Alice Brumby

Dr Alice Brumby is a Lecturer in the School of Humanities at York St John University. She holds a PhD in History from the University of Huddersfield (2015), an MA in PGCE (Lifelong Learning), and a BA (Hons) in English Literature and History. Her research focuses on mental health care history, particularly examining patient welfare, community roles in care access, and the social impact of the First World War. She has co-curated exhibitions on war and mental health at institutions like the Thackray Medical Museum and York Army Museum. Brumby actively engages with public history projects, including collaborations with English Heritage’s ‘Shout Out Loud’ programme and veteran charities like The League of Remembrance. She teaches undergraduate and postgraduate modules in History, American Studies, and War Studies, and supervises research in mental health history and oral history methods.

Her work bridges academic research and public engagement, emphasizing social justice and the lived experiences of marginalized groups. Recent projects include exploring the Mental Treatment Act of 1930 and oral history initiatives with mental health organizations. Brumby has contributed to BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? and co-authored publications on institutional care, charity roles in mental health, and the cultural impact of war.

Teaching responsibilities include the Liberal Arts Foundation Year and supervision of postgraduate research. She advocates for interdisciplinary approaches, blending historical analysis with contemporary issues in healthcare and veteran support.