College of Humanities and Social Sciences staff

Dr John Griffiths staff profile picture

Contact details +6492136489

Dr John Griffiths BA(Hons), PhD

Senior Lecturer in History

School of Humanities Media and Creative Comm

PGCertTT

Senior Fellow of Advance HE (SFHEA)

I am currently compiling a  four-volume collection of primary documents on “Empire and Popular Culture” for Routledge. I am also working on a book which focuses on regional cultures in 1960s Britain for Palgrave. I was invited, and then elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS). My research expertise is also recognised beyond the confines of the history discipline itself - I won the Alan Mason Award from the Geoscience Society of New Zealand, for my work on early mineral discoveries in Aotearoa.

I have served on the board of several prestigious international journals over the years, and currently serve on the board of directors for the journal “Britain and the World”, published by Edinburgh University Press (https://www.euppublishing.com/loi/brw).

My teaching expertise and leadership is internationally recognized – I was elected a Senior Fellow of the High Education Academy in the UK, making me one of the few SFHEA scholar’s at Massey University. In addition, I completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Tertiary Teaching (PGCTT), which few academics attain, and is testament to my continued professional development (CPD) as an academic, and commitment to delivering high quality, innovative teaching. 

I am a historian of Britain and the British World c.1840-onwards.  My research is of particular relevance in Aotearoa New Zealand, because of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the relationship between tangata whenua and the British Crown. Indeed, events of the 19th century continue to shape the development of Aotearoa and Britain today, which is a central pillar of my research.

 

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Professional

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Arts (Second Class Honours) - West Sussex Institute of Higher Education (1989)
  • Doctor of Philosophy - The Manchester Metropolitan University (1997)

Research Expertise

Research Interests

Imperial Culture 1880-1939

Transnational Cultures 1900-1960

British History/British World 1870-1973

The Swinging Sixties

 

Area of Expertise

Field of research codes
British History (210305): Historical Studies (210300): History And Archaeology (210000)

Research Projects

Summary of Research Projects

Position Current Completed
Project Leader 0 2

Research Outputs

Journal

Griffiths, J. (2019). ‘Rivalling the Metropolis’: cultural conflict between London and the regions c.1967–1973. Contemporary British History. 33(4), 524-547
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, J. (2017). North American boosterism in the south pacific: Evaluating the failure of New Zealand’s progress leagues, 1880–1980. International Journal of Regional and Local History. 12(1), 1-23
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2016). Going to the Palais: A Social and Cultural History of Dance Halls in Britain 1918-1960. Social History. 41(2), 221-223
[Book Review]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Beaven, B., & Griffiths, J. (2016). The city and imperial propaganda: A comparative study of Empire Day in England, Australia, and New Zealand c. 1903-1914. Journal of Urban History. 42(2), 377-395
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, J. (2015). All the world’s a stage: transnationalism and adaptation in professional wrestling style c. 1930–45. Social History. 40(1), 38-57
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, J., & Evans, V. (2014). The Chartist Legacy in the British World: Evidence from New Zealand's Southern Settlements, 1840s-1870s. History. 99(338), 797-818
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2014). The Edinburgh Festivals: Culture and Society in Post-War Britain. Social History. 39(4), 605-607Retreived from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.massey.ac.nz/eds/detail/detail?vid=11&sid=aa2ede99-7909-4531-9614-cc8a1dfba36f@sessionmgr114&hid=114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ==#db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.404549452
[Book Review]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (2014). The branch life of Empire: Imperial loyalty leagues in Antipodean cities - Comparisons and contrasts with the British model. Britain and the World. 7(1), 56-84
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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1
Griffiths, J. (2009). Were there municipal networks in the British World c. 1890-1939?. Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History. 37(4), 575-597
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2008). Civic communication in Britain: A study of the Municipal Journal c. 1893-1910. Journal of Urban History. 34(5), 775-794
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2008). Popular culture and modernity: Dancing in New Zealand society 1920-1945. Journal of Social History. 41(3), 611-632
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Beaven, B., & Griffiths, JR. (2008). Creating the exemplary citizen: The changing notion of citizenship in Britain 1870-1939. Contemporary British History. 22(2), 203-225
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Beaven, B., & Griffiths, J. (1999). The blitz, civilian morale and the city: Mass-observation and working-class culture in Britain, 1940-41. Urban History. 26(1), 71-88
[Journal article]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Book

