Perkins Agricultural Library (Special Collections)

About the Perkins Agricultural Library

Walter Frank Perkins

Walter Frank Perkins (1865-1946) was born at Bowling Green House in Southampton and was educated at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, later becoming a surveyor in his father's business in Southampton. He became the Member of Parliament for the New Forest in 1910 and on his retirement from politics in 1922 he devoted himself to literary and agricultural pursuits.

Perkins had collected books on agriculture, botany and forestry from an early age and in 1929 published the bibliography British and Irish Writers on Agriculture. In 1928 he became Honorary Treasurer to the University College of Southampton, a position he held until ill health compelled him to resign. Shortly before his death in 1946 he gave his collection of agricultural books to the University College.

Contents

The emphasis of the collection is on the general practice and improvement of agriculture during the 18th and 19th centuries and works of all the well-known writers of this period are included. Alongside the books advocating new methods of farming there are practical handbooks and descriptions of contemporary farming practices throughout Great Britain, as recorded in the series of General Views sponsored by the Board of Agriculture between 1794 and 1816.

The books on agricultural improvements include those on increasing the yields of crops, selecting the best pasture grasses, developing new breeds of stock or using the latest inventions in agricultural machinery. There are also publications on the economic aspects of agriculture, land tenure, the climate and surveying, providing a detailed picture of aspects of rural life at this time.

The journals held include Annals of Agriculture, Evans and Ruffy's Farmer's Journal and Agricultural Advertiser and the Farmer's Magazine.

Extent

2,000 books and 40 periodicals, ranging in date from the 17th century to the late 19th century.

Using the Perkins Agricultural Library

Access

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

The books are 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

A slip catalogue with author and classified sequences is available in the Archives Search Room and the books are also listed in the Hartley Library card catalogue on level 3. All journals are included in WebCat, the online catalogue.

The Catalogue of the Walter Frank Perkins Agricultural Library was published by the University Library in 1961. If you find an item which you wish to use by searching this pdf version of the catalogue, please contact Special Collections before visiting, to confirm that it is available. 

Reprographic service

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

Web links