St Edmund Hall organises an annual History lecture in memory of A B Emden, a distinguished medievalist and historian of universities who was Principal of the Hall from 1929 to 1951. Established in 1992, the Emden Lecture attracts eminent historians from around the UK and beyond to speak on topics of particular contemporary relevance to a non-specialist audience. The lectures are free and also open to the public.

Recent speakers include: Professor Catherine Hall, University College London (2025); Professor David Armitage, Harvard University (2023); Professor Stella Ghervas, Newcastle University (2022); Professor Yuri Slezkine, University of California (2020); Professor David Edgerton, King’s College London (2018); Professor Frank Trentmann, Birkbeck, University of London (2017); and Professor Joanna Bourke, Birkbeck, University of London (2015).