Quaker Studies is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary.
Quaker Studies feeds into and from theology, history, philosophy, politics, sociology, anthropology, womens studies, peace studies, literary studies and cultural studies. The Quaker Studies Research Association (QSRA), formed in 1992 and with an international membership, is the umbrella organisation for all those studying, teaching, researching or connected with research into one of the areas of Quaker Studies. With the Centre for Postgraduate Quaker Studies at Woodbrooke, the QSRA holds an annual conference, hosts the George Richardson Lecture, and oversees the David Adshead Scholarship for new postgraduates. The fully-refereed journal, Quaker Studies, is published online twice a year by Open Library of Humanities, and it is free to access.
News
The 2025 George Richardson lecture, "George W. Taylor : a practical antislavery man", given by Julie Holcomb will be held via Zoom on Tuesday 9th December starting at 19:30.
In this lecture, Julie Holcomb argues that as a Gurneyite Orthodox Quaker, Taylor’s life and work provide an important counterpoint to those of Hicksite Quaker abolitionists like Lucretia Mott. Using Taylor’s life as a lens this lecture examines the connections between Quakerism, antislavery, capitalism, and gender in the 1840s and 1850s. A key figure in the free produce movement, Taylor brought together a broad spectrum of activists—Quakers, non-Quakers, Black abolitionists, men and women. For Taylor, “practical antislavery” was a practical expression of his Quakerism.
There will be time for comments and questions.
You may book to attend the lecture, and view further details, here: https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/george-richardson-lecture-george-w-taylor-a-practical-antislavery-man/
In this lecture, Julie Holcomb argues that as a Gurneyite Orthodox Quaker, Taylor’s life and work provide an important counterpoint to those of Hicksite Quaker abolitionists like Lucretia Mott. Using Taylor’s life as a lens this lecture examines the connections between Quakerism, antislavery, capitalism, and gender in the 1840s and 1850s. A key figure in the free produce movement, Taylor brought together a broad spectrum of activists—Quakers, non-Quakers, Black abolitionists, men and women. For Taylor, “practical antislavery” was a practical expression of his Quakerism.
There will be time for comments and questions.
You may book to attend the lecture, and view further details, here: https://www.woodbrooke.org.uk/courses/george-richardson-lecture-george-w-taylor-a-practical-antislavery-man/
Bursaries
The Association offers bursary assistance to postgraduate researchers and new scholars.
The closing date for applications for the David Adshead bursary award is 7th December 2025.
The closing date for applications for the Chris Loten award is 20th January 2026.
For more information see the bursaries section of our website.
The Association offers bursary assistance to postgraduate researchers and new scholars.
The closing date for applications for the David Adshead bursary award is 7th December 2025.
The closing date for applications for the Chris Loten award is 20th January 2026.
For more information see the bursaries section of our website.
The annual QSRA conference will be held in Bristol on June 27 2026, on the topic 'Quakers and the Law'. Please find the Call for Papers on the Conference section of our website. The closing date for the submission of proposals is Monday 5 January 2026. You may book your place via the Woodbrooke website.