Griffiths, J. (Ed.) (2023). Empire and popular culture. Volume IV.. (Vol. 4) Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
[Edited Book]Edited by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (Ed.) (2022). Empire and popular culture. Volume III.. (Vol. 3) Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
[Edited Book]Edited by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (Ed.) (2022). Empire and Popular Culture. Volume II. (Vol. 2) Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
[Edited Book]Edited by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (Ed.) (2021). Empire and popular culture. Volume I.. (Vol. I) Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge
[Edited Book]Edited by: Griffiths, J.
(2020). Communication and the first world war.
[Edited Book]Authored by: Griffiths, J.Edited by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, J. (2020). Introduction: Perspectives on communication and the study of the first world war. (pp. 1 - 19).
[Chapter]Authored by: Griffiths, J.Edited by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, J. (2020). Fake news or an education in war? Communicating war aims to the British public in its early phases: The Oxford Pamphlets 1914-1915. In Communication and the First World War. (pp. 87 - 117).
[Chapter]Authored by: Griffiths, J.Edited by: Griffiths, J.
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Brown A, ., & Griffiths J, .(2017). The Citizen Past and Present. Auckland: Massey University Press
[Authored Book]Edited by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2017). From 'Citizens' To 'Dilettantes' And Back Again? The Workers' Educational Association & Its Students Since 1945. In . A Brown, & . J Griffiths (Eds.) The Citizen Past and Present. (pp. 275 - 299). Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press
[Chapter]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Brown, AD., & Griffiths, J. (Eds.) (2017). The citizen. past and present. Auckland, New Zealand: Massey University Press
[Edited Book]Edited by: Brown, A., Griffiths, J.
Brown, AD., & Griffiths, J. (Eds.) (2017). The Citizen. Past and Present. : Massey University Press
[Edited Book]Authored by: Brown, A., Griffiths, J.Edited by: Brown, A., Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (2016). On the margins of empire: Antipodean port cities and imperial culture c. 1880—1939. In Port Towns and Urban Cultures International Histories of the Waterfront, c.1700-2000. (pp. 91 - 109).
[Chapter]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR.(2014). Imperial culture in Antipodean cities 1880-1939. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan
[Authored Book]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Thesis

Littlewood, D. (2015). The tool and instrument of the military? : the operations of the military service tribunals in the East Central Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire and those of the military service boards in New Zealand, 1916-1918. (Doctoral Thesis, Massey Univeristy, New Zealand) Littlewood, D. (2015). The tool and instrument of the military? : the operations of the military service tribunals in the East Central Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire and those of the military service boards in New Zealand, 1916-1918. (Doctoral Thesis)
[Doctoral Thesis]Authored by: Littlewood, D.Edited by: Griffiths, J.
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Conference

Griffiths, JR.(2017, January). In the Sticks? British Provincial City Cultural Life c.1967-1973 Plenary presentation. .
[Conference]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2017, January). In the Sticks? British Provincial City Cultural Life c.1967-1973.. Presented at The First Eric Richards Symposium in Brtish and Australian History. Flinders University.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR.Mediating permissiveness: The provincial press and the swinging sixties in Britain c.1967-1973. . London, United Kingdom
[Conference Paper]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR., & Beaven, B. (2012, August). Citizens of the Empire day: A comparative study of urban elites and empire day 1904-1939. Presented at European Association for Urban history. Prague, Czech Republic.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J. (2011, March). The branch life of empire: Imperial loyalty leagues in Australia and New Zealand c.1900-1939. Presented at British Scholar Annual Conference. University of Texas, TX, United States.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.

