Dr Mark Purcell
@camlibresearch.bsky.social
Director, Research and Collections, Cambridge University Library and CUL Research Institute; Bye-Fellow, Pembroke College; FSA FRHistS; University Deputy Proctor; The Country House Library (Yale, 2017); private views
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Cambridge, John Speed's 'Theatre' 1611/12 showing the house I lived in (shared) from Oct 1990 - May 1992. (Cambridge Digital Library/ Ben Hall photograph)
November 26, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Cambridge, John Speed's 'Theatre' 1611/12 showing the house I lived in (shared) from Oct 1990 - May 1992. (Cambridge Digital Library/ Ben Hall photograph)
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜
Librarian
The Library of the Scott Polar Research Institute is one of the most comprehensive collections of published polar information in the world. This highly specialist reference collection, which attracts
www.cam.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 8:45 PM
The @scottpolar.bsky.social are looking for a librarian. This is a rare opportunity! Work with (probably) the world's largest dedicated polar library alongside archive and museum colleagues. The dream 😍
📜
📜
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Check out our new video about what you can do on Art UK ✨
Art UK is a unique digital cultural space, giving everyone free access to the UK’s public art collections. This video showcases what you can do on our site.
👉 Discover extraordinary art from all over the UK at artuk.org
Art UK is a unique digital cultural space, giving everyone free access to the UK’s public art collections. This video showcases what you can do on our site.
👉 Discover extraordinary art from all over the UK at artuk.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Check out our new video about what you can do on Art UK ✨
Art UK is a unique digital cultural space, giving everyone free access to the UK’s public art collections. This video showcases what you can do on our site.
👉 Discover extraordinary art from all over the UK at artuk.org
Art UK is a unique digital cultural space, giving everyone free access to the UK’s public art collections. This video showcases what you can do on our site.
👉 Discover extraordinary art from all over the UK at artuk.org
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
Restoring our services – November 2025 update
In the coming weeks and months we will be restoring a number of key functions.
www.bl.uk
November 22, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Latest update from @britishlibrary.bsky.social says they are launching a new version of their main catalogue on Monday 8 December and around that time also launch an interim version of their Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Hooray!
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
www.bl.uk/stories/news...
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.
November 22, 2025 at 10:01 AM
In the UK, you could demolish a church VAT-free, but if you wanted to repair that church, you would have to pay VAT.
A trophy is presented. Oh dear.
November 22, 2025 at 10:35 AM
A trophy is presented. Oh dear.
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
20th November is the feast of St Edmund King and Martyr whose head is discovered crying 'heer heer heer', with a wolf guarding it.
BL Yates Thompson MS 47; John Lydgate, Lives of SS Edmund and Fremund; 15th c; England SE. (Bury St Edmunds?); f.54r
BL Yates Thompson MS 47; John Lydgate, Lives of SS Edmund and Fremund; 15th c; England SE. (Bury St Edmunds?); f.54r
November 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
20th November is the feast of St Edmund King and Martyr whose head is discovered crying 'heer heer heer', with a wolf guarding it.
BL Yates Thompson MS 47; John Lydgate, Lives of SS Edmund and Fremund; 15th c; England SE. (Bury St Edmunds?); f.54r
BL Yates Thompson MS 47; John Lydgate, Lives of SS Edmund and Fremund; 15th c; England SE. (Bury St Edmunds?); f.54r
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Write an essay to win £500 📝
The Gordon Duff Prize is now accepting proposals on the science of books and manuscripts and the arts relating to them.
Find out more and how to enter: https://loom.ly/xZZOdOc
The Gordon Duff Prize is now accepting proposals on the science of books and manuscripts and the arts relating to them.
Find out more and how to enter: https://loom.ly/xZZOdOc
November 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Write an essay to win £500 📝
The Gordon Duff Prize is now accepting proposals on the science of books and manuscripts and the arts relating to them.
Find out more and how to enter: https://loom.ly/xZZOdOc
The Gordon Duff Prize is now accepting proposals on the science of books and manuscripts and the arts relating to them.
Find out more and how to enter: https://loom.ly/xZZOdOc
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Job Opportunity!
JOB POSTING!
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints at the @folger.edu
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FSL_Em...
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints at the @folger.edu
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/FSL_Em...
Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Rare Books and Prints
The Folger Shakespeare Library knows that an exceptional staff is the backbone of any great organization. We hire exceptionally qualified individuals who are committed to the mission, vision, and valu...
amherst.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Job Opportunity!
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
We actually have some AHRC PhD funding! www.essex.ac.uk/postgraduate...
AHRC | University of Essex
Arts and Humanities Research Council
www.essex.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 6:21 PM
We actually have some AHRC PhD funding! www.essex.ac.uk/postgraduate...
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Here at Exeter we are offering three fully funded AHRC PhD places in humanities subjects. Please get in touch if you are keen to come and do research with us! Closing date 23 February 2026: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
PhD: AHRC Studentship | University of Exeter
Project descriptionThe University of Exeter is offering up to three fully funded AHRC doctoral studentships and training and development opportunities across a range of the AHRC’s disciplines for cand...
www.exeter.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Here at Exeter we are offering three fully funded AHRC PhD places in humanities subjects. Please get in touch if you are keen to come and do research with us! Closing date 23 February 2026: www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin...
