Colin Holmes (born August 1938 in South Normanton, Derbyshire, England) is a British author, scholar, and historian.
After attending Tupton Hall Grammar School Holmes entered the University of Nottingham in 1957 as a County Major Scholar to read History.
In 1979 Holmes wrote Anti-Semitism in British Society 1876–1939, which proved to be an inspiration for the growth of research into the area of fascism and antisemitism in the interwar period.
In 1998 he wrote "John Bull's Island: Immigration & British Society, 1871–1971", which is widely regarded as an authoritative text on the history of migration.
[citation needed] It focused on a wide range of groups that entered Britain in these years, their contributions to society and the varied responses they encountered.
Holmes's interest in migrant groups was also evident in his contribution, "The Chinese Connection" which appeared in Outsiders and Outcasts.
During his career Holmes supervised a large number of postgraduate students, some of whom have subsequently been appointed to Chairs in British Universities, and who are often referred to as the "Sheffield School" (see Welsh History Review, June 1990. vol.
He contributed on British Government Policy Towards War Time Refugees in M. Conway and J Gotovitch Europe in Exile.