Join us for the next Strathclyde Institute for Genealogical Studies’ Spotlight Talk featuring Dr Nicholas Dixon, a professional genealogist and historical researcher based in London. A recording of the talk will be available for 2 weeks after the event.

Two Disciplines Divided by a Common Language: Towards a Synthesis of Genealogy and History

It has often been said in a whimsical fashion that Britain and America are two nations divided by a common language. In academia, the same observation can be made about the disciplines of genealogy and history. Genealogists and historians use the same sources and many of the same methods and terminologies, and yet there remains a vast, implicit gulf separating their respective practitioners. This was not always so. Before the professionalisation of history in the twentieth century, many scholars happily integrated historical and genealogical studies, especially in topographical research.

In this talk, Dr Nicholas Dixon will argue that a new synthesis of history and genealogy is both practicable and desirable. He will draw upon his own experiences of the world of academic history, and the transition which he has made from completing a PhD in History at Cambridge to studying genealogy at the University of Strathclyde and working for clients as a genealogist and historical researcher. This journey gives him a unique vantage point, having crossed a rigid disciplinary boundary and then used his historical skills within the context of commercial genealogy.

From these experiences, it is apparent to him that the demarcation between history and genealogy is becoming more and more difficult to define. Historians are increasingly being compelled to acknowledge the usefulness of genealogical resources and approaches. Meanwhile, genealogists are increasingly having to reckon with the complexities of historical interpretation, rather than relying on familiar tropes about the past. If directed in a productive fashion, this synthesis could bring forth novel and exciting insights into the way that we view the past, as well as the emergence of a new sub-discipline.

Dr Nicholas Dixon

Nicholas is a professional genealogist and historical researcher based in London. He studied history at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and was awarded a PhD in History degree by the University of Cambridge for his thesis about the Church of England during the early nineteenth century. He has also been awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical, Palaeographic and Heraldic Studies with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde. He is a director of the Register of Qualified Genealogists and co-representative for the Britain, Ireland and the Isles Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists.

An email with the Zoom webinar link will be sent by 12.00 GMT on 22 September 2026.