Cynthia Johnston

Dr Cynthia Johnston serves as Senior Lecturer in History of the Book and Director of the MA/MRes in History of the Book at the Institute of English Studies, University of London. She leads research initiatives including the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery's NPO project (2023-26) and edits Cambridge University Press's Elements series on 'Book Collecting.'

Her educational background includes BS, MA, MPhil in English from New York University, an MSt in Medieval Studies with distinction from University of Oxford, and a PhD from University of London (2015).

Johnston's research spans medieval and industrial-era book production, collecting practices, manuscript studies, and palaeography across England, Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. Her work explores the connections between material book culture, regional identity, and collector motivations, with particular focus on Lancashire's industrial heritage. She examines decorative techniques like penflourishing in thirteenth-century manuscripts while documenting contemporary book collecting practices.

Her publication trends reveal consistent exploration of book collecting across historical periods—from medieval manuscript production to 19th century industrial collectors—with increasing emphasis on regional studies of Northern England and public engagement through exhibitions like 'Holding the Vision' and 'Cotton to Gold.' Her work bridges academic scholarship with museum practice, focusing on the social dimensions of book culture.

Johnston actively supervises doctoral research including projects on heraldry in psalters, natural history notebooks, and 19th century erotic literature collecting. She has secured funding from the Paul Mellon Centre, Society of Antiquaries, and Arts Council England for research projects culminating in exhibitions across Northwest England institutions.

Her public engagement includes BBC Radio appearances, Being Human Festival collaborations, and knowledge transfer activities generating media coverage in The Guardian, Financial Times, and Apollo Magazine. Current projects include 'The Nature of Gothic' exhibition for Blackburn Museum through 2026 and 'Books on Book Collecting for CUP' due 2026.