Curriculum Vitae - University of Cambridge Department of Geography

CURRICULUM VITAE
Personal Details:
Work address: HPSS,
Department of Geography,
University of Cambridge,
Downing Place,
Cambridge, CB2 3EN
Telephone:
E.mail:
DR REBECCA HOLLY ANNE OAKES
01223 766585
rhao2@cam.ac.uk
Current positions:
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social Structure,
Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
Honorary Research Fellow, University of Winchester
Details of my current research examining mortality and life expectancy at Winchester College, New College
Oxford, Eton and King’s College Cambridge can be found at http://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/people/oakes
Qualifications:
PhD University of Southampton (University of Winchester) 2008
MA Late Medieval Studies, University of York 2003
BA (Single 1st Hons) History, University of Wales, Aberystwyth 2002
Research Interests:
Late medieval and early modern demography, especially in the period after the Black Death. In
preparation publications of material from my PhD will contribute hard evidence to the scholarly debate on
late medieval mortality and its effects on economic and social change in the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. My current research will expand my datasets into the early modern period for comparison with
data obtained from parish register analysis and family reconstitution.
The demographic experience of Winchester College, New College Oxford, Eton College, King’s College
Cambridge and their parent towns over the period 1392-1540, especially patterns of mortality, age
structure, life expectancy, longevity and morbidity.
The role of Winchester College and New College Oxford in the formation of an ecclesiastical elite in late
medieval England, and the alternate career paths of scholars from these two institutions.
The economic and social history of late medieval colleges, their operation, recruitment patterns, the
geographical and social origins of scholars, and their relationship to their estates and local communities.
Medieval economic and social history, particularly relating to family structures and household economy.
Publications/Works in progress:
‘Adolescent Mortality at Winchester College 1393-1540: new evidence for medieval mortalit and
methodological considerations for historical demography’, Local Population Studies (in press – due to be
published in Local Population Studies, 88 (Spring 2012).
‘Moving targets: how place of origin affected the life chances of late medieval scholars at Winchester
College and New College Oxford’ (In preparation – shortly to be submitted for review to proceedings of
Population, economy and welfare: a conference in honour of Richard Smith).
‘A plague on both your houses: mortality among the scholars of Winchester College and New College
Oxford’ (In preparation, shortly to be submitted to The Fifteenth Century series).
Reviews:
As a member of the editorial board for Local Population Studies I regularly review all articles submitted
to the journal, as well as acting as consulting editor for some pieces.
I am also responsible for the annual review of periodical literature relating to the medieval period for
Local Population Studies.
Book review of Cheryl Butler, The Book of Fines: the annual accounts of the mayors of Southampton,
volume III, 1572-1594 (Bristol, 2010) for Local Population Studies, 86 (Spring 2011).
Book review of John Mullan and Richard Britnell, Land and Family: trends and local variations in the
peasant land market on the Winchester Bishopric estates 1263-1415, (Hatfield, 2010) for Southern
History 33 (2011).

I regularly attend national and international conferences, as well as conferences of regional or subject specific
importance. I have presented numerous papers on my doctoral research in recent years, a number of which were
by invitation. These papers are listed below in Annex B.
Previous Employment/positions:
Sept. 2009 – Sept. 2010
Sept. 2009 – Sept. 2010
Visiting Scholar, Cambridge Group for the History of Population and Social
Structure, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge.
Economic History Society Eileen Power Fellow, Institute of Historical Research,
London. Active research expanding upon my doctoral studies through the compilation
of a comparative dataset for Eton College and King’s College Cambridge.
April 2009 – June 2009 Subject teacher (sabbatical cover), Winchester College, Winchester Key Stage 4
History. See Annex A for details of my teaching responsibilities.
Nov. 2008 – Sept. 2009
Sept. 2007 – April 2008
Feb. 2005 – Sept. 2008
Sept. 2005 – Sept. 2008
Feb. 2004 – July 2008
Nov. 2003 – Jan. 2004
Jan. 1997 – May 2003
Funding Awards:
Editorial work for Wessex Historical Databases, University of Winchester.
Editing and preparing a database for electronic (CD-ROM) publication. This fixedhours
contract was undertaken in phases over a 12-month period in collaboration with
the author.
Subject teacher (sabbatical cover), Winchester College, Winchester A Level
History. See Annex A for details of my teaching responsibilities.
Associate Lecturer, University of Winchester. Undergraduate level teaching, largely
to first and second year students across a range of methodological and subject specific
modules. See Annex A for details of my teaching responsibilities.
Warden in Halls of Residence, University of Winchester. Pastoral responsibility
for over 1,000 first year students. On-call for emergencies one week in four. Worked
as part of the Housing team alongside security and safety officers to ensure the general
well-being and good conduct of students resident in university owned property.
PhD research, University of Winchester (University Studentship) Engaged in full
time doctoral research during the period of my studentship (Feb. 2004 – Jan. 2007).
Part-time for further 18 months (writing-up thesis) while undertaking teaching. Thesis
submitted July 2008, Viva Voce November 2008, passed with no corrections.
Trainee Librarian, Classics Faculty Library, University of Cambridge.
Information Assistant, Cambridge Tourist Information Centre Weekend
employment (until Sept. 1999) and seasonal contracts during vacation periods.
2010 - British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship
2009/10 Economic History Society Eileen Power Fellowship, Institute of Historical Research
2006/7 Scouloudi Fellowship, Institute of Historical Research
2004-7 PhD studentship, University of Winchester
2003/4 MA studentship, University of York, Centre for Medieval Studies
2003/4 MA bursary, Richard III Society
Courses completed:
2006 Statistics for Historians, Institute of Historical Research, London.
2004-5 University of Winchester Research Training programme (modules at M level). Training in
research skills and in teaching at university level.
2004 Databases for Historians, Institute of Historical Research, London.
Membership:
Board member of Local Population Studies
Member of the Economic History Society
Member of the British Society for Population Studies
Member of the Institute of Historical Research

