Dr. Matt Cook

Biography

Matt Cook is the inaugural Jonathan Cooper Professor of the History of Sexuality at the University of Oxford's Faculty of History, appointed in October 2023. He previously spent 18 years at Birkbeck, University of London, where he was the Professor of Modern History and Head of the Department of History, Classics and Archaeology. With a research focus on LGBTQ+ history, Matt is a prominent social and cultural historian who specializes in queer history. His notable publications include 'London Culture Homosexuality' (2003), 'Gay History Britain' (2007, lead author), 'Queer Domesticities' (2014), and 'Queer London' (with Alison Oram, 2022). Matt's work emphasizes urban queer cultures and has impacted diverse fields including public history, with contributions to leading history journals and media. He is also known for advising cultural initiatives and LGBTQ+ heritage projects, demonstrating a commitment to engaging with community history. Educated at Sheffield University (BA in English Literature) and Queen Mary, University of London (MA and PhD in History), he has a long-standing interest in supervising research related to modern LGBT queer history and urban history.

Research Interests