About the Society
The Society for the Study of French History was established in 1986 to encourage research and interest in all aspects of the history of France and its possessions from its beginnings to the present day. Its charitable status was recognised in 1992. The Society acts as the principal subject body within the UK and the Republic of Ireland for French history, and in that capacity lobbies governments, funding bodies and universities. Members of the Society are also very willing to speak in secondary schools on subjects related to French history. Schools should contact the Society via the Secretary to make a request for an appropriate speaker.
Our principal publication is the internationally-acclaimed journal FRENCH HISTORY, which is published four times a year on behalf of the Society by Oxford University Press. It contains articles and book reviews authored by an international range of contributors. Members can subscribe at the specially discounted rate of £45.00 per annum, including annual membership of the Society. There is a concessionary rate of £28.00 per annum, again including annual membership, for students and others.
The Society’s main event is an annual conference normally held at the beginning of July at a different UK university each year. The Society subsidises the cost of attendance from its general funds, and postgraduates are able to attend the conference at a further discounted rate. In its efforts to support and encourage the continuing study of French history the Society makes a number of financial awards. There are bursaries to postgraduates engaged in the study of French history to assist them both in their research and with conference attendance. In addition, during 2006 the Society launched two prize competitions. There are now prizes for the best dissertation or extended essay by an undergraduate in a UK university on a theme related in whole or part to French history; and a prize for the best article published each year in the journal FRENCH HISTORY.
The Society holds its Annual General Meeting, open to all members, at the annual conference, at which Society officers present their annual reports; the accounts are presented; changes to the composition of the committee are made; and changes to the constitution are made. All members of the Society resident in the UK or the Republic of Ireland are entitled to stand for election to the committee. The committee meets twice a year: in January, and at the annual conference in the summer.
