University of Exeter Special Collections
LightNews LightNews
banner
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
University of Exeter Special Collections
@exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
5.1K followers 980 following 580 posts
Join us in exploring the University of Exeter Library's Special Collections, which include archives, manuscripts, rare books and maps. There's something for everyone, and everyone is welcome.

Find out more! ➡️ libguides.exeter.ac.uk/archives
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
University of Exeter Special Collections @exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social · Mar 26
The collections are available for everyone to access for research or enjoyment in our Reading Room!

When visiting us, please:
🗓️ Book in advance
🧼 Wash your hands with soap and water
✏️ Bring a pencil or electronic device (no pens!)

Book your visit here ⬇️
LibGuides: Visiting Heritage Collections: Reading Room booking form
LibGuides: Visiting Heritage Collections: Reading Room booking form
libguides.exeter.ac.uk
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Here's a peek into 'A Book of Fairy Tales' by Rev. Sabine Baring-Gould, with illustrations by A. J. Gaskin!

This is a copy from Baring-Gould's own library and was a Christmas gift to his daughter, Barbara, in 1893.

📽️ Baring-Gould Library Sect Folklore.3

#RareBooks #PussInBoots #Cinderella
December 10, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
nmbluk.bsky.social
A little festive #EYASparkle. These beautiful illustrations of the odd bobtail squid, Heteroteuthis dispar, can be found in the reports from the expeditions of Albert I Monaco. This volume, 66, was published in 1923

📖 E.I:Mn.1
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social
🎺 Toot toot! We ❤️ this fun #ChristmasCard from the @tonyhancock.bsky.social. Collection. Top energy levels for the festive season for @arascot.bsky.social's #ArchiveAdventCalendar. @dmu.ac.uk #TVarchives #Christmas2025
@librarydmu.bsky.social
December 10, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
bdcmuseum.bsky.social
#Christmas has arrived at the #Museum🎄
Thank you to everyone who dropped in to make decorations for our film-themed #Christmastree or contributed their favourite Christmas #films!

Tell us about your favourite here & we'll add it: forms.office.com/e/MdcqnRSbcR @thepaganchaplain.bsky.social
December 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social
Xmas dinner on the run! For #NationalChristmasCardDay, a favourite @dmu.ac.uk staff-designed #Christmas card by Hugh Richard Hosking, who taught at the Leicester College of Arts and Crafts in the 1930s. @librarydmu.bsky.social #Christmas2025 #art #illustration
December 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Today is Christmas Card Day! 💌🎄

Robins have been a popular motif on Christmas cards since the Victorian period. These festive cards are from a scrapbook in the library of the poet laureate John Betjeman.

📷 Betjeman Library 1957; digitised by @dhlabexeter.bsky.social

#ChristmasCardDay #Archives
Card featuring an illustration of two robins outdoors with trees and a fence in the background. One robin is wearing a bowler hat, smoking a pipe and wearing a placard around its neck stating 'A Merry Christmas And A'. The other robin is wearing a top hat and a placard around its neck stating 'Happy New Year To You'. White card with a lace border, featuring a robin sitting on a holly branch next to the words 'A merry Christmas & A HAPPY NEW YEAR'. White card showing an illustration of a robin carrying a Christmas pudding on a plate on its back. There is a sprig of holly on the pudding, and a sprig of holly in the robin's beak. A ribbon under the robin has text written on it, reading: 'A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL'. Portrait card with lace border, featuring an illustration of a robin. It looks as though it has just landed in the snow and picked up a sprig of mistletoe in its beak. It looks at you endearingly. Behind the robin are some snowdrops. Underneath the robin is text: 'A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year'.
December 9, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
nmbluk.bsky.social
#otd in 1866 Maude Delap was born. Self taught, Maude was the first person to successfully rear jellyfish in home aquaria. Her research was highly regarded and scientists such as E.T. Browne, who was based @thembauk.bsky.social, often sought her advice, as can be seen from these letters 📷 PBR133
A colour photograph of handwritten letters from E.T Browne to Maude Delap. There are also a few hand drawn illustrations of cnidaria
December 7, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
exetercityoflit.bsky.social
If libraries matter to you be it for reading, working, learning, connection, mental health, or community, please take this opportunity to share your perspective on @librariesunlimited.bsky.social's county wide service.

www.exetercityofliterature.com/blog/librari...
December 8, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
exeterlibrary.bsky.social
📚 We’re Hiring!

