Dr Jonathan Taylor

Postdoctoral Research Assistant

Magdalen College

jonathan.taylor@magd.ox.ac.uk

My research explores the social and political history of twentieth century Britain. I am interested in the history of the family, childhood and adolescence, and the ways in which external agencies came to intervene in what were often thought to be a very private set of relationships.

My research is motivated by a strong belief that rigorous historical research can contribute valuable insights to contemporary policy discussions.

Research

History of childhood
Social history
Modern British history

My current research forms one half of an interdisciplinary project, bringing together the disciplines of history and psychology, which seeks to understand the life-long impact of early life experiences prospectively and to help identify what best supports people across the course of their lives. As part of this work, I have begun to explore a series of essays and drawing created by children in the decades after the Second World War. This research aims to better understand the experiences and social relationships that children and young people considered to be important while growing up.

I am keen to explore opportunities in which the findings historical research can be used to engage with policymakers, practitioners, charities, and members of the public.

Project website: http://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/research/calleva-research-centre/changing-lives/

Publications

Teaching

In the Media

Public engagement blog posts

History & Policy Parenting Forum, ‘Encouraging innovation isn't innovative: Research and looked-after children in the post-war period’, 4 May 2016, https://arts.leeds.ac.uk/parentingforum/2017/05/03/encouraging-innovation-isnt-innovative-research-and-looked-after-children-in-the-post-war-period/

Talking Humanities, ‘Children’s voices at the heart of research on childhood adversity’, 19 April 2016, https://talkinghumanities.blogs.sas.ac.uk/2016/04/19/5769/

Project twitter feed: @ChangingLivesOx

Follow @ChangingLivesOx

Prelims:	FHS:
Approaches to History	War and Reconstruction: Ideas, Politics and Social Change, 1939-45
History of the British Isles 6: Power, Politics, and the People: 1830-1951	History of the British Isles 7: Changing Identities,1900-present