks in advance of the seminar.
You can sign up for the CCS mailing list to be the first to hear about our upcoming events, or contact cormac.s.begadon@durham.ac.uk for information about specific ISHWRA seminars.