The Harold Vyvyan Harmsworth Professorship in American History is an exciting opportunity for highly distinguished scholars. Expressions of Interest are now invited for the academic years 2027-28, 2028-29 and 2029-30. The tenure of each professorship is for 12 months starting in September or October (to be agreed).
The Harmsworth Professorship was established in 1921 and is the oldest chair in American history in the UK. Past holders have included many of the leading American historians of the last century including C. Vann Woodward, Allan Nevins, Jack P. Greene, David Hackett Fischer, Eric Foner, Kathryn Kish Sklar, Lizabeth Cohen, Robin Kelley, Annette Gordon-Reed, Barbara D. Savage, and Bruce Schulman among many others.
The Chair is appointed by the Faculty of History but is based in the Rothermere American Institute (RAI), Oxford’s centre for the study of America and its place in the world, whose mission is to support research in Oxford and beyond, to act as a catalyst for interdisciplinary work and research collaboration, and to engage non-university audiences, all with the aim of improving the scholarly and public understanding of America. The RAI's role as a forum for intellectual exchange is of particular importance for the Harmsworth Professor. The Professor will also become a Fellow of The Queen’s College, which provides another intellectual home. The Professor will have full dining rights at Queen’s.
You will be expected to deliver one major public lecture (the Harmsworth Lecture), and to co-teach an introductory graduate class to the Masters students studying US history. You will also be encouraged to offer guidance to graduate research students working in relevant fields, to deliver undergraduate lectures, to attend research seminars, and generally to contribute to the intellectual life of the RAI, History Faculty and the College.
You will receive a Professorial-level (Grade A20) salary which is currently £79,245 per annum. Funds are also available to pay for return air travel and visa fees (if applicable), and to convene a small conference, usually held in the spring. Accommodation would ordinarily be provided in Oxford. If you will require a visa in order to take up this position in the UK, it will be your responsibility to obtain a visa, although the University will provide advice and assistance as necessary.
The closing date for applications is 12:00 (UK time) on 31 August 2025.
The Board of Electors to the Harmsworth Professorship will consider all expressions of interest submitted in advance of the closing date and also reserve the right to approach suitably qualified candidates directly. Election to the post of Harmsworth Professor will not be limited to those candidates who have submitted expressions of interest materials.
