UCL Special Collections
@uclspeccoll.bsky.social
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UCL Special Collections is open to everyone. Our collections of rare, unique and historic archives & books cover themes including history of UCL, education, arts and sciences. https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/special-collections
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Reposted by UCL Special Collections
uclartlibrarian.bsky.social
Happy National Poetry Day! For more information on the @uclspeccoll.bsky.social Poetry Store visit www.ucl.ac.uk/library/spec...
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Join us on October 23rd for our Bloomsbury Open Morning! We'll be looking at items from our collection related to sewers & clean water in C19th London 🚰

To book your free ticket, visit:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ucl-specia...

#londonhistory #londonwater
Poster reading "Open Morning. October 23rd 10-12pm. UCL Bloomsbury, South Junction Reading Room, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT." At the top of the poster is an image of a cartoon of Father Thames presenting children representing water born diseases to a female figure representing London. In the bottom left corner is a logo reading UCL Special Collections.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
A unique, free pop-in event to celebrate World Food Day. Come along on 14 Oct to explore our fascinating collections and discover the stories behind food and daily life through the ages at UCL East in Stratford.

Book your ticket on tinyurl.com/UCLSpecCollF... now!

#worldfoodday
The top half of this promotional poster has a yellow background with a UCL Special Collections logo on the left and black text featuring 'What's so Special about UCL Special Collections?, 12–2 PM, Tue 14 Oct, Culture Lab, UCL East’. The bottom half shows a photo of people engaging with displays of archival documents and a presentation in a modern teaching space setting.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
We are grateful to Professor Timon Screech for gifting these two coffee mugs and saucers that used to be in the academic staff common room. They will be added to the College Archive.
Two University College London branded coffee cups and saucers sitting on a desk
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Yes! And if you want to explore Orwell as a social commentator and journalist, check out our free online schools resource: Orwell in the Archive www.ucl.ac.uk/library/coll...
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Originally scheduled to close 31 August, the display has been extended and still open for a few days!
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Last chance to see!

Our #display of 'spinless' objects from @ucl.ac.uk Small Press Collections is on display @senatehouselib.bsky.social until 9 September, and can be see as part of the excellent Spinless Wonders #exhibition there.

Free and open to all! On display in the 4th floor membership area
A group of ephemeral items displayed against a blue background in a glass case. Door to a reading room in the background.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
We're proud to be home to the George Orwell Archive and there are various ways you can access the collection for yourself:

Finding aid: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/digi...
Information on how to visit us: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/coll...
Digitised collections: ucl.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/co...
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
The Little Folks cover model isn't our only Edwardian cat. The Sir Fred Clarke Archive also includes a slightly damaged photograph of a cat drinking from a saucer.

Shelfmark: FC/7/36
Photograph of  cat drinking from a saucer. The corners of the photograph are broken.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Today is International Cat Day, so please appreciate this distinguished feline from the cover of Little Folks magazine!

Little Folks featured stories, songs and poems for children and encouraged submissions from readers.

Shelfmark: LAURENCE HOUSMAN COLLECTION 321

#InternationalCatDay #BlackCat
Cover of Little Folks Magazine. In the centre of the page is a circulate photograph of a black kitten
Reposted by UCL Special Collections
nazlinbhimani.bsky.social
Grateful to have attended #ISCHE46 @ische-news.bsky.social in Lille. My reflections on 'Teachers, Teaching and a Fragile Sense of Hope' are now on the @uclspeccoll.bsky.social blog: blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll... #TeacherTraining #Eugenics #Hope #Imperialism #EduSky
Teachers, Teaching and a Fragile Sense of Hope: Reflections on ISCHE46 | UCL UCL Special Collections
UCL Homepage
blogs.ucl.ac.uk
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
During July and August, ‘spineless’ items from our Small Press Collections are on display ‪@senatehouselib.bsky.social‬ and can be seen as part of the wider Spineless Wonders exhibition there.

Free & open to all!

Many thanks to our friends at Senate House for having us!