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Griffiths, JR. (2010, March). Were there municipal networks in the British world?. Presented at The British Scholar Annual Conference. University of Texas, Austin, TX, United States.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR., & Beaven, B. (2010, March). Citizens of the Empire: A comparative study of Empire Day c.1900-1939. Presented at Social History Society Annual Conference. University of Glasgow, Scotland.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2009, March). Reformers, Projects and measures of urban reform in Britain 1890-1914. Presented at City as a Stage of Reform Britain and Germany 1890-1914. German Historical Institute.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2009, May). Were there municipal networks in the British World c.1890-1939?. Presented at Brown Bag Seminar. University of Melbourne VIC, Australia.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2008, July). Popular culture and modernity: Dancing in New Zealand. Presented at Australian Historical Association 14th Biennial National Conference. University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2007, July). Communicating civic ideals in the British world: The Municipal Journal and municipal travellers 1893-1939. Presented at British World Conference. Bristol, UK.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2007, November). Popular culture and modernity: Dancing in New Zealand c.1920-1945. Presented at New Zealand Historical Association Conference. Wellington, NZ.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2006). Soap, chocolate, governance: The rule of liberalism at Port Sunlight and Bournville 1880-1920. In CL. Miller, & MM. Roche (Eds.) Past Matters: Heritage, History and the Built Environment: Proceedings from the 8th Australasian Urban History / Planning History Conference. (pp. 171 - 186).
[Conference Paper in Published Proceedings]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2005, July). Progressivism and the citizen in British cities, c. 1880-1910: The role of techno- and bio-politics in urban governance. Presented at Australian Historical Association Conference. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2005, January). Shaping the citizen in British cities: Progressivism and urban governance, 1890-1910. Presented at Social History Society Conference. Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Beaven, B., & Griffiths, JR. (2003, June). Citizenship in the industrial boomtown: Narratives of work and leisure in Britain 1880-1914. Presented at Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences. Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii.
[Conference Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.

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Other

Griffiths, JR. (2017). The Counterculture of 1967: Reflections on the Summer of Love.
[Internet publication]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2015). Wrestling with History. : Social History
[Internet publication]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2014, June). All the world's a stage: transnationalism and adaptation in professional wrestling style c. 1930–45. In WH Oliver Humanties Research Centre Seminar Series. Presented at Palmerston North, New Zealand.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Griffiths, JR. (2013). Book review: Leisure and cultural conflict in twentieth century Britain.
[Other]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2013). Book review: Visions of Empire: Patriotism, popular culture and the city 1870-1939 by Brad Beaven. Insitute of Historical Research
[Other]Authored by: Griffiths, J.

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Griffiths, JR. (2012). [Review of the book Being Boys: Youth leisure and identity in the inter war years, by M. Tebbutt].
[Other]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, JR. (2011, July). Dancing in the Dominion: The Problem of Popular Culture in New Zealand c.1919-45 Presentation in the 'Leisure and Recreation' series for Te Manawa.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Griffiths, J.Popular culture and modernity: Dancing in New Zealand Society 1920-1945.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
3
Griffiths, JR. (2006). Pubs and progressives: Reinventing the public house in England 1896-1960. (pp. 313 - 314). Cambridge University Press
[Other]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Beaven, B., & Griffiths, J.Creating the exemplary citizen: The changing notion of citizenship in Britain 1870-1939.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
Read Abstract: abstract icon
33
Griffiths, JR. (2001, November). Urban history. : Centre for Urban History seminar series.
[Oral Presentation]Authored by: Griffiths, J.
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Consultancy and Languages

Languages

  • Te Reo
    Last used: I am enrolled on a Te Reo course for beginners
    Spoken ability: Needs work
    Written ability: Needs work

Teaching and Supervision

Contact Supervisor

Graduate Supervision Statement

I am interested in British and British world social and cultural history. My supervision style is based on the student finding what it is that interests them and wthen orking with them to shape this interest around key questions  that become the chapters in the thesis. A student needs to be enthusiastic about the topic so I dont like to say what it is that a student should study.  


Summary of Doctoral Supervision

Position Current Completed
Co-supervisor 1 1

Current Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • Sue Garside - Doctor of Philosophy
    'Families in Motion': Tracing the Nelson New Zealand Company Assisted Emigrants, 1810-1910.

Completed Doctoral Supervision

Co-supervisor of:

  • 2015 - David Littlewood - Doctor of Philosophy
    The Tool and Instrument of the Military?: The Operations of the Military Service Tribunals in the East Central Division of the West Riding of Yorkshire and those of the Military Service Boards in New Zealand, 1916-1918

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Last updated on Monday 27 February 2023