52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 30: A short mountain walk
When the idea for the Historical How-to’s series was first mooted both Norman and I immediately wondered how we might turn it into an excuse to get out into the […]
Category: University Collections
Jean Johnstone’s artist’s books: a presentation to Special Collections staff
Recently, the staff of Special Collections were treated to a talk by local artist Jean Johnstone, who came to discuss a commissioned piece she is undertaking for and about the […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 29: Butcher, Baker, Candlestick maker…..How To shop local
This week we are shopping with the Anstruthers of Balcaskie, a family who have been in Fife since the 12th century, their seat being the mansion house of Balcaskie near […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 28: translating 17th century verse into Esperanto
For this week’s how-to post, I’ve taken some inspiration from one of our quirkiest collections, that of the Reverend John Beveridge (1857-1943). Beveridge gifted his library and archive to the […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 27: Embroidery
Four weeks ago, we described how to make a linen shift using the directions in Robert Byfield’s Sectum: the Universal Directory in the Art of Cutting, published in 1825. This […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 26: Brewing Scurvy Grass Ale!
This week’s How-to post gave an excuse for our two departmental home-brewers, Marc and Daryl, to stretch their boundaries to adapt a strange recipe for “Scurvy-grass Ale” found in an […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 25: Easter Baking
Well, this week’s post has been more challenging than expected. It started life as a blog about decorating churches for Easter. Although I have no doubt there is material about […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 24: Singing the Collections
This week’s blog is about the fun we have had singing together, learning songs chosen from the undiscovered riches of the Library’s music holdings. We have explored the hidden depths […]
52 Weeks of Historical How-To’s, Week 23: Dressmaking
For this week’s historical how-to, we return to the early 19th century with a book entitled, Sectum: the universal directory in the art of cutting, by Robert Byfield. (London: printed […]
TREASURES OF THE LIBRARY PODCAST: Professor Christopher Given-Wilson on Rolevinck’s Fasciculus Temporum
In the summer of 2013, the University Library set out to capture the reactions of academic and library staff when encountering their favourite items from the Special Collections Division. For this […]