Louise Salaün

Please tell us about your research project.
I am a second-year PhD student at Sorbonne University and EHESS under the supervision of François-Joseph Ruggiu and Cécile Vidal. My research focuses on fugitive enslaved women in the French and British Caribbean during the 18th century. My study aims to examine the various aspects of women’s marronage, which has long remained in the shadow of men’s marronage in historiography, by examining a wide range of sources such as runaway advertisements, administrative and judicial documents, notarial records, plantation papers.

Could you please tell us a bit more about your scholarship/exchange programme?
I received a monthly scholarship from the Maison Française d’Oxford which will allow me to access 18th century manuscripts held in Oxford. During my stay, I plan to take full advantage of this opportunity to consult the papers of several slave owners and abolitionists preserved in the Bodleian Library’s special collections at the Weston Library.

First impressions of Oxford/the University?
From the moment I arrived in Oxford, I was impressed by the magnificence of the city. The exceptional historical heritage, the variety of libraries and the overall atmosphere of the city which I had the chance to explore later on, confirmed my belief that Oxford offers an ideal environment for research. I quickly became aware of the privilege of staying at the Maison Française d'Oxford which is perfectly situated within the city for accessing the various libraries and offers the invaluable chance to meet students from a wide range of academic fields.