Cambridge University Library Special Collections

Statutory safety: rebinding the Proctors’ Books

Posted on 28 January 2022 by Jacky Cox

Historic volumes from outside the the University Library, intrinsic to University ceremonial, have been recent visitors to the Conservation Studio. These two books contain the […]

Archives, Cambridge University Archives, Cambridge University history, Special Collections

Conservation of a Bound Volume of Letters from the Darwin Archive

Posted on 19 January 2022 by CUL Conservation

This volume was kindly donated to the Library in 2018 and comprises 80 letters all of which were sent to William Kemp, an amateur geologist, […]

Archives, Cambridge Digital Library, Conservation, Darwin Correspondence Project, Digitisation, Exhibitions, Manuscripts

Universal Joy: The Grand Festival at Yarmouth, 19 April 1814

Posted on 22 December 2021 by Sally Kent

A post by Samantha Evans (Darwin Correspondence Project). The library recently acquired a substantial part of the Paget family archive as a gift from Sir […]

Acquisitions, Archives, Manuscripts, Recent acquisitions, Special Collections

Harvesting Resources – Fruit Farming in the Cam Valley: sources at the UL. Guest post by Jonathan Spain

Posted on 16 December 2021 by Anne Taylor

Researchers and authors will use a variety of resources and consult items across the University Library collections and beyond. Although library and archive staff may […]

Map Department, Maps, Rare Books, Special Collections

Long, long life and times of Cambridge carrier Thomas Hobson (1544-1631) now online

Posted on 1 December 2021 by Jacky Cox

If you think only staff and students appear in the University Archives, think again. Episodes in the life of Thomas Hobson, recorded in University court and other records, are now online in the digital library thanks to research funding generously […]

Cambridge Digital Library, Cambridge University Archives, University courts records

Mould damage and suction wedges: conservation of felted paper in a bound iron-gall ink manuscript

Posted on 24 November 2021 by CUL Conservation

Every conservation treatment we undertake at the University Library is done with the specifics of the collection item in mind. We consider the materiality of […]

Archives, Cambridge University Press Archive, Conservation

Read all about it! News in Georgian Cambridge

Posted on 12 November 2021 by Liam Sims

Among the items recently acquired by the Library (generously supported by the Friends of the UL) is a group of nearly fifty issues of an […]

Acquisitions, Collectors and collecting, Rare Books, Special Collections

Rose Book Collecting Prize 2022

Posted on 12 November 2021 by Liam Sims

Entries are open for the 2021/22 Rose Book-Collecting Prize, which offers students the chance to win £500 by writing and talking about their own book […]

Collectors and collecting