Sara Charles

Dr Sara Charles serves as Editor of Historical Research and Journals Manager at the Institute of Historical Research within the School of Advanced Study, University of London. Holding a BA, MA in Library and Information Studies with distinction from UCL, and an MRes in History of the Book with distinction from the University of London, she bridges academic research and scholarly publishing.

Her educational qualifications include:

• BA (University College London)
• MA in Library and Information Studies with distinction (UCL)
• MRes in History of the Book with distinction (University of London)

Specializing in medieval manuscript culture, Dr Charles' research examines physical book production, literacy practices, and social contexts of manuscripts. Her work integrates material analysis with historical inquiry, focusing on English and European traditions from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Key areas include paleography, women's religious communities, and the transition from manuscript to print culture.

Her publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with manuscript materiality, evolving from specific case studies of individual manuscripts to broader analyses of production workshops and social networks. Recent work demonstrates increasing methodological sophistication in combining art historical analysis with provenance research and emotional history frameworks.

Her professional recognition includes:

• Fellow of the Royal Historical Society

Dr Charles actively translates research into public engagement, exemplified by her University of London Knowledge Exchange-funded workshop 'Making Medieval Manuscripts' with Green Shoes Arts. This initiative trained community participants in historical techniques including ink-making, quill-cutting, pigment preparation, and illumination practices, demonstrating her commitment to experiential knowledge transfer beyond traditional academic outputs.