Reading Readers: Lost in Translation in George Bell and Macmillan Publishers Archives
This month’s blog comes from one of our ‘Reading Readers’, Anna Strowe, who’s been looking at the archives of the publishing companies of George Bell & Sons and Macmillan. George Bell & Sons consists of correspondence, ledgers & miscellaneous records from 1813–1976. The Archive of Macmillan at the University of Reading is vast and mainly consists […]
Forthcoming pop-up exhibition: ‘Embellish’d with gold: treasures from the European Manuscripts Collection’
Written by Fiona Melhuish, UMASCS Librarian To celebrate the arrival of the European Manuscripts Collection earlier this year, we are very pleased to announce that we will be holding a launch event as part of the November Extended Hours of The MERL and the Special Collections reading room. The pop-up display, entitled Embellish’d with gold: treasures from […]
Not forgotten: University of Reading to add names to war memorial
On 9 November 2018, the University of Reading will formally announce that the names of nine members who fell in the First World War will be added to its war memorial. This will be the culmination of a long research process by community volunteers based in Special Collections. The genesis of the project dates back to 2013 […]
Buried Treasure on Campus? A closer look at the Overstone Library
Currently working at the University of Reading as Staff Engagement and Communications Officer, Jeremy Lelean previously worked as a dealer in antiquarian and collectable books. In today’s blog, Jeremy takes a closer look at the Overstone Library, the foundation collection of the University Library. I work in science communication, most recently with research into soil, and when […]
Important new acquisition: the European Manuscripts Collection
Written by Fiona Melhuish (UMASCS Librarian) I am delighted to announce a very important recent acquisition, in fact, one of the most significant additions to our collections in recent years. The collection, which will be known as the European Manuscripts Collection, consists of 143 items, including some printed items, an exquisite seventeenth century Italian manuscript […]
New exhibition: ‘Hi-tiddley-hi-ti’ : echoes of the Victorian music hall
Written by Fiona Melhuish, UMASCS Librarian The Spellman Collection of Victorian music covers is one of my favourite collections, and looking through the many boxes of covers never fails to fascinate. The cover designs can be beautiful, imaginative, funny, the height of Victorian kitsch and sometimes just very strange, so it was a difficult, but enjoyable, […]
Cat sketches and cataloguing: Final thoughts of our Archive Graduate Trainee
Special Collections offer year long graduate trainee schemes in both the Archive and Library. In this month’s blog, our departing Archives Graduate Trainee Timothy Jerrome looks back on his year with us. Now that I am coming to the end of my year’s archive traineeship at Special Collections and the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), I feel […]
Celebrating 50 Years of Bringing Children and Books Together
The Federation of Children’s Book Groups is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1968 by parent, teacher and television producer Anne Wood CBE, the organisation is passionate about bringing children and books together, working at both national and local levels. This exhibition traces the history of the Federation of Children’s Book Groups including […]
Born on this day? The strange case of Nancy Astor’s birthday
This weekend we celebrate Nancy Astor’s birthday, said to be on the 19th May. But is there more to this birth date than meets the eye? Head of Archive Services Guy Baxter takes a closer look at the mystery surrounding Nancy Astor’s birth. The first female MP to take her seat in the British House […]
A selection of Royal Wedding Cakes from Huntley & Palmers
Inspired by the “Royal Wedding Fever” surrounding the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Librarian Bethan Davies takes a closer look at the archive of Reading biscuit manufacturers Huntley & Palmers, and their bakes for previous Royal Weddings! Primarily known for producing biscuits, Huntley and Palmers resisted selling everyday cakes until after World War […]