Clara Dean

Please tell us about your research project.

As a PhD Student at Sorbonne University, I have been working for the past two years on the Scottish presences in 18th century Paris.

I am studying Scottish men and women who came to Paris at that time, either to travel or to stay an entire lifetime. I am trying to approach every part of their mobility/migration: their motives, their integration in the Parisian society, their interactions with the institutions… From this analysis of Scottish activities and networks in Paris, this thesis will try to question the notion of community regarding the Scots, since although they represent a group, they are not organized from an institutional point of view.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?

I applied last autumn to a monthly scholarship from the Maison Française d’Oxford, which I was very lucky to obtain for September 2025. The scholarship aligns perfectly with the current stage of my research, as I am about to begin examining British (mainly British Government) sources.

Being welcomed at the Maison Française d’Oxford is a great opportunity to discover Oxford University and the amazing collections of its libraries. The Weston Library holds many 18th century manuscripts, that are very useful for my subject. This scholarship also allows me to visit the National Archives’ records in Kew Gardens and the British Library. I am also very grateful to be given the opportunity to meet English researchers while being here.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?

Oxford is quite marvellous. It is built on the academic and cultural buildings, all in quite impressive historical architectural styles, from Gothic to Victorian. I also appreciate the closeness to nature, especially during this sunny early autumn.

By its history and present atmosphere, the University embodies to me the idea of a modern République des Lettres: a community of searchers coming from all around the globe, to search and share knowledge. I really appreciate that the Maison Française receives researchers from various disciplines, which invites us to learn about other methods, and see differently.