Back again, with more History From Afar recommendations! There are many reasons why we may not be able to enjoy the heritage and cultural sites that we would like to visit. Some of us live remotely and travel is not possible. Some of us have limited budgets or time constraints. (Or quite frankly, all of the above for many of us.) This does not mean that we should not be able to enjoy the history that we love, though. In this History From Afar: Online History Talks post, I will be sharing where to find online history talks on any budget! (And yes, I include whether or not they are free!)
YouTube (Free)
I will get this obvious one out of the way. YouTube can be an excellent free resource for online history talks. In addition to individual YouTubers uploading their content, many history documentaries have also been uploaded there. It can take a bit of digging to find worthwhile content, but it is worth it. I have found that certain accounts will upload dozens or even hundreds of documentaries- you will need to find them to open the door. (And they are not terribly difficult to find.) I am not a huge fan of piracy, but there are no legal ways to stream these sometimes-obscure talks.
Note: If you save them to a “Watch Later” list, I would recommend watching them fairly quickly. Many get pulled down randomly, so watch it if it is important to you!
Library Resources- Great Courses, Kanopy, Hoopla, etc (Free/Paid)
I have marked these both as free and paid. Depending on where you live and what libraries you have access to, you might end up purchasing an annual membership to another library. However, these resources should be included in your library membership.
Many libraries include access to programs like Great Courses. Great Courses is a platform that allows people to take MOOC (Massive Online Open Courses) from experts that have created the courses. Libraries will subscribe so that their patrons can watch the lectures (though you typically cannot access the community). These courses are taught by leaders in their field; for example, Devoney Looser teaches the Jane Austen course.
There are also other streaming services offered by libraries- Kanopy and Hoopla come to mind- that often include recorded lectures and documentaries. They usually either have a monthly limit or a personal limit (ie. 5 titles borrowed at once) but can be a fantastic resource. Check out your library website, and chat with your local librarian to see what you have access to.
Museums and Heritage Organisations (Paid/Free)
Online talks from museums and different organisations became very popular during the height of lockdowns as a way for them to generate income. These are typically paid but sometimes will be free.
There are not as many offered as there once were, but some museums and organisations have continued to offer online talks. (Unfortunately many museums have quit altogether- I understand that they have limited resources and time, but it is disappointing nevertheless.) I have found several organisations and groups that regularly offer online talks (listed below), but follow your favourite museums and sites on social media- they often post upcoming events!
Notes: These usually use Zoom, but keep an eye out in your email after registering for any information. You do not want to be downloading or updating an app 4 minutes before a talk is meant to start!
Many talks are also “give-what-you-can”, meaning there is a suggested price but if you cannot pay anything, you can still register for it.
Finally, some organisations repeat talks- ie. their holiday-themed talk is the same talk each year. I would double check they are not repeats if you are purchasing a ticket.
Royal Collection Trust (quarterly, give-or-take)
National Arts Club (Monthly, if not more)
The National Archives (frequently, multiple talks a week oftentimes)
History Indoors (Monthly, older talks are archived)
Victoria and Albert Museum (Monthly, if not more)
Online Streaming Services (Paid)
If you do have streaming services, you can often find many history documentaries there. Obviously availability will depend on where you live and what straeming service has what, but both Netflix and Prime Video have some excellent options here in Canada. (Yes, I know Netflix is alienating everyone with the password sharing-crackdown but I am simply relaying information.)
Amazon Prime does have several channels that offer talks, documentaries, and programmes that many historians and history buffs would enjoy. I made this post when it was Prime Day time, but Prime usually allows you a free month trial of any channel: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/the-best-prime-video-channels-for-history-buffs/! (I am not an affiliate.)
If you are interested in a new streaming service or a new Prime Channel to access talks or documentaries, I would recommend waiting for a special offer (or Prime Days). These talks are fantastic, but I wouldn’t advocate adding more streaming services.
If you missed the first post in our History From Afar series, you can find it here for more information on acquiring history books for free: https://anhistorianabouttown.com/history-books-for-free/.
If you have more questions on where to find online history talks, please let me know!
Cheers,
The Historian
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