Professor Kelley Wilder, director of De Montfort University’s (DMU) Photographic History Research Centre (PHRC) is leaving the university at the end of this month as the university concludes a wider staff consultation and redundancy programme. Wilder has been at DMU since 2008 when she was appointed to develop and write the ground-breaking MA Photographic History and Practice course which started in 2009. The MA moved online from the 2024/25 academic year. She was awarded her Professorship in 2019.
The PHRC was established in 2011 with Professor Elizabeth Edwards as its inaugural director. It specialised in international and interdisciplinary research on photography and its theories and practices from the 19th century to the present day. Wilder took over as director in 2016.
Kelley Wilder is photographic historian and historian of science of international repute. Her interests range across cultures of science and knowledge generated by photography and photographic practice, and photographic archives. She has published papers and several books and has a particular interest in the photographic practices of nineteenth century scientists, notably, William Henry Fox Talbot, Sir John Herschel, Henri Becquerel and others. Prior to joining DMU Wilder was the assistant editor of the Talbot Correspondence Project. She has a book in development and other research projects in hand.
The MA course and PHRC have been responsible for nurturing and training a new generation of photographic historians and artist-practitioners. Many of the PHRC’s former students now occupy positions across academia and museums and galleries in the United Kingdom, Europe and North America. In addition, the university library’s special collections has become an important repository of photographic history materials. It houses the former Kodak Ltd research library, several photographic institutions’ archives and significant collections of historical photographic materials.The university also hosts online photo-history resources.
The PHRC will continue and its teaching staff will remain in place. BPH understands that a new director will be announced shortly, and new MA and PhD student supervisory teams are being set up for existing students. The autumn seminar programme is in place and it is likely that the annual conference in 2026 will go ahead. The university has contacted students individually.
DMU’s redundancy programme is part of a wider restructuring announced in May with, then, 94 posts at risk and 80 roles set to be cut. The Leicester-based university is repositioning itself as it seeks to cut spending by £22 million in 2025, manage falling student numbers, and deal with the costs of setting up new campuses in London and Dubai. The latter was set up after DMU terminated a partnership with World Study Group in 2024 which is now the subject of a costly dispute. The restructuring announcement led to calls for the Vice Chancellor and Executive to resign.
See: BBC news story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3nnge3v1wo
Staff profile: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/academic-staff/art-design-humanities/kelley-wilder/kelley-wilder.aspx
Kelley Wilder's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelley-wilder-62b0457a/
Images: top: De Montfort University; right: Kelley Wilder. left: (l-r) Roger Taylor, Elizabeth Edwards, Kelley Wilder and Stephen Brown co-founders of the PHRC celebrate its first anniversary in May 2012. Photos top and left: Michael Pritchard.
Comments
This is such sad news, Kelley has been the best PhD supervisor. Beyond her extensive knowledge she has helped me to grow with her encouragement and has always been a positive and supportive influence throughout my studies. I'm so sad that she's no longer at DMU as the past four years have been wonderful. Whichever institution she ends up next at is incredibly lucky.
I'm really gutted for you, Kelley. I hope you land somewhere great.
Thank you Katherine, It's been a pleasure getting to know you. Good luck with your further studies.
I am saddened and baffled to hear that Kelley is leaving DMU. For the last fifteen years, I have appreciated Kelley’s indefatigable and inspirational commitment to working at the international forefront of expanding academic fields of photographic history. Her encouragement of individuals and institutions to interrogate the diverse disciplines critical to the development of photographic history for almost two decades has been invaluable.
Wherever Kelley relocates, they will be lucky. I look forward to the new phase of Kelley's odyssey.
Thank you Janine, I know that we will keep in steady contact, not least through your great colour group! I look forward to the next meeting already.
I'm both surprised and saddened to hear this news. Kelley has been a major force in the history of photography community for many years, and a dear friend. I'm sure her future will be bright and she will find a place in the world of academia again.
Thank you Roger. You forgot to mention that you helped me on my way many times with training, advice, beers at the pub, a room in Lacock, sharing generously and often. I am deeply in your debt - always will be.
A destructive move by De Montfort University, which loses significant intellectual capital and undercuts its positive gains over the past years. Decision-makers here should be ashamed of themselves and should no longer be involved in academic work.
I am really shocked - this is very bad news for the entire world of photography. My best thoughts to dear Kelley! Costanza
Thank you Costanza. Received!