Additional/previous roles:
I was an active member of my community within the University of Winchester, acting as Research student
representative for the School of Social Sciences (Departmental and Research Degrees Committees) and as the
University representative on the Hampshire Record Office Customer Liaison Committee. I was also invited to
assist in the orientation and welcome of candidates for the position of Vice Chancellor at the University of
Winchester, and was asked to compile archive material for the Marketing Department for the University title
launch. I was also involved in the Aim Higher Scheme and acted as an invigilator during University examination
periods. During my time at York and Aberystwyth I was also regularly involved in departmental activities, acted
as Student representative, and participated in a range of clubs and societies. At York I was a member of the Lords
of Misrule medieval drama society and at Aberystwyth I was President of the History Society 2000-02.
Other skills and experiences:
Good knowledge of Medieval Latin, experience of archival research and strong skills in palaeography.
Undertaken training courses in database design and construction and statistics for historians, excellent level of
computer literacy including all major MS Office applications. Languages, including French to A Level, German
to GCSE and basic Spanish. My fluency in French has been further improved through residency in Paris.

ANNEX A: TEACHING EXPERIENCE
DR REBECCA HOLLY ANNE OAKES
My subject expertise includes economic, social, demographic, and population history of both the medieval and
early modern periods. This encompasses both English and European history. I also have a range of
methodological skills that feed into my teaching, including Medieval Latin, palaeography, archival experience,
database design, statistical analysis and more general ICT skills. I have experience in teaching at undergraduate
level, A Level and Key Stage 4. The following are modules in which I have taught to date.
Winchester College Sabbatical cover teaching.
2008/9 History Key Stage Four: Two Middle Part sets (Year 10 equivalent) – The Causes of the English
Civil War and two Vth Book sets (Year 11 equivalent) – Modern World History.
GCSE examinations are not taken in History at Winchester College and so I was given the
opportunity to devise and deliver a scheme of work on these subjects to enhance and broaden the
knowledge base and historical skills of the students in my classes. I incorporated a range of
different methods into this teaching, including the use of ICT and college owned archive materials
from these periods. I had responsibility for setting and marking weekly assignments, writing
student reports and conducting end of year assessment examinations.
2007/8 A2 Level AQA History 6041, Alternative A module 4, Medieval Europe 1046-1223: Final year
A Level modules examining the rise of monarchical power in medieval France and the papacy of
Innocent III. I devised the scheme of work and delivered teaching on these subjects in line with the
A Level syllabus requirements. I was responsible for the assessment of student work and preparing
the students for their examinations in these topics. I also gave guidance on some of the personal
studies being undertaken my members of my class.
University of Winchester Undergraduate teaching
2007/8 Yr 2 HS2207 Independent Study: responsibility for the supervision of students undertaking
research projects on thirteenth and fourteenth century economic and social history.
2006-8 Yr 1 HS1103 Historical Landmarks: Module introducing students to a number of key landmarks
in history, offering a series of different perspectives on historical causation and change. I was
responsible for conducting classes, marking essays, and moderating student presentations for the
Black Death and Magna Carta options within this team-taught module.
2005-8 Yr 1 HS1101 Reading and Writing History: conducting seminar classes on historical skills,
writing and presenting lectures on best practice for the use of electronic and internet resources.
2006/7 Yr 2 HS2010 Civilisation Study: Late Medieval Civilisation: writing and delivering lectures
and seminars on death, disease and mortality in late medieval civilisation.
2005-7 Yr 1 HS1005 Early Modern Europe c. 1500-1789: conducting assessed seminars and marking
essays.
2005/6 Yr 2 HS2201A New Approaches to History: conducting seminars and assessment of
presentations for this module examining the development of the professional practice of History in
the 20 th century.
2005/6 Yr 1 HS1007 Past and Present Historians: conducting assessed seminars and marking essays for
this first year Historiography module.

