Dr Shelby Zimmerman
@shelbyzimme.bsky.social
9.3K followers 1.2K following 48 posts
Social historian of medicine, institutions, poverty, and death | PhD from Trinity College Dublin | Based in London
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shelbyzimme.bsky.social
When on holiday in Alaska, I visited the Gold Rush #Cemetery in #Skagway. The cemetery opened in 1898 and is the resting place of prospectors and those who settled in Skagway. The headstones are a mix of original and restored monuments. I am intrigued about the history of the unknown headstones
Wooden headstones from the 1890s and early 1900s Headstones marked Unknown Beautiful White Pass Mountain in Skagway, Alaska
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
In the 1870s, the Holborn guardians built the Holborn Union Infirmary in Archway/Highgate, N London solely as a hospital distinct from the main workhouse site. Across the street at Whittington Hospital, is an 1848 Smallpox & Vaccination Hospital #workhouse #histmed #londonhistory #islington
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
These are such important stories to share
Reposted by Dr Shelby Zimmerman
tlrhub.bsky.social
🎧 Tune in to @nearfm.ie tomorrow (May 29th) at 6pm to hear @shelbyzimme.bsky.social exploring the reality of death, dying, and medical care in Dublin city’s largest poorhouse.

Supported by Coimisiún na Meán with the Television licence fee.

🔗 nearfm.ie/trinity-talk...

#TrinityTalks
Dr Shelby Zimmerman (left) and Ciarán Murray (right) standing in front of a Trinity Long Room Hub banner. Both are smiling and wearing clip-on microphones, before their recorded conversation for the Trinity Talks: Dublin’s Hidden Histories series.
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
The episode will broadcast Thursday May 29th at 6pm on Near FM 90.3 or online nearfm.ie/livestream/ A podcast will also be made available. Thanks for your interest :)
Listen Online – Near FM
nearfm.ie
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Thank you @tlrhub.bsky.social and NearFMfor inviting me to speak on medical relief and death in the post-Famine Dublin #workhouses. It was a great conversation & I enjoyed hearing about the audience’s family history. The recording will be released on 29 May #irishhistory #histmed
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Honoured to have contributed to this volume on death and institutions. My chapter examines how the priorities of post-Famine Irish workhouse administration shaped institutional mortality Thanks to @cendeathsociety.bsky.social @brisunipress.bsky.social

bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/death-and-in...
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Excellent exhibition, ‘Making the Rounds’ at @rcnlibraries.bsky.social in London.This exhibit explores the experience and stories of workhouse nurses in Norfolk. As artefacts tend to not survive from workhouse infirmaries, artist Connie Flynn used textiles to share these stories #workhouse #histmed
Kidney dish similar to the ones used by workhouse nurses made of felt White sheets with labels showing the types of cases and patients the workhouse nurses tended to A district nurse’s medical bag from the 1920s. Workhouse nurses had similar tools and medicines at their disposal
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Thanks, Alex! I’m looking forward to returning
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Looking forward to returning to Dublin to speak at the UCD Centre for the History of Medicine in Ireland’s seminar series on 6 Feb. My paper will discuss the institutional options for end of life in late 19th and early 20th century Dublin. #histmed #irishhistory #workhouse @tlrhub.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Shelby Zimmerman
drlindseyfitz.bsky.social
Trade Card of Nathaniel Longbottom, “Supplier of Skeletons in St. Thomas's Street, Southwark,” late 18th century. Longbottom would likely have had interactions with bodysnatchers (or “resurrectionists”) to help him procure skeletons for his shop.

Photo: Wellcome Collection
A trade card featuring two skeletons holding hands, at the top is the skeleton of an animal. And in the middle is script advertising the services.
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
@drdan.bsky.social looks at 18th century cartoons and medicine/death
Reposted by Dr Shelby Zimmerman
irishhumanities.bsky.social
The IHA Medical & Health Humanities Working Group have compiled an impressive Research Snapshot from across the island of Ireland. This report, launched on 27 Nov at the @ria.ie, includes an overview of research in this area from 138 colleagues in Ireland.
www.irishhumanities.com/assets/Uploa...
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Spotted on London’s tube today. In the 1950s and 60s, there was a mass influx of Irish immigrants in England. It is great that the Irish government is reaching out to London residents who were confined in Irish mother and baby homes. Hopefully this is one step towards justice for these women
Advert on the London tube above the Circle and Hammersmith and City tube map. The advert has a white background with green leaves and says ‘The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is now open for applications.
The Payment Scheme provides financial payments and health supports to people who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions in Ireland.
Visit gov.ie/paymentscheme, or call our helpline at +353 1 522.9992.’
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
Congrats Ciaran! Hope all is well in Dublin
Reposted by Dr Shelby Zimmerman
ciaranon.bsky.social
My book Power and Powerlessness in Union Ireland: Life in a Palliative State (OUP, 2024) was just published online. It is ludicrously expensive, so let me explain the basic premise of the book. If interested, please encourage your local/univ library to buy a copy. academic.oup.com/book/58980
🧵
The front cover of a new book, 'Power and Powerlessness in Union Ireland: Life in a Palliative State' by Ciaran O'Neill, and published by Oxford University Press.
shelbyzimme.bsky.social
I saw it on the District Line the other day