On September 13, 2024, Dr. Joanne Collins-Gonsalves, a distinguished Guyanese-born historian, was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (RHS) in the United Kingdom in recognition of her outstanding contributions to historical scholarship. With this prestigious honor, Dr. Collins-Gonsalves is now entitled to use the designation FRHistS (Fellow of the Royal Historical Society) after her name.
Founded in 1868, the Royal Historical Society is one of the most respected learned societies dedicated to the advancement of historical knowledge and research. Over its 156-year history, the RHS has played a crucial role in championing history both within academic institutions and the broader cultural landscape.
In a congratulatory correspondence, RHS President Professor Emma Griffin of the University of London extended a warm welcome to Dr. Collins-Gonsalves, inviting her to actively participate as a Fellow of the society.
About Dr. Joanne Collins-Gonsalves
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves is a highly accomplished academic historian with a PhD in History. She is the author of several notable works, including Iris de Freitas Brazao, Legal Luminary and Trailblazer: Caribbean, Canada, Wales, England 1896-1989, which was featured by the University of London as one of three “fascinating items from the collections” among 312,000 volumes in the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (IALS) Library. Her forthcoming book, Portuguese in Business in Guyana 1835-1935: A History of Entrepreneurship, Expansion and Diversification, further highlights her extensive research on economic and social history. Additionally, she authored From Ashes to Ferro-Concrete: A History of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Guyana) 1914-2014 (2014).
With a prolific career spanning multiple publications, Dr. Collins-Gonsalves has contributed over thirty research projects, academic articles, book chapters, research papers, conference presentations, and biographical profiles. She currently serves as the Managing Director of Historical Research International Inc. and holds leadership roles on various academic and professional boards, including the Edmonton Heritage Council, the Advisory Board of the Journal of the Royal Nova Scotia Historical Society, and the Board of the Rotary Club of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves is a graduate of the University of Guyana (BA, History) and the University of the West Indies, where she earned her PhD. Her accolades include the Council of the University of Guyana Award, the Commonwealth Trust of Guyana Poetry Award, the Rotaract President of the Year for the Caribbean Award, and the Guyana Annual Poetry Award, among others.
She has also made significant contributions to global historical research as a contributing author for the Oxford University Press’s Dictionary of Caribbean and Afro-Latin American Biography, edited by Professor Franklin W. Knight and Professor Henry L. Gates.
Dr. Collins-Gonsalves’s election to the RHS not only recognizes her scholarly excellence but also reinforces the growing influence of Guyanese and Caribbean historians in the global academic arena. Her work continues to inspire and shape historical research, offering invaluable insights into the rich and diverse history of the Caribbean and beyond.