ANNEX B: PAPERS PRESENTED
DR REBECCA HOLLY ANNE OAKES
Nov. 2011
Sept. 2011
March 2011
Nov. 2010
Sept. 2010
Nov. 2009
Sept. 2009
May 2009
Feb. 2009
Sept. 2008
March 2008
Oct. 2007
Sept. 2007
Sept. 2006
June 2006
March 2006
Local Population Studies Society Autumn Conference: Death and Disease in the community,
1400-2010, University of Leicester.
‘A plague on both your houses: college insights into medieval mortality’
Population, economy and welfare: a conference in honour of Richard Smith
'Moving targets: how place of origin affected the life chances of late medieval scholars at
Winchester College and New College Oxford'
Herne Bay Historical Records Society, Kent
‘Medieval Kentish Church leaders’ (invited speaker)
Vice-Chancellor’s visit to School of Physical Sciences, University of Cambridge.
Poster presentation: ‘Bridging the gap: new evidence for mortality and life expectancy
spanning late medieval and early modern England’.
Fifteenth Century Conference, Southampton
‘Perspectives on occupational health for graduates of Winchester College and New College
Oxford: linking late medieval career and life expectancy data (1393-1540)’
Medieval Economic and Social History Seminar – University of Cambridge
‘Surviving school: mortality and life expectancy of the medieval scholars of Winchester
College and New College Oxford’
British Society for Population Studies annual conference, Bournemouth.
‘Greater expectations: new evidence for medieval mortality and life expectancy’
HPSS Wellcome Trust workshop: Death, disease, environment and social status, Cambridge.
‘New Perspectives on mortality in medieval England: a comparison of Winchester and New
Colleges (c. 1393-1540) with the Benedictine monasteries at Canterbury, Westminster and
Durham’
History for Population and Social Structure lunchtime seminar, University of Cambridge.
‘Greater Expectations: new evidence for mortality and life expectancy in late medieval
England’
Fifteenth Century conference, Aberystwyth.
‘Death in the classroom: mortality at Winchester College and New College, Oxford 1393-
c.1540’
Economic History Society annual conference, Nottingham. (New Researcher paper)
‘A demographic study of Winchester College and New College, Oxford, 1392-1540’
Institute for Historical Research Late Medieval Seminar
‘Mortality among the young in fifteenth century England: new evidence from Winchester
College and New College, Oxford’
British Society for Population Studies annual conference, St. Andrews.
‘Medieval colleges: the value of Winchester College and New College, Oxford as case studies
in the examination of late medieval demographic history’
Historical Association Centenary Celebration day conference (Winchester Branch): The
History of Winchester College
‘Winchester Scholars – their origins and later careers, 1392 – 1540’
Economic History Society funded residential course for postgraduate students in economic and
social history
‘The scholars of Winchester College - a demographic case study for the late medieval period’
ESRC Social Change in the History of Education
‘A prosopographical study of the scholars of Winchester College and New College, Oxford c.
1392 – c. 1540’

March 2006
Feb. 2006
July 2004
June 2003
April 2003
Centre for Wessex History and Archaeology Seminar series
‘The scholars of Winchester College and New College Oxford c. 1392 – c. 1540’
University of Winchester Research and Knowledge Transfer day
‘Post Black Death population changes – Winchester College and New College Oxford as a
demographic case study’
Leeds International Medieval Congress
‘York Minster – the offertory box of York?’
York – Canterbury postgraduate conference
‘Late Medieval health and diet at the Gilbertine priory, Fishergate, York’
Richard III Society conference
‘Pennies to Heaven – donations to York Minster in the 1460s – 1480s’