Love books? Love big ideas? Love making an impact? This is your chance to help shape your local Library service. We’re looking for a strategic, creative, and people-focused Senior Supervisor at Exeter Library.

Fixed-term until 31 December 2026
£31,604.70 per annum
37 hrs/week
We're hiring. Senior Supervisor Resources and Information.
December 8, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
literatureworks.bsky.social
📢 We’re looking for a poet to take part in another in our series of Gloucester care home residencies in February and March 2026.

Apply by 4th January - more details and an application pack here: literatureworks.org.uk/poetry-cares...
Seeking a poet-in-residence for Poetry Cares in Gloucester - Literature Works
We are seeking a poet-in-residence to deliver six weekly sessions at a care home in Gloucester as part of our Poetry Cares programme in February and March 2026.   Poetry Cares celebrates the power of ...
literatureworks.org.uk
December 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
uorspeccoll.bsky.social
This Victorian book from our Cowie Collection contains these beautiful engravings, one of which depicts Christine de Pizan, a prolific French poet and author of the Middle Ages. She is regarded as one of Europe’s earliest female professional authors.

COWIE COLLECTION RESERVE FOLIO--007 2
Christine de pizan presenting her book to the Queen of France Occleve presenting his book to Henry V Spanish warriors Title page
December 5, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
We've been delighted to work with a group of post-graduate English students who have been conserving student registration cards from our predecessor institution Battersea Polytechnic.
It's been fascinating to uncover some of the stories of these students from our history. 🙂

#EYAYourArchive
A group of people are shown sitting at a large table in a reading room. They are cleaning yellow registration cards using dry sponges. Some yellow registration cards. The top one gives details of Miss Mary Clarke, a clerk studying for her matriculation in Inorganic Chemistry, Biology and French in 1935.
December 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
bodleian.ox.ac.uk
St Nicholas, shown here resurrecting three boys from a pickling tub, became known for genorosity and protecting children.

Such stories shaped Europe’s Sinterklaas, which evolved into Santa Claus and eventually, Father Christmas. 🎅

MS. Douce 51 fol. 069v

#MedievalMonday
A manuscript depicting St Nicholas standing over a tub with three young boys inside who he has resurrected, set within the letter B on a page.
December 8, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
archpbu.bsky.social
“Airgraph Christmas Greetings sent to R.W.G. by servicemen from Aber-erch (?) on active service in the Middle East”

"From the papers of the Rev. Richard Wynne-Griffith B.A. of Llangybi (1873-1954)."
BMSS/32368-32372 1943-1944
December 9, 2025 at 9:04 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
We hope you've enjoyed delving into our archives with us for Explore Your Archive week! 💫

As a final note, we just want to say: our archives are also your archives. We look after them for you, and everyone is welcome - for research, interest or enjoyment!

#EYAYourArchives #ExploreYourArchive
Collage of 40 images of archives and rare books held at the University of Exeter Special Collections.
December 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
nmbluk.bsky.social
We've really enjoyed participating in the EYA Focus Week. We're finishing up with a montage of images from and about our archive and we hope you've enjoyed learning about us #EYAYourArchive
A montage of photographs from the archive. Illustrations of marine inverebrates in the top left, archive boxes in the top right, a black and white photograph of an MBA display from the Franco-British Exhibition in 1908 in the bottom right and a person repairing the spine of an old book bottom right. In the middle of the image is a photograph of a cover of the Marine Biological Association minute book
December 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
This December marks the 70th anniversary of the University of Exeter, having been awarded its Royal Charter in 1955. To celebrate, this autumn we put the charter on display in the Forum Library for students, staff & the public to visit and enjoy.

