The historian
Making history revelant, accessible, and engaging
I’m Dr. Erica Canela and I believe that history and cutting edge research isn’t just for academics – it’s a resource for everyone. Through meticulous exploration and engaging storytelling, I will change the way you look at the 17th century.
Quaker history is fascinating, dark, and unexpected.
Early Quakers were radical and defiant men and women – in many cases they didn’t comply with the social normative behaviours of their time (and even our time!). There was a really gritty side to this movement and that’s why I’m here – to really dig out the unpleasant and challenging stories that have gone under the radar for centuries.
How can I help?
Historical Research & Consulting
Whether you’re working on a documentary, developing a museum exhibit, or need background on a historical event, I can provide research support and consultancy tailored to your needs.
Includes:
- Primary and secondary source research
- Analysis and interpretation
- Scriptwriting
Public History
Bring early modern history to your organisation or event through lectures or workshops that are engaging and insightful.
Current Topics
- The darker side of early Quakerism
- The commendable life and noble death of early Quaker, Humphrey Smith.
- The emotional trauma of the British Civil Wars and their impact on the radical religion
- The polemical writing of Herefordshire Quaker, Morgan Watkins
- Quakers and the printing press
- Tudor wills in Wales and what they tell us about family, politics, and religion
As featured in:
Zealous: A Darker Side of the Early Quakers
The mid-seventeenth century was a tumultuous time, and out of the chaos, the ideas that shaped Quakerism were born. Zealous: A Darker Side of the Quakers tells a lesser-known side to this story. The Civil Wars touched all corners of England; the people of the ‘poor, almost wasted Kingdom’ were war-weary, miserable, and in total ruin. Years of conflict left the people in utter desperation. Communities were pillaged, torn apart, and irrevocably changed. And then, in September 1651, it was over. What remained was a tattered landscape, an uncertain political future, religious upheaval, and emotional trauma.
The early Quakers were a group of people led by charismatic preachers wholly convinced that it was their responsibility to save as many souls as possible in such precarious times. Their means of convincing others to be saved ranged from attempting to perform miracles (and failing) to deeply antisocial behaviour (e.g., walking naked through busy towns) to infuriating local authorities (e.g., refusing to abide by the law and being repeatedly jailed). The early Quakers were standing on shifting sands during a very uncertain time. Throughout history, fear has always compelled people do just about anything to feel safe and secure. Their zeal led them to challenge what they saw as an impure world. They were willing to die for their beliefs, and on occasion, they would commit unspeakable acts in the name of God.