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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · Mar 3

Fascinated by health and wellbeing? So were our medieval ancestors.

Our new exhibition, Curious Cures, takes us back hundreds of years to a world of ritual healing and herbal recipes, stargazing, and surgery.

🔗Book your FREE ticket loom.ly/kVqsPRY

#CuriousCures

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 1h

Celebrating archival collections in Cambridge and beyond, join us for the 2025 Sandars Lecture Series by Joan Winterkorn MBE.
11 & 12 November, 5-6pm.
🎟️ Book your free tickets: https://loom.ly/Du7jSUs

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

Ben Gross @bhgross144.bsky.social · 3d

So this #SHOT2025 panel has nearly wrapped up. But if you want to read more about historical issues surrounding multimedia and the preservation of born-digital collections, check out this piece on #DigiPres at @theul.bsky.social.

(Thanks for bringing this to my attention, @rhiggitt.bsky.social!)

A digital dark age? The people rescuing forgotten knowledge trapped on old floppy disks

From lectures by Stephen Hawking to the letters of British politician Neil Kinnock – it's a race against time to save the historical treasures locked away on old floppy disks.

www.bbc.com

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 2d

Excited to find drawings of moths by FW Frohawk (1861-1946) in the archive of biologist William Bateson @theul.bsky.social.

They’re catalogued as ‘27 drawings of Milan Leps’, but think this should be ‘Melan[istic] Leps’? Do they look right for showing melanism, #TeamMoth? MS Add. 8634/J.3 #EntHist

Montage showing coloured illustrations of moths and the envelope in which they’re kept. There is blue handwriting on the envelope, which might read: ‘Frohawk’s drawings [o]f Melan[istic] Leps’.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 3d

New term, new academic year. How are you all settling in? 🍂

To make life easier, we’ve created a guide for new and returning University of Cambridge students, including online resources, top tips, skills training, tours, collections, and what’s new this term.

Read it now: https://loom.ly/EmsWxrs

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 3d

Images 3 & 4: D.H. Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover was first published privately in Italy and France in the late 1920s. This copy is from the second edition printed in 1928. H. C. Stanford, the Secretary of the UL, owned this copy and donated it to us in 1955. (S727.c.92.143)

A bookplate which reads: Cambridge University Library. Presented by H.C. Stanford, M.C., M.A. St John's College. Secretary of the Library, 1927-1948.

We see a copy of Lady Chatterley's Lover open on a cushion in a library. The title page is visible with the stamp 1955.

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 3d

Images 1 & 2: James Joyce’s Ulysses. First published in Paris on 2 February 1922, followed by a second edition in London by the Egoist Press on 12 October 1922. Many copies were seized and destroyed, but one made its way to the UL on 19 December 1922. (Arc.b.92.4)

A 1920s copy of James Joyce's Ulysses in a bright blue paper binding. It is held in a person's hands. We see a library setting in the background.

A 1920s edition of James Joyce's Ulysses, bound in bright blue paper, lies open on a cushion in a library. We see the title page bearing the acquisition stamp of 1922.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 3d

It's #BannedBooksWeek. Over the centuries, our duty to preserve the nation’s literary output has led us to collect works of all kinds, regardless of their content.

Lady Chatterley’s Lover and Ulysses both entered our collections years before they were widely available.

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

aymanabuawwad.bsky.social @aymanabuawwad.bsky.social · 4d

A pleasure to welcome the new postgrads at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies for a @theul.bsky.social induction! We showcased UL's services & our world-class Middle Eastern collection, from ancient manuscripts to modern works, all ready to support their research.
#CambridgeUniversity

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

Watch a 1964 interview with Astley Lloyd Blair: loom.ly/RHifpnU

Watch Black Special Constable - BFI Player

In Gloucester in January 1964, Astley Lloyd Blair makes history by becoming the first black special constable in Britain.

loom.ly

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

This image is from a collection of photographs of Commonwealth citizens in the United Kingdom, commissioned by the Central Office of Information, 1964-5. (GBR/0115/RCS/Y3011Y)

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

Astley Lloyd Blair, aged 27 in 1964, standing on the steps of Gloucester Police Headquarters after being appointed a Special Constable. Blair had served as a police officer in Jamaica before coming to the UK.

#BHM #BHM2025 #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonthUK

A black and white photograph of Astley Lloyd Blair, aged 27 in 1964, standing on the steps of Gloucester Police Headquarters after being appointed a Special Constable. He is wearing his police uniform.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

A few spaces have opened up at our Copy that Floppy Cafe tomorrow 💾

Got an old floppy disk lying around? Have the data transferred to a modern format for free at Cambridge University Library!

