91¾«Æ·ºÚÁϳԹÏ

I decided to study History at University for the simple reason that I enjoy the subject, and I still delight in it: there is always something new to learn, and this curiosity can help to understand the world we live in today. So, over 20 years since I came to 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï as an undergraduate student (then MA and PhD) I am still here, and a Lecturer in Modern History and Welsh History since 2013.

I mainly look at history from the close of the Victorian era to the beginning of the 21st century, and have two main interests in my research and teaching. Firstly, exploring national identities, specifically in Wales. Secondly, delving into the history of everyday life, which gives us a view of how ordinary people have lived in the past. Together this means that many of my modules are eclectic in content, with discussions of topics ranging from nationalism, the monarchy, devolution and gender to areas such as the nuclear industry, landscape studies and histories of  food, animals and tattoos.

Among the modules I have on the books at the moment are Wales in the Modern World; Re-igniting the Dragon: Wales after 1939; Britain in the Jazz Age; Nationalism in the UK and Raving in the 1990s. At MA level I coordinate the Welsh history module Global Wales. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and I love teaching in Welsh and English.

I'm currently writing a monograph on north-east Wales between 1950 and 1962, involved in oral history projects through the Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates (ISWE) and collaborating on research into nuclear communities in north Wales. I enjoy chatting about my research with local history societies and schools.  I also contribute to radio and television programmes on subjects such as the monarchy and nationalism.

I am fortunate to be supervising talented PhD researchers, who are looking at areas such as the history of mountaineering and right-wing nationalism. I also co-supervise a number of ISWE doctorates on topics such as squatters & rural settlements and women in agriculture.

In terms of my administrative work at the University, I am a History Admissions Tutor and a History/Heritage co-ordinator in Bangor with the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

BA

• Cymru yn y Byd Modern / Wales in the Modern World 
• Ail-Danio'r Ddraig/ Re-igniting the Dragon
• Britain in the Jazz Age
• Nationalism in the UK
• Raving in the 1990s?  
• Making History
• Crefft yr Hanesydd

²Ñ´¡Ìý

• Global Wales
• People, Power and Political Action
• Documents and Sources Modern
• Themes and Issues

• Nationalism in the 20th century
• Monarchy
• Protest and the Welsh language
• Devolution
• Landscape history and rurality
• Nuclear communities
• North-east Wales
• Animal history
• The history of everyday life (e.g. tattoos, food, sports).

2025

• Published
  Wiliam, M., Jul 2025, Memory and Nation: Writing the History of Wales. Thomas, R., Jarrett, S. & Olson, K. K. (eds.). Caerdydd: University of Wales Press, Cardiff, p. 352-378
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2024

• Published
  Wiliam, M., 1 Sept 2024, Y Faner Newydd, 109, p. 14-17.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
• Published
  Wiliam, M. & Collinson, M., 6 Mar 2024, The Conversation.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article
• Published
  Wiliam, M., May 2024, In: Hanes Byw. 4, p. 20-21
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

2023

• Published
  Wiliam, M., Sept 2023, In: Hanes Byw. 1, p. 18-21
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
• Published
  Collinson, M., Wiliam, M., Evans, S., Williams, C. & Rowland, M., 27 Jan 2023, Rural History Today, 44, p. 5-6.
  Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article

2022

• Published
  Wiliam, M., 4 Apr 2022, In: Cultural and Social History. 19, 3, p. 301-322
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• Published
  Collinson, M. & Wiliam, M., 2021, In: Innovative Practice in Higher Education. 4, 2, p. 239-262 8.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• Published
  Collinson, M. & Wiliam, M., 14 Sept 2016.
  Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper

2015

• Published
  Wiliam, M. E., Williams, C. (Editor) & Edwards, A. (Editor), 1 Aug 2015, The Art of the Possible: Politics and Governance in Modern British History: 1885-1997: Essays in Memory of Duncan Tanner. 2015 ed. Manchester University Press
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2014

• Published
  Wiliam, M. E., 1 Dec 2014, In: Welsh History Review. 27, 2, p. 383-386
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2009

• Published
  Tanner, D. M., Wiliam, M. E., Flinn, A. (Editor) & Jones, H. (Editor), 1 Jan 2009, Freedom of Information: Open Access: Empty Archives?. 2009 ed. Routledge, p. 54-74
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

2025

• Building on the interest in Bangor History’s ‘College on the Hill’ event for the University’s 140th Anniversary, this course explores different aspects of the history and heritage of north Wales. Our historians and archaeologists are passionate experts in their field of study, and the course is designed to introduce some of the more contested aspects of local and community history.

