History Society Dinner
The New College History Society are pleased to invite New College Old Members to its annual dinner which will take place on Saturday 21 February 2026, a student-led initiative which aims to strengthen the community of historians past and present.
The event will start at 5.45pm with drinks in the McGregor Matthews Room, and then a talk entitled: ‘Friedrich Hertz: A Habsburg liberal in the age of extremes’ by guest speaker, Dr Joshua Bennett. This will be followed by dinner in the Founder’s Library at around 7.30pm.
Dr Bennett is interested in the history of liberalism and its critics since the nineteenth century, particularly in relation to historical thought and social theory, and the implications of religious and secularist beliefs in these areas of debate.
The cost is £80.00 per person. If you would like to attend, you can make payment through the Oxford University Online Store booking facility. During the booking process there will also be an opportunity for you to let us know about any dietary requirements/allergens that we might need to be aware of. There will also be a chance to request a parking space, if needed. The dress code is lounge suit.
About the speaker:
Dr Joshua Bennett is Associate Professor in History: European Political and Social Thought, 1848-c.1950 at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. Joshua read for undergraduate and graduate degrees in History at Christ Church, Oxford, where the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, and a Scouloudi Fellowship at the Institute of Historical Research in London supported his research. After being awarded his doctorate in 2015, he was a Lecturer at St John’s College, Oxford, before returning to Christ Church as the Walter Dingwall Junior Research Fellow in History. From 2020 to 2023 he was Darby Fellow and Tutor in Modern History at Lincoln College, Oxford, during which time he also held visiting positions at the Huntington Library; the University of Marburg; and the Leibniz Institute of European History in Mainz. He joined Lady Margaret Hall as a Tutorial Fellow in 2023 and is also Associate Professor in the History of European Political and Social Thought, 1848-c.1950, in the Faculty of History.
The History Society aims to put on several events over the year.
- Hilary Term: Society Annual Dinner
The Society’s annual dinner will be open to New College History undergraduates, fellows, and Old Members, bringing together all generations of New College historians.
- Michaelmas Term and Trinity Term: Speaker Series
The Society will host a world-leading academic to discuss their most recent work. These lectures will be open to all current New College historians.
We also hope that you might consider supporting the Society with a regular contribution. The financial needs are not great, but such support will:
· cover travel costs and drinks associated with the Speaker Series
· subsidise the costs of dinner for students who might otherwise not be able to attend
· provide funds for future events to connect Old Members and undergraduates
We greatly appreciate any support you can offer and, if you wish to make a gift, please complete the Donation Form.
We are extremely grateful to those Old Members who currently contribute; thank you for your continued support.
With best wishes,
Emily Henson and Patrick Maxwell
Co-Presidents of the New College History Society