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
A fun look today at @rialibrary.bsky.social’s manuscript of the week! The 15th-century Leabhar Breac / The Speckled Book (RIA MS 23 P 16) is a collection of religious, literary and historical works, including the lives St Patrick, St Brigid and Alexander the Great 📜🎉
November 18, 2025 at 5:43 PM
A fun look today at @rialibrary.bsky.social’s manuscript of the week! The 15th-century Leabhar Breac / The Speckled Book (RIA MS 23 P 16) is a collection of religious, literary and historical works, including the lives St Patrick, St Brigid and Alexander the Great 📜🎉
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Something I mention in today’s piece is the wider pressure and undervaluing of libraries and archives. Even less well known than the issues facing the British Library are the worrying proposals for the BBC Written Archives Centre. More here observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
November 18, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Something I mention in today’s piece is the wider pressure and undervaluing of libraries and archives. Even less well known than the issues facing the British Library are the worrying proposals for the BBC Written Archives Centre. More here observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
A splendid weekend in France.
November 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
A splendid weekend in France.
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Want to join the www.codicum.eu project?
3 year PostDoct at SDU (Odense, Denmark) for an Latin expert with palaeographical as well as text and book historical skills.
#Medieval #Manuscript
3 year PostDoct at SDU (Odense, Denmark) for an Latin expert with palaeographical as well as text and book historical skills.
#Medieval #Manuscript
3-year postdoc position in medieval studies
3-year postdoc position in medieval studies The Department of Culture and Language invites applications for a 3-year postdoc position in Dominican studies within the CODICUM project. The position is e...
fa-eosd-saasfaprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com
November 16, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Want to join the www.codicum.eu project?
3 year PostDoct at SDU (Odense, Denmark) for an Latin expert with palaeographical as well as text and book historical skills.
#Medieval #Manuscript
3 year PostDoct at SDU (Odense, Denmark) for an Latin expert with palaeographical as well as text and book historical skills.
#Medieval #Manuscript
And now Cap Gris-Nez.
November 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM
And now Cap Gris-Nez.
At Cap Blanc-Nez, surveying the Channel in glittering sunshine.
November 15, 2025 at 12:09 PM
At Cap Blanc-Nez, surveying the Channel in glittering sunshine.
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Dark, damp, but decidedly festive 🎄
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking beautiful in the rain this evening.
#UniversityOfOxford #OxfordGLAM
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking beautiful in the rain this evening.
#UniversityOfOxford #OxfordGLAM
November 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Dark, damp, but decidedly festive 🎄
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking beautiful in the rain this evening.
#UniversityOfOxford #OxfordGLAM
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk and @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social looking beautiful in the rain this evening.
#UniversityOfOxford #OxfordGLAM
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
"Her writing about Jewish identity influenced later Jewish thought leaders, while many of her poems are easily read as alluding to a same-sex attraction painfully frustrated by the current social mores, and foreseeing a future where such love was permissible."
She committed suicide at 27.
She committed suicide at 27.
The archive of enigmatic 19th-century writer Amy Levy has a new home at Cambridge University Library.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
November 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
"Her writing about Jewish identity influenced later Jewish thought leaders, while many of her poems are easily read as alluding to a same-sex attraction painfully frustrated by the current social mores, and foreseeing a future where such love was permissible."
She committed suicide at 27.
She committed suicide at 27.
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Amy Levy - a Victorian 'girl of genius', who speaks to current debate around feminism, LGBTQ+ literature and Jewish identity
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
‘A girl of genius’: archives unsealed of Amy Levy, queer Jewish writer admired by Oscar Wilde
Levy’s work was ‘ahead of her time’ and speaks to current debate around feminism, LGBTQ+ literature and Jewish identity, say researchers
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Amy Levy - a Victorian 'girl of genius', who speaks to current debate around feminism, LGBTQ+ literature and Jewish identity
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
The archive of enigmatic 19th-century writer Amy Levy has a new home at Cambridge University Library.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
November 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The archive of enigmatic 19th-century writer Amy Levy has a new home at Cambridge University Library.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
Find out more: https://loom.ly/RHh3bbc
Thank you to our supporters, including: @thefnl.bsky.social, Arts Council England, Rothschild Foundation, The Polonsky Foundation, T. S. Eliot Foundation.
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
Autumn days in Cambridge 🍂
@theul.bsky.social @clarecollege @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
looking splendid on a crisp cold day.
#CambridgeUniversityLibraries
@theul.bsky.social @clarecollege @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
looking splendid on a crisp cold day.
#CambridgeUniversityLibraries
October 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Autumn days in Cambridge 🍂
@theul.bsky.social @clarecollege @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
looking splendid on a crisp cold day.
#CambridgeUniversityLibraries
@theul.bsky.social @clarecollege @corpuscambridge.bsky.social
looking splendid on a crisp cold day.
#CambridgeUniversityLibraries
Reposted by Dr Mark Purcell
atel, adj: dire, terrible. (AH-tell / ˈa-tɛl)
Image: Bestiary from a didactic miscellany; England, 1220-1240; @theul.bsky.social Kk.4.25, f. 67v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Image: Bestiary from a didactic miscellany; England, 1220-1240; @theul.bsky.social Kk.4.25, f. 67v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
November 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
atel, adj: dire, terrible. (AH-tell / ˈa-tɛl)
Image: Bestiary from a didactic miscellany; England, 1220-1240; @theul.bsky.social Kk.4.25, f. 67v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD
Image: Bestiary from a didactic miscellany; England, 1220-1240; @theul.bsky.social Kk.4.25, f. 67v.
#OldEnglish #WOTD