“I just love the days when you come out of the archives with half a dozen excellent descriptions or poignant accounts of personal experiences.” –Antony Beevor

Maughan Library/Special Collections at King’s College – https://www.kcl.ac.uk/library/visiting/maughan

The courtyard at King’s College exhibits beautiful examples of gothic architecture.  Upon entering through the archway, a statue of King Henry III can be seen at the top of the arch.  The buildings here have held records for 800 years.  The library itself is an example of Victorian gothic architecture.  This library may have a rich history, but today it functions well in the modern age with elements such as self-service book checkout machines.  The reading room, solemnly referred to as the silent zone, is circular and was modeled after the reading room at the British Museum.  This reading room houses the reference collection.  While they are not in use, the library also has the original cell shelving units.

We then saw some selected items from the Foyle Special Collections Library which contains about 200,000 items.  These items were sectioned into American themed topics, items that present archival challenges, and promotional archival items used for teaching and internships.  The item that most stood out to me was the Russian children’s anti-Nazi promotional book.  I never knew books like this existed.  While it is sad, it still is an important piece of history that can be learned from in many ways.  The staff working with the special collections at King’s College are doing a wonderful job and were so kind to us.

“Some archives and record offices are housed in your local museum or library; others have their own stand-alone building. Wherever they are, they are a treasure trove.” –Kate Williams

British Museum Archives – https://britishmuseum.org/research/libraries_and_archives.aspx

The British Museum was built in 1850.  Within it is the Museum Archive.  Over the years, this has mainly been a business governance archive.  Sadly, none of it is catalogued which can make working with it/researching difficult.  There is also more confusion because each department has its own archive.  The archivists are trying to bring the departments together to not only make sense of the archive but to also gain a better understanding of what is where.  The British Museum Archive receives around 4,000 inquiries each year.  However, due to the lack of a catalogue, it can be quite hard for them to respond to these research inquiries. 

The archive has been in their current location for about a year.  While the current room is well lit and includes a beautiful dome, it is not suitable for archival documents.  It is far better than being in a basement with mold problems, but documents of this age need to be in a better climate-controlled environment.  However, officials see it as a museum first and archive second.  Due to recent weather problems affecting the room, they are receiving more support from the museum.  The archival staff are working towards a new location and would love to have one that is purpose-built.

Here we were shown several wonderful items.  Having recently been to the Natural History Museum, I loved all the images they had of the specimens now housed there that used to be housed at the British Museum.  We also got to see two signatures of Karl Marx.  Like most archives, they also have several objects like spectacles, a building support block, and an incendiary shell case.

After leaving the archive, we were free to explore the rest of the museum.  One of my favorite areas was the exhibit on Egypt.  There was one room full of sarcophagi.  However, their most striking displays, and likely the most famous items, were the Parthenon Marbles and materials from the Sutton Hoo ship burial.  It is always a bit surreal to see such historically significant pieces of artwork and artifacts.  Thankfully, seeing items like these never gets old.

“There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” –Beatrix Potter

Blythe House – https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/archives

Blythe House is an archival location for many of the collections from the Victoria and Albert museum.  Here, we were given a brief history of Leslie and Enid Linder who were involved with the works of Beatrix Potter.  As Potter wrote in code, Leslie spend a great deal of time deciphering her journal writings.  Beatrix started writing her journal at the age of 15.  She did not include punctuation, so her coded writing looked like scribbles.  Through this process she found her voice as an author and simply wrote about what she observed, read, and heard in life.  Her journal includes over 200,000 words.  Leslie Linder later spent 5 years looking through these pages and deciphering her journal line by line.  Someone once said, “I think but for Leslie’s pursuit to find Beatrix’s code, his enthusiasm – and his finances – she might never have reached the popularity and importance that she now has.”  Leslie Linder broke the code in 1958.

One of the archivists, Ann Marie, then showed us several archival items, many of which were related to Beatrix Potter.  They had an impressive collection of illustrations which were very quaint.  Another item I liked was a small library shelf complete with a set of miniature books.  The items were also all in wonderful condition.  I was particularly interested in how they were housed.  The illustrations were bordered by mat board and were very securely hinged in place to ensure no edges or corners were unnecessarily bent. 

“It is a work of art and science, of poetry, astronomy and literature that reflects back to us the centuries that have passed over it.” –Rosemary Hill

I knew I would like Stonehenge, but I loved it far more than I anticipated.  Despite the overwhelming number of excited tourists, it was quite peaceful there.  The temperature was in the low 50’s that day and that plus the rain paired with a strong wind made it extremely cold.  But I thought the weather just added to the charm of the English countryside.  Sadly, frozen fingers make it harder to use a camera but is it really a visit to Stonehenge if it’s not cold and rainy?  I never know what it’s going to be like when I study a monument and then get to ‘meet’ it for the first time.  However, this meeting was exactly how I wanted it to be.  In the words of Sir Richard Colt Hoare describing Stonehenge, “How grand! How wonderful! How incomprehensible!”

