Introduction to the Collections

 The archive and manuscript collections and the printed collections of the Special Collections Division, Hartley Library, Southampton, focus on a number of principal areas.

 British soldiers from the nineteenth century  The archive and manuscript collections, which number in the region of 6 million items in 2,450 collections, are principally from the nineteenth and twentieth century, although the earliest item dates from the twelfth century.  They focus on: (i) political, military, diplomatic and official papers of individuals with a connection with the University's region, such as the first Duke of Wellington and Earl Mountbatten of Burma; (ii) on Anglo-Jewry and on the relations between the Jews and other peoples; (iii) on the University itself and former staff, students and associates; (iv) on textiles and the history of costume; and (v) on acoustics, in particular architectural acoustics.

Further information is available on the development  of the collections.

 Parkes Library rare book  The printed collections of note are: (i) the Parkes Library, one of the most important collections in Britain for the study of relationships between the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds; (ii) the Cope Collection on Hampshire and the Isle of Wight; (iii) the Perkins Agricultural Library; and (iv) the Wellington Pamphlets.  The Special Collections Division also holds a number of rare and antiquarian book collections dating from the fifteenth century onwards.

 

For informaton the archive and manuscript collections see the Guide to the manuscript collections.  All manuscript and rare book material is consulted in the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books searchroom: access is by prior appointment.

For information on the printed collections (both open access and rare books) see the resources guide on the Library website.