Image by Christos Fotelis
A selection of small, ephemeral items by Beau Geste Press, displayed in an exhibition case against a blue background. Items include two matchboxes and a selection pf paper ephemera made of both white and purple paper.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Our exhibition on 19th century sanitation is now open at the Cruciform Hub! It covers the debate over water & sanitation in the lead up to the 1875 Public Health Act.

If you have a UCL card, drop by and see it!

For more info: blogs.ucl.ac.uk/special-coll...

@uclhealthlibraries.bsky.social
Glass case featuring many images of books and archives on display. Above the display hangs three posters.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
The New Curators Project 2025 participants are launching their exhibition titled "The Best of Newham" tomorrow. Join us to celebrate with free local food, craft and games. Just show up – everyone’s welcome!

Tue 10 Jun, 5-7pm
East Ham Library, 328 Barking Road, E6 2RT
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
We selected 10 items, some of which needed to be digitised specially, wrote contextual information, a glossary, translations, transcripts and we made 4 short films to accompany the items' images. Take a look! www.ucl.ac.uk/library/coll...
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Our first of this series of free resources looks at Jewish migration immediately before, during and following the Second World War. www.ucl.ac.uk/library/coll...
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
This was produced in collaboration with the UCL East Schools Engagement team, who have created some short films that explore contemporary experiences of migration from within the university community.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
We are excited to announce our new resource for GCSE History teachers that covers the topic of migration. It will be the first of a series of free, digital resources that explore our collection, presenting primary sources that reveal unique perspectives and voices. www.ucl.ac.uk/library/coll...
An illustration of a door through which a dotted line passes, a little like footsteps.  The words 'Journeys Document' are placed at the bottom of the image.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Sharpen your #knitting needles and join us for Craft Thing on 10 June, an afternoon of #crafting explored through UCL's Special Collections.

Free and open to all but only a few tickets remain: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/craft-thin...
Craft Thing!
Join us for an afternoon of exploring textile and craft in history, theory, and practice at UCL Special Collections
www.eventbrite.co.uk
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
The New Curators Projects participants are launching their exhibition next Tuesday! Come celebrate with us and enjoy free local food, crafts and games inspired by the exhibition theme “The Best of Newham”.

Tuesday 10 Jun, 5-7pm
East Ham Library, E6 2RT

No need to sign up – just turn up!
Promotional poster for the exhibition launch curated by this year's New Curators Project participants. The background features confetti, streamers, and music notes. A two-tier cake with six candles sits in the centre with 'June 10' written on the bottom tier. Large text in red at the top reads 'Newham at 60'. On the left,  a semi transparent box reads 'Join us at East Ham Library to celebrate the London Borough of Newham turning 60 this June!'. On the right, another box reads 'There will be free food, drinks, games, and an amazing exhibition curated by aspiring curators'. At the bottom, text in the white reads '5pm-7pm' and 'East Ham Library'.
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Dr Michelle Reynolds is our 2025 Special Collections Visiting Fellow! Michelle is a researcher in 19th-20thC art & visual culture. They will be using our Laurence Housman #rarebooks collection to explore Housman's role in the women's suffrage movement in the context of his life as a queer activist
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Join us tomorrow for a special display of our incredible collections, featured in the short films created by Year 2 BA Creative Arts and Humanities students. Stay for the premiere screening and see how our collections inspired their work.

Last chance to secure your spot on tinyurl.com/uclscfilm.
A promotional poster for the Making Moving Images II Film Premiere. A orange, vertical film strip graphic runs along the left edge. The central background features an archival artwork and rare printed materials, including a watercolor beehive and the cover of The Album magazine with a woman's illustration. The top displays the event title "Making Moving Images II Film Premiere" alongside the UCL Special Collections logo. Bold text in white at the bottom reads "3 Jun UCL East" with event times: "Collection display: 5–6pm" and "Premiere of films: 6–8:30pm." In orange text: "BA Creative Arts and Humanities x UCL Special Collections."
uclspeccoll.bsky.social
Samuel: I looked at Marian Ray’s educational artworks. I was surprised by the sheer detail Ray put into her works. I learned about how Ray took commissions for her work and also how the slides were secured.
An example of Marian Ray's illustration for educational television.