Some of you may have read previous posts here about our Archive Journeys sessions but might be a bit unsure of what they actually are. Well, Archive Journeys are a great way for Museum visitors and Library users to see some of our collections at first hand.

They're short informal sessions held every Thursday at 2.30pm in the E-library that have been designed to showcase some of the treasures and more unusual items from our collections. They are led by members of the Manuscripts and Library team and they are an excellent opportunity to view the items up close and ask lots of questions.

We have prepared storyboxes on a number of different topics such as Titanic, Pirates and Polar Exploration. Each box contains original manuscripts, rare books, prints and objects from the collections. These include such gems as a menu from the last meal eaten on the ill-fated Titanic, love letters from Admiral Lord Nelson to Emma Hamilton and a letter from Ernest Shackleton from Antarctica. The Pirates box is making its debut on 7 February and contains a treasure trove of material on real life pirates and their bloodthirsty ways. New boxes are in development so look out for posts on the blog about their progress.

The programme for February is:

7 Feb - Pirates
14 Feb - The Georgian Navy
21 Feb - Nelson’s Women
28 Feb - Cruising

So if you are in the Library on a Thursday and need a break from your research or are just in the Museum please do drop by the E-library at 2.30pm to see some of the treasures from our collections.

Kate (Manuscripts)