A friendly deathwire reference desk from fiendly librarians and a Professor of Death Studies. deathreferencedesk.org
Joined July 2009
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Pinned Tweet
28 Apr 2020
@DeathRef's new book "Technologies of the Human Corpse" is officially out *today* April 28, 2020. You can buy it from all the places.
Huge thanks to @mitpress and editor Matt Browne (@HappyFlaneur) for seeing the future of death
mitpress.mit.edu/contributor…
johntroyer.com
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
Congratulations 🎊 John.
I hope you feel the ripples of their pride in you.
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So I was recently promoted and I am now Professor of Death Studies in the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath.
This is a photo of me with my parents in 2006(!) when I won a Ph.D. dissertation award.
I wish I coud tell them all this but I think they know.
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My @mitpress book 'Technologies of the Human Corpse' was recently published in China.
Here are details --
Chinese title: 身体的价值
List Price: RMB 49.00
Paperback ISBN: 9787108080639
book.douban.com/subject/3781…
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
22 Dec 2025
You can read more in my latest blog:deadbodiesandthelaw.wordpres…
@LucyGoBag
@OnTheArrow
@asds_death
@cendeathsociety
@DeathRef
@mortuarygem
@theaptone
@asds_death
@cendeathsociety
@DeathRef
@mortuarygem
@theaptone
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
29 Nov 2025
Ahead of #WorldAIDSDay (1 Dec), I reflect on memory, stigma, and dignity in deathwork. From Troyer’s Technologies of the Human Corpse to my own village in 1983, this thread explores how the HIV/AIDS corpse became a site of fear, politics, and resistance—across Uganda and beyond.
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
26 Nov 2025
Thanks for sharing this.
I love the metaphors of the farewell gift of socks for the UK cold weather from his cousin Paul and of George's colleague darning his 'legacy' socks.
Thanks, George, for helping us understand the myriad meanings of #home.
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
26 Nov 2025
George Gumisiriza completed his PhD @cendeathsociety. He is speaking at the #HospiceUKConf on 27/11 re: faith, culture and spiritual care in hospices. We invite you to read a blog George wrote for us about death traditions in African culture: ow.ly/JiKc50Xxo3n ✨ 💙
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
25 Nov 2025
John Troyer offers this insight in CC129: “There is no conclusion to things without end. Not really. Nor should there be. I will always be grieving and mourning my family, and I think that is entirely healthy.” Read the full piece at doi.org/10.1353/cul.2025.a97…
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
25 Nov 2025
CC 129 “Mourning Without End” is officially live on Project MUSE! Contributors include Judith Butler, Nadia Bou Ali, Christopher Breu, Stephen Sheehi, Tim Dean, Ida Dominijanni, John Troyer, and our very own Editors! Check it out: muse.jhu.edu/issue/55881
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
24 Nov 2025
Three recent journal issue releases:
-@CulturalCritiq1 129: Mourning Without End. Feat. @DeathRef
-Buildings & Landscapes 32.2 via @vafweb
-Environment, Space, Place 16.2. Feat. @SeanDLawrence
All available via @ProjectMUSE
Open access articles listed in comments.
ALT Cultural Critique 129 cover featuring the journal title running off the edges of the cover. The C's are written in red. The special issue title "Mourning Without End" and issue information appear below on a red background.
ALT Cover for Buildings & Landscapes 32.2 with the journal's title arranged vertically and horizontally in a plus shape. Qilou shophouses in Chikan, Guangdong Province, China are shown underneath.
ALT Cover for Environment, Space, Place 16.2. The journal's title is written on a blue background. A diagonal line cuts between the words "Environment" and "Space."
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
4 Sep 2025
Too Poor to Die
Please join us for a talk with Amy Shea – to mark the launch of her new book Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins.
Hosted online by @DeathRef on Tuesday 23 September from 7-8pm UK time -
⬇️ Tickets below ⬇️
eventbrite.co.uk/e/too-poor-…
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
2 Sep 2025
Too Poor to Die
Please join us for a talk with Amy Shea – to mark the launch of her new book Too Poor to Die: The Hidden Realities of Dying in the Margins.
Hosted online by @DeathRef on Tuesday 23 September from 7-8pm BST
⬇️ Tickets below ⬇️
eventbrite.co.uk/e/too-poor-…
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11 Jul 2025
Talking to the Dead!
Exciting and New!
Come on Board -- #DeathTech is Expecting You!
Why Do We Still Need to Talk to the Dead?
Emotional needs and technology, including A.I.-fueled “griefbots,” have kept us searching for connections to the other side.
nytimes.com/2025/07/10/style…
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
12 Jun 2025
Very proud to be part of this centre, its members and the wider community ❤️
@LucyGoBag @AlastairComery @DianaTeggi_ @DeathRef @TlMrs @GeorgeGumisiri4 @OkakuTerum38635 @Jeremydixonsw and so many more!
12 Jun 2025
👀 To mark our 20th anniversary we have created some videos about CDAS! 👀
And what better a day to launch the first one, on the first full day of our 2025 annual conference, on the history of the Centre. Enjoy!
vimeo.com/1092402543
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Death Reference Desk retweeted
7 Jun 2025
Grateful always for our amazing funeral directors (who will get their copy of the book from me next week) and to amazing advocates and sources of advice like @EvieKingWrites @alianderson65 @Imogensjones @DeathRef @KateWoodyBath
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