With the imminent move of Wheatley Campus Library to Headington, we’ve been reflecting on the Library’s bygone days and exploring some of the artefacts from its 60-year history. The silver trowel This silver trowel was used in the Ceremony of the Stone held on 26 September 1964 to mark the setting of the foundation stone …
Continue reading Wheatley Campus – Treasures from the archive
The largest building on Headington campus (and home of Headington library) is the John Henry Brookes building, or JHB to its friends. But who was John Henry Brookes? John Henry Brookes, OBE (1891-1975) was an English craftsman, artist, educator and administrator. His art training and craft workshop experience encouraged him to apply for and secure …
The Fuller collection at Oxford Brookes is a selection of books and archive material previously owned by Professor John Fuller, once Head of the Department of Catering Management here and a leading light in establishing courses in hospitality management in the UK and worldwide. The collection contains books dating back as far as the 17th …
Central panel of the stained glass window in the vestibule of Harris Manchester library On a recent trip with other library staff, we had the opportunity to visit Harris Manchester College, part the University of Oxford. We were able to look around not only the library, but also the Special Collections and archive. The history …
Continue reading We visit … Harris Manchester College Library
Are you a student who wants to gain experience in events management? Oxford Brookes library’s Special Collections at Headington are home to the National Brewing Library, an English language collection relating to brewing and distilling. This year we’re celebrating 20 years of this collection at Brookes with an event encompassing lectures, workshops and an exhibition. …
Continue reading Events volunteering opportunity for students – National Brewing Library
Back in April 2021 the Special Collections and Archives took delivery of around 40 boxes of library and archive material which forms the Antonio Carluccio Library and Archive. It has been my job to unpack and list the material and, along with colleagues, create an exhibition to promote the collection which is now on display in the John Henry Brookes building.
Over the past year, our most frequent researcher in the Special Collections reading room has been Fraser Smith, an MA Publishing student, who has been using the Booker Prize Archive for his dissertation research. He has kindly agreed to share his research and experience using the collection with us. Fraser writes: The Booker Archive: Assessing …
We've been enjoying the Great Archive Bake Off, where intrepid modern bakers try cooking from historical recipes held in archives and Special Collections. I decided to join in and make a Household Cake. I followed this recipe from Tea time tips by Charlotte Cairns, published in 1948 and part of our Fuller Collection. I chose …
Continue reading What happens when you follow a 1940s cake recipe?
Starting in January 2021, a cataloguing project began with the Paul Oliver Archive of African American Music (POAAAM), housed in Oxford Brookes Library's Special Collections. Funded by the European Blues Association and an Archives Revealed grant from The National Archives, the cataloguing project will make accessible a unique collection of never-before-seen material. We have been …
Continue reading The Blues and the Gay Community: A Story from the Archives
As the library is exploring the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World we thought it would be interesting to see how that list compares with our literary special collections. Would the BBC judges have similar taste to the Booker Prize judging panels or the LOGOS journal board who decided on the titles in our …
This is the first in a series of blog entries from LR staff, showing we are still open for business, and reflecting on life working at home. The Special Collections reading room may be closed at the moment but whilst we’re working from home work continues on our collections. Where possible we are responding to …
Continue reading Learning Resources: Still Working For You – Special Collections
On the evening of 14 October, the Vice Chancellor and I attended the awards ceremony at Guildhall in the City of London. We are invited because the archive of the Booker Prize is held at Brookes in the Library’s Special Collections and Archives. It is always a very enjoyable event and this year was no …
On Wednesday 6 December, Professor Katherine Smart will be giving a public lecture at Oxford Brookes University, including a free tasting session beforehand from Hook Norton Brewery and Toad distillery. The event is free and everyone is welcome to attend - students, staff and members of the public. Professor Katherine Smart’s stellar career brings together …
Continue reading The science and business of spirits and beer
Being involved with the University’s Special Collections is an interesting part of my wider role as an Academic Liaison Librarian. Brookes has some unique collections under five key themes: Food and drink Art and architecture Public and allied health Publishing and literary prizes Oxford Brookes University I am sometimes approached by members of the public …
Continue reading Two special stories from Special Collections
Special Collections is pleased to present its third annual Library Exhibition. This year’s exhibition features items from our newest collection - The Steve Hare Penguin Books Collection. Steve Hare (1950-2015) was a doctoral student at Oxford Brookes’ Oxford International Centre for Publishing, an author, researcher, journalist, and collector of Penguins. Following his death, Steve’s family …
Continue reading Special Collections Exhibition – The Steve Hare Penguin Books Collection
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