“It is indeed immensely picturesque. I can fancy sitting all a summer’s day watching its shadows shorten and lengthen again, and drawing a delicious contrast between the world’s duration and the feeble span of individual experience. There is something in Stonehenge almost reassuring; and if you are disposed to feel that life is rather a superficial matter, and that we soon get to the bottom of things, the immemorial gray pillars may serve to remind you of the enormous background of time.”  -Henry James

The rest of the day was spent in Winchester shopping for tea, exploring hidden gardens, finding more bookstores, and wandering through castle ruins.

“I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking. It is all like an opera.” William Butler Yeats

Bodleian Library – https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/

Christ Church Library and Archive – https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/library

A rainy day at Oxford is the best way to spend a Friday.  During the morning we toured the Bodleian Library, the Divinity School, the Convocation House, and the Courthouse.  The history of the libraries at Oxford begins with what is now called the Duke Humfrey’s Library which was built in 1320.  It only contained about 20 handwritten books.  However, Duke Humfrey donated 281 books and built a new library named for himself which opened c.1480.  It now serves as the oldest reading room in the library.  A diplomat to Queen Elizabeth I named Sir Thomas Bodley saved the library.  He spoke 8 language and his wife’s wealth allowed him to restore the library over 4 years.  He added 2 and a half thousand books.  Originally the Bodleian functioned as a chained library before the noise from the chains proved to be too noisy for a library.

The Divinity School was the first purpose-built classroom for the university.  It took over 40 years to complete and was finished in 1488.  The room was used for lectures and teaching.  The decorations are elaborate despite the fact that funds did not allow them to be completed.  These decorations include religious imagery, some of which was later defaced to make it less Catholic.  Today the room is used for events such as graduation and weddings and is often used as a set for films.

The Convocation House was a meeting space for the university.  Time pieces were inserted around the room.  Two window panes are colored and functioned like a sundial.  The amount of time that the sunlight shone through the colored panes would restrict the speaking time of individuals.  Today it is used for admissions ceremonies.

The Courthouse was used to resolve on-campus issues.  Students would be tried here for drunkenness or breaking curfew.  Percy Shelley was tried here after he wrote a pamphlet on atheism.  Oscar Wilde was another student who was tried in this courtroom for buying clothing on credit and not paying for it later.  It was closed in 1968.  Today it is occasionally used for catering the events next door.

All of these locations were wonderful.  It is always special to walk amongst history instead of just reading about it in books.  My favorite part was the Duke Humfrey’s Library.  Being around so many archival books never gets old.  The deep brown shelving, high decorated ceilings, and earth-toned book covers always makes for an inviting space.  This first half of the day was fantastic.

“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversation?” Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Next, we toured the Christ Church Library.  Stephen Archer gave us what was the best tour of our trip so far.  In the archive, he showed us several incredible books.  Two of my favorites were music scores.  One of these included all 4 voices parts printed in different directions.  This allowed the singers to all stand around one book and still be able to read their respective voice part.  One of the most important books we were shown was a Bible printed in Latin.  This was the official Bible of Queen Elizabeth I.  Next, he showed us some of the areas around the library used in films like Harry Potter.  He continued the tour by showing us his office and 5 original illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  It wasn’t until the end of the tour that he told us his current office was once the office of Lewis Carroll. 

Next, we toured the Christ Church Library.  Stephen Archer gave us what was the best tour of our trip so far.  In the archive, he showed us several incredible books.  Two of my favorites were music scores.  One of these included all 4 voices parts printed in different directions.  This allowed the singers to all stand around one book and still be able to read their respective voice part.  One of the most important books we were shown was a Bible printed in Latin.  This was the official Bible of Queen Elizabeth I.  Next, he showed us some of the areas around the library used in films like Harry Potter.  He continued the tour by showing us his office and 5 original illustrations from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland.  It wasn’t until the end of the tour that he told us his current office was once the office of Lewis Carroll. 

“All the world’s a stage, 
And all the men and women merely players; 
They have their exits and their entrances; 
And one man in his time plays many parts, 
His acts being seven ages.” 
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

On this day, we journeyed outside of London to the quaint town of Stratford-upon-Avon.  Our activity for the day was seeing Shakespeare’s As You Like It.  However, the day was also filled with exploring.  These little towns hold so many hidden treasures and historic gems.  Breakfast nooks, antique malls, bookstores, churches, and an exceptional cat café were the locations our exploring led us to.  It was lovely and quiet and a well needed rest from the business of the city.  Enjoy these pictures below from our day in Stratford-upon-Avon.

PS: Library students in London always get into financial trouble at bookstores.