Book here: https://loom.ly/keLho5k

Copy that Floppy Cafe

Got an old floppy disk gathering dust? Bring it back to life!

copythatfloppy.eventbrite.co.uk

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

CRASSH @crasshlive.bsky.social · 6d

Lauren Berlant reading group 📚

Join CRASSH Fellow @darlingorlaith.bsky.social in tracing Berlant’s understanding of normative fantasies and their role in maintaining and critiquing the social and political orthodoxies of given eras

From 13 October, Alison Richard Building, CB3 9DP
bit.ly/4nFi9C0

Autumnal trees near the Alison Richard Building.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

Thank you!

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

📚The Herbert Kretzmer Archive at Cambridge University Library contains a wealth of fascinating #LesMiserables content, including original annotated play scripts, correspondence, programmes, reviews, photographs and memorabilia.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu-X...

The Herbert Kretzmer Archive at Cambridge University Library

YouTube video by Cambridge University Library (the UL)

www.youtube.com

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 5d

💫Today marks the 40th anniversary of the London premiere of Les Misérables! We are honoured to hold the archive of Herbert Kretzmer, the renowned lyricist of the English language version of #LesMis.

🔎Learn more: loom.ly/V0cRKHg

@cam.ac.uk

'Born under a rhyming planet'

Archive of famed Les Misérables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer has a new home at Cambridge University Library

loom.ly

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

Alan Akeroyd @alanakeroyd.bsky.social · 10d

Had a great time at Cambridge University Library on Wednesday afternoon - I was being an actual researcher (!) consulting the 1662 court records for the Isle of Ely. Huge thank you to the very kind and lovely staff of the @theul.bsky.social manuscripts reading room

Isle of Ely recognisances, 1662. A bundle of thin parchment strips tied at one end. They are written in Latin

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

Dr Liam Sims @liamsims.bsky.social · 9d

Hyacinth will live on forever on the shelves @theul.bsky.social: here’s her ‘Book of etiquette for the socially less fortunate’ (1993). CUL L415:8.c.1.36977.

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

Dr Jill Whitelock @jillwhitelock.bsky.social · 9d

Interesting to find some nature printed butterflies @theul.bsky.social yesterday (‘lepidochromes’). The butterflies were pressed on prepared paper, which was folded, allowing the scales to transfer to create mirror images of both sides of the insects’ wings. 1/2 #enthist @camglamresearch.bsky.social

Montage showing nature printed butterflies in a 1920s notebook: a Peacock, Red admiral and Small tortoiseshell.

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 10d

Our Conservation team enjoyed hosting a visit from Moriki Papers last week! We shared how we use Japanese paper in our studio and learned about the art of Japanese papermaking.

#CULConservation #BookConservation #PaperConservation #JapanesePaper #PaperRepair #Papermaking

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 10d

#OnThisDay 100 years ago, plans for a new University Library in Cambridge were gaining traction.

By 2 October 1925, a site had been acquired and architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott RA had begun his sketches and costings.

As this picture shows, by 1933, construction was underway!
(Cam.a.934.2)

Photograph showing the construction of Cambridge University Library in 1933. We see the partially completed front elevation of the building. Some of the metal girders of the building are still visible.

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Reposted by Cambridge University Library

CILIP East @cilipeast.bsky.social · 11d

Another chance to attend a FREE tour of Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World with Dr James Freeman, Medieval Manuscripts Specialist @theul.bsky.social - Tue 4 Nov. 12.15-1pm. Register here: www.cilip.org.uk/events/Event...

CILIP: the library and information association

CILIP East would like to invite members and non-members to join them for a free introductory tour of the exhibition Curious Cures: Medicine in the Medieval World with Dr James Freeman, Medieval Manuscripts Specialist at Cambridge University Library. The tour will last 45 minutes followed by an opportunity to self-explore the exhibition further.

www.cilip.org.uk

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 11d

Watch our short film about the Kretzmer Archive with Cambridge University Library archivist Kevin Roberts:
youtu.be/Xu-XrMUQN7A?...

The Herbert Kretzmer Archive at Cambridge University Library

YouTube video by Cambridge University Library (the UL)

youtu.be

Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 11d

The archive of the late Herbert Kretzmer, OBE, has been donated to Cambridge University Library!

Learn more about the collection, which includes material relating to one of the most famous musicals in theatre history, Les Misérables: www.lib.cam.ac.uk/stories/Kret...

'Born under a rhyming planet'

Archive of famed Les Misérables lyricist Herbert Kretzmer has a new home at Cambridge University Library

www.lib.cam.ac.uk

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Cambridge University Library @theul.bsky.social · 12d

Welcome to the new academic year!

We’ve created a guide for new and returning University of Cambridge students, including online resources, top tips, skills training, tours, collections, and what’s new this term.

https://loom.ly/EmsWxrs

Aerial photo of Cambridge University Library

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