Polly Russell is the Director of the Eccles Institute for the Americas at the British Library, where she leads a team dedicated to building collections, broadening access, and supporting researchers. She has a background in American Studies and lived in Louisiana for many years. Her research spans twentieth-century women’s movements, feminism, and the cultural and political significance of food. She is the founder of the British Library’s annual Food Festival, has written for The Financial Times, Vittles, and The Guardian, and is a frequent contributor to radio, podcasts, and television.