“The greatest danger in life is not to take the adventure.” – George Leigh Mallory

Royal Geographic Society Library/Archive – https://www.rgs.org/about/our-collections/

So often, a trip to an archive is centered around what they have and how they function.  Eugene at The Royal Geographical Society not only showed us their collections but also told the stories of the people in history connected to these collections.  Founded in 1830, the Society gathered explorers, trained them in the use of instruments, and sent them into the field to gather items from explorations.  Today, there are 2 million items in the collection.  This includes 1 million maps, half a million images in the picture library, 250 volumes of books and periodicals, and more.  The archives are one of the most important aspects of the entire collection.  The reading room that we visited was opened in 2004 and increased accessibility for researchers.  It also allowed the Society to have two new climate-controlled storage spaces. 

One interesting term heard at the archive is “Hot and Cold” which is in reference to explorations from the hot and cold parts of the world.  One part of the building is called the Hot and Cold Corner due to the two statues of explorers named Shackleton (explored Antarctic) and Livingston (explored Nile area).  On this day, we were shown facsimiles of maps and images along with some objects that resulted from a series of explorations funded by or related to the Society.  We learned about the disagreements and drama that went with finding the source of the Nile, the search for the south pole, and the many failed and successful attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest.  I love hearing stories of exploration and adventure, so this day was especially fun, and I hope to go back some day.

Right down the road from the Royal Geographical Society is the Natural History Museum.  Filled with specimens, fossils, the moon, and beautiful architecture, it was the perfect site to visit next.  Even as an adult, museums that house natural history still hold the same magic they did during childhood.  Grown-ups, at least this one, still love dinosaurs.  I will cover more information on this museum in a later post.

Lastly, I went “clueing for looks” by ending my day with the Sherlock Museum.  If you don’t get that quote, then go watch Sherlock.  I felt like the ultimate tourist and it was glorious.  Also, their gift shop is heaven and a trap for people who like to spend money.  Not saying I spent any though… 😉 

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” ― Jorge Luis Borges

British Library – https://www.bl.uk/visit

British Library Conservation Centre – https://www.bl.uk/conservation

It might have only been our second day of exploration, but I already know that this location is one of my favorites!  This is because of the conservation lab.  However, let me first mention the library itself.  With over 5,000 book requests a day, with their automated book retrieval system the British Library runs like clockwork which is evident with their 97% success rate.  This is partly due to the quick book delivery time of 55 minutes.  With a library of that size, this is extremely efficient.  It is so large that they organize their books by size to optimize storage space.  However, this location is far more exciting than the average library.  In addition to regular books, they also include a center tower, The King’s Library, which beautifully displays 85,000 books spanning the years 1423-1820 and includes 8 different languages.  Currently the library also has an exhibition on the history of writing.  While this library is visually stimulating, behind the scenes they employ 101 language curators and ensure that all books are stored in high quality, climate-controlled spaces.

Now, I’ll move onto the conservation lab which is one of my new favorite locations.  People who know me well are aware that I prefer low-tech, musty smelling, old, historically significant locations.  Thus, I was a bit shocked that this new, bright, modern space took my breath away.  It also made me question what I wanted to do with my future (which I still do not have figured out).  This space had beautiful skylights and large desks for repairing books and documents.  In many ways, it was like the ultimate book hospital.  This was such a wonderful space where people have the privilege to not only handle archival items daily but also repair them for further use.

The British Library has a partnership with the Qatar Foundation to complete a large digitization project.  They are nearing the completion of 2 million images.  The main focus of this project is the history of the Persian Gulf and also includes map and sound recordings.  The Qatar Digital Library is also open access.  Different from restoration, conservation works to stabilize items for handling.  Foliation, or the numbering of pages, is completed after the item has been conserved.  They showed us many different materials used in their lab such as starch paste and Japanese paper.  Japanese paper, a natural product made from plants, is often used with leather for treatment/stabilization.  Repairs should always be as reversible as possible.  Their policy is that repairs can be seen from 6 inches away but should not be visible from 6 feet away.  These conservationists are doing incredible work and it was such a privilege to meet them and tour their lab.

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! — When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” -Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Barbican Library – https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/services/libraries-and-archives/our-libraries/Pages/Barbican-Library.aspx

Day 1 began with a visit to the Barbican Library. Barbican is Latin for fortress which is fitting for this library that is housed within an entire arts center. This library boasts many captivating features such as a self-checkout book kiosk, a children’s library, and a music library equipped with keyboards. Throughout the year, the library also displays 12 different exhibitions that cover a variety of topics. The current exhibition displays photography of music stars. These small exhibits are a result of a partnership between the library and art gallery.

Not only is the Barbican Library housed in a beautiful location, it is also surrounded by nature and history. Enjoy these photo’s below of the entire Barbican area.