Cambridge University Library
@theul.bsky.social
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theul.bsky.social
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
Social media graphic with information for the forthcoming Curious Cures exhibition at Cambridge University Library. We see the event logo and a medieval image of a ill man being examined by a doctor.
theul.bsky.social
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
theul.bsky.social
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.
theul.bsky.social
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.
theul.bsky.social
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.
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.
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
aymanabuawwad.bsky.social
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
theul.bsky.social
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)
theul.bsky.social
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.
theul.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
crasshlive.bsky.social
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.
theul.bsky.social
📚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
theul.bsky.social
💫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
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
alanakeroyd.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
liamsims.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
jillwhitelock.bsky.social
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.
theul.bsky.social
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
theul.bsky.social
#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.
theul.bsky.social
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
theul.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
jillwhitelock.bsky.social
Hoverfly resurrection. 21 September 1901, @theul.bsky.social Librarian and dipterist Francis Jenkinson recovers a Marmalade hoverfly from a spider’s web, “tightly wound up … which being unwound came to life again in a pill-box by the evening.” #enthist #Diptera #Hoverflies
Francis Jenkinson’s diary entry for Saturday 21 September 1901.
theul.bsky.social
🍂Michaelmas term starts this week!

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
A view across Cambridge colleges towards Cambridge University Library
Reposted by Cambridge University Library
quartobooksuk.bsky.social
Journey through the curious history of medicine with Author @carolcooper.bsky.social and James Freeman, curator of @theul.bsky.social's Curious Cures exhibition! 🩺

Held at the Rock Road Library on the 22nd of October, get your free ticket now via this link: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-curious-....