Lou Bell
@louisebell.bsky.social
470 followers 470 following 96 posts
Researches artificial limbs in #ww1 and #ww2 | PGR rep @socialhistsoc.bsky.social | co-founder @ukdishisthub.bsky.social | goes to a lot of gigs | she/her
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Reposted by Lou Bell
jamesepeate.bsky.social
Incidently if there were anyone interested/knows someone interested in supporting/mentoring I've got a great project perfect for Leverhulme Postdoc using Romani history pre-1850 to address present day racism

I know its not the done thing to ask but its hard to judge who/where would be a good fit
Reposted by Lou Bell
thatdocphoenix.com
I can tell you right now that the far right will still be protesting outside the Britannia Hotel in Leeds tonight. They don’t care who feels unsafe
Reposted by Lou Bell
womenslibrary.bsky.social
GWL is commissioning new works for our #WeMakeMuseums project to be exhibited at Glasgow International 2026.

We’re seeking women artists with socially engaged, intersectional practices informed by environmental, class-aware, & anti-racist approaches.
womenslibrary.org.uk/2025/09/24/a...
 A colourful jigsaw puzzle background with words like “Creativity,” “Women,” “Neurodivergent Voices,” “Learning and Healing,” and “Quilting” on the pieces. Overlaid in the centre is a bold green box with large white text that reads: “ARTIST OPEN CALL.” At the bottom are the logos of Glasgow Women’s Library and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
louisebell.bsky.social
But there have also been some major lows: no income, having to leave Leeds and move home, getting my heart broken, burnout, just general unhappiness, and a real feeling of being lost.
louisebell.bsky.social
There have been a few highs since submitting the thesis: passing the viva, having more time to spend with friends and family, corrections being approved, graduation, @ukdishisthub.bsky.social doing some really great things, all the gigs!
louisebell.bsky.social
On that note, I am very unemployed, so if anyone needs a research assistant, or someone to give talks, etc., please do get in touch!
louisebell.bsky.social
Can’t believe it’s been one whole year since I originally submitted this for examination…
Title page of my PhD thesis. Black text on a white background says:
Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain
Louise Gail Bell
Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Leeds
School of History
September 2024 Gold text on a dark green background reads:

Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain
louisebell.bsky.social
Can’t believe it’s been one whole year since I originally submitted this for examination…
Title page of my PhD thesis. Black text on a white background says:
Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain
Louise Gail Bell
Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
The University of Leeds
School of History
September 2024 Gold text on a dark green background reads:

Institutions, Individuals and Artificial Limb Provision in the Two World Wars in Britain
louisebell.bsky.social
It honestly felt like forever since I’d done the @womenslibrary.bsky.social Gorbals walk?! So it was a joy to get to do it again at the weekend!
Front cover of the pamphlet for the Women of the Gorbals Heritage Walk. The cover shows a sepia image of three women with their arms linked. From right side of the Citizens Theatre. Six statues stand on plinths near the top with the Citizens Theatre sign beneath. Top of an old mill building. The chimney has a sculpture on top that looks like it has smoke billowing from it. War memorial in the shape of a black rose.
Reposted by Lou Bell
louisebell.bsky.social
I really enjoyed this presentation, and the resulting discussions! I think we were all in agreement that we could have chatted about this for much much longer!
ukdishisthub.bsky.social
🚨Our monthly events are back!🚨

Join us and Dr Tobias Teutenberg on the 19th September at 5pm (UK time) for a presentation and discussion on “Tempted to Touch: The History of Tactile Art Galleries for the Blind”! #DisHist
Reposted by Lou Bell
ukdishisthub.bsky.social
A reminder that this is happening THIS Friday!
ukdishisthub.bsky.social
🚨Our monthly events are back!🚨

Join us and Dr Tobias Teutenberg on the 19th September at 5pm (UK time) for a presentation and discussion on “Tempted to Touch: The History of Tactile Art Galleries for the Blind”! #DisHist
Reposted by Lou Bell
artsemergency.bsky.social
Be generous. Now be more generous. Share your privilege.