📷 EUL MS 294

#EYAAnniversaries #UniOfExeterArchive
Display case with four shelves, featuring a range of items, including a congratulatory address, photographs, a special issue newspaper, the Royal Charter of the University of Exeter, and a speech made by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956. The Royal Charter of the University of Exeter with a large red seal.
December 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
nmbluk.bsky.social
Last year we celebrated the 140th anniversary of the establishment of @thembauk.bsky.social. This document is from the first minute book of the MBA's council and details the founding of the Association. You can find out more about our work at buff.ly/mAZcYD4 #EYAAnniversaries
A colour photograph of a document detailing the establishment of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. It details the patron (HRH The Prince of Wales) , President and Vice Presidents, the council and early donors. The article is dated 31st July 1884
December 6, 2025 at 9:28 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Today is International Volunteers Day, which is a great opportunity to say THANK YOU to our 4 current volunteers!

This term Mitch, Katie, Alice A & Alice S have been researching & planning their new exhibitions to be installed next Spring.

Watch this space!

#InternationalVolunteersDay #Archives
Green box with text that reads: 'A big THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers! Find out more about volunteering: https://libguides.exeter.ac.uk/archives/placements/volunteering'. The text is surrounded by several photographs, including four photographs of exhibitions in display cases, two photographs of people engaging with collections in the Reading Room, and two collages of images from the collections.
December 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
ncllibspeccoll.bsky.social
Our Tyneside Campaign for Homosexual Equality Archive records the work of the group who fought for inclussion of excluded minorities in the North East through the latter half of the 20th Century.

Browse the catalogue here: specialcollections.ncl.ac.uk/che

#ExploreYourArchive #EYAInclussion
First page of the July 1987 Issue of the CHE Tyneside Newsletter. Includes a large photograph of a banner reading Lesbian and Gay Pride '87.
December 5, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
nmbluk.bsky.social
Today we've selected this photograph of women students participating in the first experimental zoology class held @thembauk.bsky.social in 1911 #EYAInclusion
📷 U.M.17
A sepia toned photograph of six students at laboratory benches. There are two women on the left of the image (one seated at a bench with a microscope in front of her) and the men stand and sit central and right of the image.
December 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
dmuspecialcolls.bsky.social
#ExploreYourArchive Day 7: #EYAInclusion is shaped everyday, who we spotlight, how we share, and the spaces we create. We’re committed to opening the door for everyone, making our collections & history accessible to more [email protected] @dmu.ac.uk @librarydmu.bsky.social
December 5, 2025 at 9:01 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
The lived experiences, perspectives & voices of individuals from diverse backgrounds are represented within our archives, but are not always easily identifiable via our catalogue. Our online subject guides aim to address this imbalance by providing easy access points into the archives. #EYAInclusion
LibGuides: Archives and Special Collections: Subject Guides
LibGuides: Archives and Special Collections: Subject Guides
libguides.exeter.ac.uk
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
dexinst.bsky.social
What's on at the DEI this December! See our website for further details ☃️🎄
December 4, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by University of Exeter Special Collections
exeterunilib.bsky.social
Next week's Library events include:

Doctoral College Students: Proof, edit and perfect the thesis.
Business School Library Research Drop-ins.
Legal Research Drop-in.
OSCOLA Hour.
Skills Drop-Ins.
Library Research Cafés.

See more & book: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibEvent 🗓️
White text at the top says, 'Library training events for PGTs, PGRs & academic staff A dark green background' and at the bottom says, 'Check the details and booking requirements here: bit.ly/ExeterUniLibEvent'. A screenshot of the Library events calendar is in the centre with a bright green border and 'NEXT WEEK' in white capital letters above it. A bright green graphic of a calendar is in the top left-hand corner.
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 AM