Special Collections

Looking at the past

The University of London, with the Greater London Archives Network (GLAN), received funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) Active Community Fund to produce the brochure Looking at the past: a guide to resources.  This brochure is designed to meet the information needs of family and local historians, genealogists, archaeologists, Friends and supporters of libraries and archival repositories, and independent researchers, who are keen to explore the widest possible range of document and electronic resources available to them in their fields of study.  The text is also available electronically available electronically. Multiple copies of the brochure are available for display in local libraries and search rooms.

Senate House Library is also keen to foster links with regional and local groups of family and local historians, and other groups keen to explore the research collections.  If you are interested in receiving copies of the Looking at the past brochure or in arranging a group visit to the Library, to see resources at first-hand, then please contact Christine Wise, Head of Special Collections (details below), for a more detailed discussion.  To find out more about the collections, the Library’s website contains full information about research and special collections in the broad arts, humanities and social sciences, including early printed books, manuscripts and manuscript studies and current displays.

Volunteer opportunities with printed books, archives and manuscripts

The Library welcomes approaches from volunteers interested in working with original archival documents, manuscripts and printed books.  Examples of opportunities include discrete projects to sort and prepare outline lists of archival collections, printed books, pamphlets and periodicals.  Appropriate training and supervision is offered, including introductions to professional standards relating to the sorting and cataloguing of archives and early printed material.  From time to time, there may be a waiting list for suitable opportunities.

For further information, please contact

Christine Wise
Head of Special Collections
Senate House Library, University of London
Senate House
Malet Street
London WC1E 7HU

020 7862 8471 cwise@shl.lon.ac.uk

shl.specialcollections@london.ac.uk 020 7862 8470