We need creative professionals to step up & volunteer to mentor a young person who doesn't have the connections or financial backing to believe they could access a creative career.

Sign up to mentor in 2026 👉 www.arts-emergency.o...

The Arts Emergency manifesto - a pink background with statements written in alternative colours - red and blue reading:
There are things that are bigger and better than money. We have things that those in power will never understand.
We take it as a given that a civilised society values education, lifelong learning and creativity as a public good.
We are a social justice not social mobility organisation. Arts Emergency is no substitute for justice withheld.
Fight the conditioning that tells you to demonise young people.
Be fearless. You are just as entitled as anyone to have the life you want.
There is no recession of the imagination.
The future is another place. Allow yourself to believe a better life is possible. Say it loud, defiantly, to everyone.
Be generous. Now be more generous. Share your privilege.
Do something. Start small, start local, keep going.
Optimism is a weapon and if all else fails be silly.
louisebell.bsky.social
Ah, yes, I can definitely tell you about how I meet all 30 essential criteria (and then the extra 10 desirable ones) in no more than 1000 words…

(Someone please hire me, I can’t keep doing this 💀)
louisebell.bsky.social
Another mixed afternoon weather-wise, but really enjoyed being out for the @womenslibrary.bsky.social Merchant City walk!
Handing holding the bottom corner of the leaflet for the Women’s Merchant City Heritage Walk Looking down over a green space to the buildings of the uni below. The sky is blue with lots of fluffy white clouds. Standing in between two tall buildings looking up at the blue sky above. Grey sky and wet ground. There is a tall building with lots of windows to the right, and on the building to the left of it a mural of a figure with pink hair is emerging from above the trees.
Reposted by Lou Bell
ukdishisthub.bsky.social
🚨Our monthly events are back!🚨

Join us and Dr Tobias Teutenberg on the 19th September at 5pm (UK time) for a presentation and discussion on “Tempted to Touch: The History of Tactile Art Galleries for the Blind”! #DisHist
louisebell.bsky.social
Oh, there were a few points on the live stream that would have made for excellent photos 😂😂
louisebell.bsky.social
Of course! It was stupid of me not to attend in-person tbh!
louisebell.bsky.social
The only thing I’m annoyed about is why didn’t I go in person?! I’m back living in Scotland now?! That was silly of me (but I did appreciate that we could attend online!)
louisebell.bsky.social
It's been a great day for fascinating events! Really enjoyed hearing @chriskempshall.bsky.social, @mimi-mortmain.bsky.social, @drtimpeacock.bsky.social & Fruzsina Pittner (chaired by @enwright.bsky.social) discussing history and fantasy in video games (and books) tonight!
Opening slide for an event. It has a colourful background with a pair of hands holding a game controller (in the top right corner). White text says: 
Talk
Unreal pasts, playful presents: history and fantasy in games and media
10 September 2025
louisebell.bsky.social
Really enjoyed this afternoon’s @womenshistnet.bsky.social roundtable on “Lesbian Histories & the Long View” with @elizabethlovatt.bsky.social, @sazwingrove.bsky.social, @vickyig.bsky.social & Lisa Weston! I particularly loved everyone’s joy for research & the rabbit holes you end up going down!
louisebell.bsky.social
Live music really does make everything better! And Liam Cromby was sounding wonderful last night!
Reposted by Lou Bell
milwelfhist.bsky.social
The next event in our @wellcometrust.bsky.social @sshmedicine.bsky.social -funded conference series will be ‘War, Trauma and Emotional Injury’, which takes place at @unibirmingham.bsky.social on 6-7 November #milwelfhist
Reposted by Lou Bell
womenslibrary.bsky.social
At Glasgow Women’s Library we ask visitors to wear a mask on Fridays to help keep our community safe. We provide masks for anyone who needs one, but we don’t currently have the most effective kinds (like N95s& KN95s).

If you have any spare masks to donate, we’d be so grateful. Thankyou.