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University of Exeter Special Collections
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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
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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
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
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
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
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the cheetahs, for today is their special day!

This engraving of a cheetah is from 'The Pictorial Museum of Animated Nature' by Charles Knight, published in 1844.

📷 Reserve 590.2 KNI/X

#InternationalCheetahDay #CheetahDay #RareBooks
Engraving of a cheetah in side profile, slightly crouched as if about to pounce!
December 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
To help make our archival materials relating to the MENA region more accessible for research, the Digital Archive of the Middle East (DAME) has made thousands of images & documents available online with metadata in English, Arabic & (where relevant) Sorani Kurdish.

➡️ dame.exeter.ac.uk

#EYADigital
Homepage of the Digital archive of the Middle East, displaying a high-resolution image of an Arabic manuscript, with links to pages including 'About', 'Dame', 'Kurdish Digital Archive', 'Links' and 'Blog', and options to view the website in English, Arabic, or Sorani Kurdish.
December 4, 2025 at 9:44 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
The Cornish poets and writers Charles Causley and Jack Clemo were close friends - and they also loved their pets!

Two of the most documented pets in our archives are Causley's cat, Rupert, and Clemo's Pomeranian, Spark!

#EYAPets #Archives #ExploreYourArchive
A ginger tabby lying comfortably on Charles Causley's (face not visible) lap. Cropped image from a black photograph album page showing a black and white photograph of Jack Clemo leaning over a light-coloured Pomeranian in the foreground. The dog looks majestic, but his eyes look slightly alarmed! In the background is the cottage Goonamarris. The typed caption underneath reads: 'JACK CLEMO WITH SPARK Goonamarris August 25, 1950'. Cropped image from a black photograph album page showing a black and white photograph (slightly blurry) of a light-coloured Pomeranian. He looks very regal and the wind is billowing through his fur! The typed caption underneath reads: '"SPARK" August 25, 1950'. Colour photograph of a large ginger tabby cat lying in bright sunshine in a flowerbed. His tail is hooked around a small plant. He is looking towards the photographer with his eyes half closed.
December 3, 2025 at 9:30 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
A warning from the past: if there is anything you would like to preserve long-term in good condition, please don't stick tape on it!

As tape deteriorates, it can discolour, become brittle, lose its adhesive strength, and leave a residue stain.

Enough to give an archivist nightmares! 👻
A pile of discoloured tape strips on the right, next to a piece of paper on the left with an orange residue stain.
December 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
The Gale & Morant Family Plantation Records provide powerful evidence of the enslavement of people of African and Caribbean descent in Jamaica.

As the papers were created by the plantation owners and managers, the voices of the enslaved people are silent.

📷 EUL MS 44

#EYASilence #Archives (1/2)
Four documents from the Gale and Morant family papers and plantation records, laid out in a fan shape, which include accounts, lists and invoices.
December 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Did you know the Syon Abbey Collection has the longest date range of any of our collections? Items date from the early 15th century to the 21st century!

This book of hours dates to c 1430s and includes a prayer for Syon Abbey's founder, Henry V.

📷 EUL MS 262/2

#ExploreYourArchive #EYAMedieval
Cropped image of an illuminated folio in a medieval manuscript. It includes a floral border, decorated in blue, green, orange, pink and gold leaf, and text in red and black ink. A large historiated initial contains an image of two men at an altar, with one holding a red book.
December 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the trees, for this is their special week! 🌲

One of our favourite trees in the collections is this vibrant illustration (and poem!) by the writer and poet, Ronald Duncan.

📷 EUL MS 397/2/2/2

#NationalTreeWeek #NationalIllustrationDay #Archives
Painting of a tree with a grey trunk and leaves of green, red, purple and orange. Next to the tree is a poem: 'Pheasants feathers of amethyst, Magenta, crimson, burnt sienna & brown, Leaf the maple's branches with a mauve mantle, As it stands sentinel to the undying Fall.' Ronald Duncan's signature and the date '9 Sept - 77' are noted in the bottom right hand corner.
November 28, 2025 at 10:32 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Student volunteer, Ted, has written a fantastic new blog post to accompany his exhibition on the Cornish poet & writer, Jack Clemo: 'Exhibition of a Rebel'.

Read it here! ➡️ specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/2025/11/26/j...

This exhibition is free for all to visit on Level -1 of the Forum Library.
Display case with three shelves, featuring a range of items, including photographs, letters, documents, books, a small bust, and even a box with two conkers!
November 27, 2025 at 9:53 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the walruses, for today is their special day!

To celebrate World Walrus Day, here is an illustration of a walrus from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.

📷 Reserve 590 BUF

#WorldWalrusDay #WalrusDay #RareBooks
Cropped image from a book showing a colour illustration of a walrus in side profile. The walrus is lying down in side profile on sandy ground next to a body of water. It has a slightly doleful expression on its face.
November 24, 2025 at 10:05 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Did you know the University of Exeter has had its own student TV station since 1992?

This newspaper article appeared in the student newspaper 'Exeposé' on 20 January 1992 to announce the launch of XTV.

