Jessica Purdy

Dr. Jessica Purdy is an Associate Lecturer in British History (c. 1500–c. 1700) at the School of History, University of St Andrews. She holds a PhD in Early Modern Book History from Manchester Metropolitan University (2021) and teaches modules on early modern British history, including Scotland, Britain and Empire (1500–2000), and Tudor/Stuart-era cultural history. Her research focuses on parish libraries, reading practices, and identity formation in early modern England and Scotland.

Education:

• PhD in Early Modern Book History, Manchester Metropolitan University (2021)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

Research Interests: Library history, history of reading, Tudor/Stuart social/cultural history, and the impact of books on identity. She critiques historical portrayals in media and emphasizes educational purposes of early modern libraries.

Publications Trends: Her work analyzes parish libraries' composition, reader marginalia, and philanthropic foundations. Recent publications (2021–2024) explore access policies, comparative library collections, and the socio-cultural role of books in early modern Europe.

Awards:

• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Teaching & Grants: Module coordinator for multiple undergraduate courses. No specific grants mentioned, but her research is supported through monograph and edited volume publications.

Labs/Teams: Collaborative projects include co-editing Communities of Print (2021) and contributing to interdisciplinary book history networks.