  19 Mar 2025 – 9 Apr 2025

  Activity: Types of Public engagement and outreach - Public lecture/debate/seminar (Contributor)

2024

• Presentation on a history of nuclear energy production in north Wales. Delivered to the Telford Centre Winter Lecture series.

  13 Nov 2024

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

• A conversation held in Palas Print, Caernarfon.

  30 Sep 2024

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• Talk to the Bro Aled History Society in Llansannan, delivered in Welsh.

  23 Sep 2024

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

• Bydd y ddarlith hon yn bwrw golwg ar arwyddocâd Pen LlÅ·n a’i thirlun i ddelfrydau o Gymreictod a gwledigrwydd yn ystod canol yr 20fed ganrif, gan ganolbwyntio’n arbennig ar y trafodaethau yn ystod y 1950au a’r 1960au ynghylch gosod atomfa niwclear ger Edern. Bydd hyn yn cael ei gyferbynnu gydag enghreifftiau eraill cynhennus o ‘foderneiddio’ golygfeydd Pen LlÅ·n, megis yr Ysgol Fomio ac ymlediad twristiaeth yn y fro. Holodd Baner ac Amserau Cymru yn 1957 ‘Pa lanast yw peilonau’, gyda’r cwestiwn yna’n greiddiol i drafodaethau ingol am enaid Pen LlÅ·n, diboblogi gwledig a’r frwydr am ‘fara’ neu ‘harddwch’

  This lecture will take a look at the significance of Pen LlÅ·n and its landscape to ideals of Welshness and rurality during the middle of the 20th century, focusing particularly on the discussions during the 1950s and 1960s regarding the installation of a nuclear power station near Edern . This will be contrasted with other controversial examples of 'modernisation' of Pen LlÅ·n scenery, such as the Bombing School and the spread of tourism in the area. Baner and Amserau Cymru asked in 1957 'What a mess pylons are', with that question at the core of poignant discussions about the soul of Pen LlÅ·n, rural depopulation and the battle for 'bread' or 'beauty'.

  6 Jul 2024

  Activity: Invited talk (Invited speaker)

• The future of relatively ‘clean’ nuclear energy is of the greatest importance to our national economy and our path toward ‘net zero’. The rate of development of nuclear energy in Britain since the 1960s has been significantly affected by societal attitudes. This talk will consider the history and local impacts of three nuclear power stations in North Wales: Trawsfynydd, Wylfa and Edern (a station proposed for the LlÅ·n Peninsula that was never built, but was a notable feature of the nuclear discourse). Based on recent research at 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁϳԹÏ, the talk will examine the repercussions of the industry on landscape, language and local politics from the 1950s to the 1980s.

  21 Mar 2024

  Links:

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

• Session for school pupils on the Seren scheme

  28 Feb 2024

  Activity: Invited talk (Speaker)

• Session for Year 12 Conference at 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁϳԹÏ

  2024

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

• Sesiwn Blasu Addysg i Oedolion

  2024

  Activity: Oral presentation (Speaker)

2023

• 2023 – 2027

  Activity: Examination (Examiner)

2022

• The Bodorgan Estate (https://www.bodorgan.com/) located in south-west Anglesey has received a Welsh Government grant to construct a new public footpath through part of the estate, linking to the existing Wales Coast Path. The development of the footpath infrastructure will proceed alongside a programme of habitat restoration. The route will embrace several important landscape features, linked to the social, cultural and economic history of Anglesey. The project is committed to sharing this landscape history with future users of the footpath through the installation of appropriate heritage interpretation along the route. The Bodorgan Estate is collaborating with 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁϳԹÏ’s Institute for the Study of Welsh Estates (http://iswe.bangor.ac.uk/) to deliver these objectives.

  The Project Team (Shaun Evans, Marc Collinson, and Mari Wiliam) advised and supervised the work of two paid postgraduate interns (Matthew Rowland and Catrin Williams). They undertook archival work at Bodorgan and interviewed members of the local community to provide historical information and oral testimony to aid the creation of heritage interpretation along the path and online. Members of the team intend to produce academic-level publications in due course.

  1 Aug 2022 – 31 Dec 2022

  Activity: Types of External academic engagement - Research and Teaching at External Organisation (Advisor)

I enjoy gardening (particularly flowers) and love animals: I have dogs and chickens.  I'm also a big football fan.  Many of these interests crop up in my teaching and research too!