An Aberystwyth academic has been made a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society for research exploring the less familiar history of Welsh Patagonia.

Dr Lucy Taylor, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies at Aberystwyth University, has been elected to the society in recognition of her contribution to historical scholarship.

Her research examines the relationships between colonialism, citizenship and identity in Y Wladfa, the Welsh settlement established in Patagonia, Argentina, during the nineteenth century.

Rather than concentrating solely on the experiences of Welsh settlers, she explores their relationships with Indigenous communities and how those encounters continue to influence the way the settlement is remembered.

Her 2025 book, Global Politics of Welsh Patagonia: Settler Colonialism from the Margins, places the Welsh settlement within the wider context of Argentina's colonial history.

Drawing on historical archives and Indigenous perspectives, the book examines the experiences of Welsh settlers and Mapuche-Tehuelche communities, challenging some established interpretations of the settlement.

Dr Taylor said she was delighted by her election to the society, adding: "I hope my research will encourage people to look beyond familiar accounts of Welsh Patagonia."

She said considering the experiences of Indigenous communities was important to understanding the settlement's history and its continuing legacy.

Dr Philip Carter, Director of the Royal Historical Society, congratulated Dr Taylor and said her election recognised the contribution historians make towards improving understanding of the past.

He also welcomed the recognition following a recent visit by society representatives to Aberystwyth University, where they learned more about the institution's historical research and teaching.

Although based in the university's Department of International Politics, Dr Taylor's work brings together historical research and contemporary questions about Welsh identity.

Founded in 1868, the Royal Historical Society supports historians in Britain and internationally through research, publishing, events and funding.

Its Fellowship recognises original contributions to historical scholarship.

The university announced Dr Taylor's election on 4 November.