Hartley Collection (Special Collections)

About the Hartley Collection

Henry Robinson Hartley

Henry Robinson Hartley (1777-1850), the heir to a Southampton wine merchant, bequeathed almost all of his estate to the Corporation of Southampton, despite having left the town for good some twenty-five years prior to his death. The bequest was to be used to 'promote the study and advancement of the sciences of natural history, astronomy, antiquities, classical and oriental literature in the town, such as by forming a public library, botanic gardens, observatory'. In addition, it was to be used to maintain Hartley's three houses in the High Street and to preserve his effects, in particular his manuscripts.

The Hartley Institution, the forerunner of the University of Southampton, was opened on the site of Hartley's property in 1862. His manuscripts had been destroyed in the interim by his trustees, who regarded his revolutionary and atheistical ideas as 'obscene and blasphemous'. Hartley's collection of books formed the first of the new library's special collections.

Content

The collection is that of a typical gentleman's library. It includes editions of the Greek and Latin classics, and a small amount of material in German, Italian, Hebrew and Turkish. Hartley's interest in travel is demonstrated by the large number of books on the subject e.g. John Bell Travels from St. Petersburg in Russia to Various Parts of Asia (1806), T. Howel A Journal of the Passage from India ... through Armenia and Natolia, or Asia Minor ...(1789) and his study of mathematics, astronomy and natural history by titles such as James Ferguson Astronomy Explained upon Sir Isaac Newton's Principles... 6th ed. (1778) and John Latham A General Synopsis of Birds 4 vols. in 7 (1781-1787).

Extent

500 books, most dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, with a small number from the early 19th century.

Using the Hartley Collection

Access

The Hartley Collection is part of the Special Collections Division on level 4 of the Hartley Library which is on the Highfield Campus.

The Collection is held on closed access and material is fetched for use in the Archives and Rare Books Search Room, which is open Monday - Friday 09.30-17.00. Appointments are not normally required, but you will need to show a form of ID on arrival at the Library and on entering the Search Room. Material cannot be produced without prior arrangement between 12.00 and 13.00.

You can request material:

  • By phoning the Search Room on 023 8059 2721 or ext. 22721
  • By emailing archives@soton.ac.uk
  • By visiting the Search Room and completing a request slip

Catalogues

The books are listed in the Hartley Library card catalogue on level 3; a small proportion have been added to WebCat, the online catalogue. The WebCat Tutorial shows the most effective ways to search the catalogue.

Reprographic service

Bound volumes cannot be photocopied but you can request photographic or microfilm copies, subject to the age and condition of the item.