Newcastle Uni Special Collections & Archives
@ncllibspeccoll
Newcastle University Special Collections & Archives is an Accredited Archive Service, home to Newcastle University's archive and rare book collections. Find out more:
Has everyone got their glasses (or their colanders) ready for this evening's solar eclipse? In our Trevelyan family albums we've found a viewing card which was published for the full solar eclipse in 1927, as well as newspaper cuttings giving details on how to view the event. [ref. CPT/PA/12]
In 2023 our Challenging Legacies: The Kingdom of Iraq and Gertrude Bell exhibition, also at the Great North Museum focussed on Gertrude Bell's influence in the Middle East and founding of the Kingdom of Iraq in 1921. 🧵 4/5
In 2016 we collaborated with the Great North Museum who hosted The Extraordinary Gertrude Bell which featured material from the Gertrude Bell Archive held at Newcastle University as well as objects loaned from the British Museum, Imperial War Museum, and the Royal Geographical Society. 🧵 (3/5)
In 1994 an exhibition was prepared in collaboration with the British Council. When an event was held in the Kings Hall to showcase the exhibition and items from the archive university photographers were on hand to capture the event! 🧵 (2/5)
#ThrowbackThursday Do you recognise this building? It will be a familiar sight to anyone who gets off the Metro at Jesmond on their way to visit or work at the Philip Robinson Library. Seen here in it's original form, and with a 1960s extension, it now looks different again! [Ref. NUA/59245]
Last Friday saw the launch and a private viewing of our Routes, ruins and reconnaissance exhibition in collaboration with the @rgs.org at their home in London. The exhibition is open Monday - Friday until August 24th. Find out more and how to visit: www.rgs.org/events/upcom...
Anyone else wondered how to make their own 19th Century bicycle? 'Velocipedes, Bicycles and Tricycles: How to Make and How to Use Them' published in 1869, part of our 19th Century seems to have the answers! No doubt perfect for a summer weekend exploring the countryside! [19thC.Coll. 629.227 VEL]
For #ThrowbackThursday this week here's a look back at a rugby match between Durham and Newcastle Universities in March 1969 from our University Archive. However there's a bit of an #archivalMystery as we can't work out the venue! Can you help us identify this 1960s sports ground? [ref.NUA/060791]
If you're planning a research project this summer, why not start with our Collections Guide? Browse hundreds of archive and rare book collections by subject, people, organisations or keyword, and discover unique primary sources waiting to be explored. Start your search: specialcollections.ncl.ac.uk
Did you know? Newcastle University Special Collections & Archives cares for rare books, archives and unique historical collections spanning centuries. Whether you're researching, teaching or simply exploring, there's something waiting to be discovered. Find out more: www.ncl.ac.uk/library/spec...
#ThrowbackThursday Who remembers the days of Thorne's bookshop and Inventions (now The Crows Nest)? This photo, from our University Archive, shows part of Percy Street as it was in 1987. [Ref. NUA/193478].
As the school summer holiday season is almost upon us here's a #FlashbackFriday look back to 1898 and the family summer holiday of the Trevelyan family of Wallington, who visited Seaview on the Isle of Wight for their summer break. Photos are from our Trevelyan family photo albums. [Ref. CPT/PA/28]
As #NCLGraduation2026 gets underway, we're looking back at an earlier generation of @newcastleuni.bsky.social congregations. This photograph captures the excitement & ceremony of graduation day in 1958. Congratulations to the Class of 2026! collectionscaptured.ncl.ac.uk/digital/coll... #WeAreNCL
As its Hoppings week in Newcastle here's a #FlashbackFriday look back to the 1972 edition of the annual fair on Newcastle's Town Moor. These 3 aerial photographs of the fair were taken by former history professor Norman McCord and show how much (or little) has changed. [Ref: NUA/083025]
Whilst it is one of the hottest days of the year outside, in one of our temperature controlled stores it is not!
The a-n Archive preserves the history of one of the UK's most influential artist networks, documenting decades of advocacy, collaboration and creative practice. Browse the archive online specialcollections.ncl.ac.uk/an
We're still getting over how many people we met at our Discover Festival stand last Saturday. Over 170 of you crafted your own colour scheme for a locally built ship represented in our collections. Explore the original plans at CollectionsCaptured: collectionscaptured.ncl.ac.uk/digital/coll...
As England played their first match at the football World Cup yesterday today is the perfect time for a #ThrowbackThursday look back at some 20th Century Newcastle University football team photos we've found in our University Archive. [Ref. NUA/075603]
We've been busy preparing for tomorrow's @newcastleuni.bsky.social Discover Festival today. Come and find us in the Lindisfarne Room between 10 and 4 tomorrow to have some crafty fun designing your own ship livery and learn about some of the historic ships built on the Tyne and Wear rivers.
Have you visited our current exhibition yet? If not here's a peak at 'When Britain Stood Still, The General Strike at 100', which is open and free to all, on Level 2 of the Philip Robinson Library.
From next week our Reading Room will be moving temporarily while YourSpace on Level 1 of the Philip Robinson Library gets a makeover. Don't worry, we'll still be open, but we'll be on Level 4 instead. Remember to request your items in advance as normal!
The poem, from our Broadside Collection, was written for the closing of the Corinthian Society's year, #OTD in 1827. The sentimental ode to the parting of ways is a sentiment that's likely echoing around University corridors as students end their studies for the year. [ref: Broadsides1/7/34]
#Discover Stained glass artist & designer Leonard Evetts who notably contributed to Newcastle Cathedral (the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas) by creating designs for stunning memorial windows, including the Ascension Chapel window installed 1962 collectionscaptured.ncl.ac.uk/digital/coll...
From gulls to gannets, Birds of the Sea (1945) introduced readers to the fascinating world of seabirds through the illustrations of R.B. Talbot Kelly and the writing of R.M. Lockley. Explore more on CollectionsCaptured collectionscaptured.ncl.ac.uk/digital/coll...
After the warm weather we've enjoyed recently, we're hoping the weather stays nice for one more weekend. This photo shows members of the Trevelyan family enjoying a grassy picnic, something we're hoping the weather stays nice enough for this weekend. [Ref. CPT/PA/8/08]
May's #ExploreYourArchive theme is #EYAHandwriting. Our involvement in the Evolving Hands Project explored handwritten text recognition and TEI in interpreting cultural heritage texts, using our Gertrude Bell archive. Explore the project output here: digitalshowcase.ncl.ac.uk/showcases/ev...
Did you know that we have 43 volumes of literary journal Notes and Queries digitised and viewable online? The editions, from the last quarter of the 19thC., include annotations by the journal's editors. Explore them online on CollectionsCaptured here: cdm21051.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/coll...
Did you know that Alnwick Corn Exhange officially opened in May 1862? These two documents from our Alnwick Corn Exchange Archive give details of the charges for use and hire of the new building. [ref: ACE/02/01]
Here's a #ThrowbackThursday look back to more scientists and their labs. This time here 4 labs and their staff from the Medical School in 1968 found in our University Archive. [Ref. NUA/054135, 054175 (x2), 055922]
'All railwaymen to cease work TO-NIGHT. Transport Workers, Printers and Metal Workers to follow' - from no.1 of an official Strike Bulletin, 4th May 1926. This & more in the exhibition, When Britain Stood Still: General Strike at 100 www.ncl.ac.uk/library/spec... #GeneralStrike100