📷 Exeter University/Exeposé

#WorldTelevisionDay #TelevisionDay #UniOfExeterArchive #Archives
reen background with white bold text at the top reading: 'It's World Television Day!', next to a colour graphic of a television. Underneath is an image of a newspaper article with the title 'Lights, Camera, Action! XTV On Air!'. Underneath is white text reading: Exepose, 20 January 1992, University Archive, University of Exeter LIbrary's Special Collections', next to a graphic of a clapperboard.
November 21, 2025 at 10:06 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...in our new Special Collections exhibition! 🎄

Head to the display case on Level 0 of the Forum Library for festive feast for the eyes in our 'Vintage Christmas' exhibition, featuring archives, rare books, and plenty of Christmas cards!
Display case showing three shelves featuring archives and rare books relating to Christmas.
November 20, 2025 at 2:01 PM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Our collections include the library of cultural historian Prof. Chris Brooks, comprising around 10,000 books, many of which are books for children published between the 19th and early 20th century.

This is our most colourful book collection! 😍

#WorldChildrensDay #RareBooks #Victorian #Edwardian
Shelves of books in the Chris Brooks Collection. The books in this photograph were written for children and young adults in the 19th and early 20th century, and many of them have colourful and illustrated bindings.
November 20, 2025 at 11:04 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the anteaters, for today is their special day!

To celebrate World Anteater Day, here is an engraving from the book 'The Illustrated Natural History' by J. G. Wood, published in 1863.

📷 Reserve 590.2/WOO

#WorldAnteaterDay #AnteaterDay #RareBooks
Engraving of an anteater from a book. The anteater is standing in side profile, with a long thin tongue protruding from its long snout. It has a black stripe running from its upper front legs toward its spine. The coat is dense, coarse, and shaggy with long hairs. It is standing on four legs, and has sharp front claws. The caption under the engraving reads: 'Tamanoir, or Ant-Bear - Myrmecophaga jubata'.
November 19, 2025 at 9:41 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, but especially to all the peafowl, as tomorrow is their special day! 🦚

To celebrate World Peacock Day, here is an illustration of a peacock from the book 'Animated Nature' (1828) by Georges-Louis Leclerc.

📷 Reserve 590 BUF

#WorldPeacockDay #RareBooks
Cropped image from a book, showing a colour illustration of peacock. It is standing on a branch and looking very regal. A wood grouse stands on the branch underneath.
November 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Kindness comes in many forms. It may just be sharing your fruit with a good friend (which we would like to think is what's happening in this illustration!).

📷 Illustration of a malbrouk and a mandril from 'Animated Nature' (1828); Reserve 590 BUF

#WorldKindnessDay #KindnessDay #RareBooks
Colour illustration a malbrouck sitting on a branch and holding a piece of fruit. It appears to be smiling rather sweetly. Next to the malbrouck is a colour illustration of a mandril, who is sitting on the ground with its knees pulled to its chest, one arm resting on its knees. It appears to be looking rather hopefully at the piece of fruit.
November 13, 2025 at 10:55 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
📣 There's one day left to apply!

We are looking for a permanent full-time archivist to join our friendly team!

Closing date: 11 November 2025

For full details and to apply ➡️ jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...

#ArchiveJobs #LibraryJobs #Heritage #ExeterJobs #Exeter #Archives #RareBooks
Collage of 40 images of archives and rare books held at the University of Exeter Special Collections.
November 10, 2025 at 9:44 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
On #WorldDigitalPreservationDay, this photo from our #UniOfExeterArchive is a reminder that technology is constantly evolving, & when it becomes obsolete, information may be lost. Digital preservation is vital to enable access to digital records, now & in the future.

#WDPD2025 #ThrowbackThursday
Black and white photograph of a person with long hair typing at a computer terminal in the Old Library.
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
📣 There are just a few days left to apply!

We are looking for a permanent full-time archivist to join our friendly team!

Closing date: 11 November 2025

For full details and to apply ➡️ jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...

#ArchiveJobs #LibraryJobs #Heritage #ExeterJobs #Exeter #Archives #RareBooks
Collage of 40 images of archives and rare books held at the University of Exeter Special Collections.
November 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
A pocket diary is pretty tiny - but sometimes its contents can be even tinier! 🍀

These diaries of Dorothy Harmsworth each contain a four-leaf clover. The tiniest is just over an inch long.

They must be some of the tiniest & luckiest finds in our archives!

📷 EUL MS 435/6/5/1 #TinyTuesday #Archives
Photograph of three pocket diaries dated 1955, 1957 and 1963. Underneath each diary is a four-leaf clover in a labelled melinex sleeve. A metal ruler next to the diaries shows how small the items are.
November 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
Good morning to everyone, but especially to all the jellyfish, for today is their special day!

This coloured plate by Philip Henry Gosse is from the book 'A Naturalist's Rambles on the Devonshire Coast' (1853).

📷 Reserve 574.94235 GOS

#WorldJellyfishDay #JellyfishDay #RareBooks #Devon
Book, lying on a cushion and held open with snake weights, showing a full-page colour plate of a jellyfish.
November 3, 2025 at 11:05 AM
exeterunispeccoll.bsky.social
!! CORRECTION - Closing date 11 Nov!!

📣 Job alert!
We are looking for a permanent full-time archivist to join our friendly team!

Closing date: 11 November 2025

Apply at: jobs.exeter.ac.uk/hrpr_webrecr...

#ArchiveJobs #LibraryJobs #Heritage #ExeterJobs #Exeter #Archives #RareBooks
November 3, 2025 at 9:53 AM