Hellen Pethers
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ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Hellen Pethers
@ohreallyhells.bsky.social
1.5K followers 390 following 130 posts
Researcher Services Librarian
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
🏛️ Natural History Museum, London.

❤️ paper, ephemera, pangolins, cats, genealogy, social media & serendipity!
Very proud Mum & Auntie. West Sussex.
MY VIEWS

Previously on Twitter @ohreallyhells
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
We've put together a 25-day #NHMAdventCalendar of Library and Archives art. Enjoy! 25. Iles aquifolium, Pierre-Joseph Redouté. Did you know... #AdventCalendar2025 #Christmas #SpecialCollections #Art #NaturalHistoryMuseum
Alt text: an advent calendar revealing a sprig of holly on a white background.
December 25, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
linneansociety.bsky.social
📍 Online Lecture
📆 Jan 23, 12:30 -1:30

✨ Join Simon Pooley as he discusses the okapi, a rainforest giraffid which has become a symbol of scientific curiosity, colonial power, and conservation challenges.

Grab your free tickets here:

buff.ly/CGq6rfy
Simon Pooley superimposed on an illustration of two okapis, giraffid animals with striped legs.
December 22, 2025 at 2:31 PM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
@simonmayo.bsky.social Hi just listening to your Xmas special and heart you mention the ‘dash’.

This is a well known poem that talks about this, I plan to have it at my funeral, it is so wonderful.

The Dash: Making a Difference with Your Life share.google/yFfd0emW4zSO...
Google Search
share.google
December 22, 2025 at 9:37 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Fortnum and Mason has turned their windows into an advent calendar. My walk today took me past in daylight and after dark. #London
Daylight photo of the outside of an old, seven storey building. Each floor has six to seven windows on it. Floors one to four has an advent number in each of the windows to turn it into a giant advent calendar. Nighttime photo of the outside of an old, seven storey building, lit in red. Each floor has six to seven windows on it. Floors one to four has an advent number in each of the windows to turn it into a giant advent calendar.
December 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
colmuseums.bsky.social
Still time to book for the last Mini Museum Explorers of the year – and it’s going to be a festive one! Join us on Tuesday to explore the North Pole through stories, crafts, and sensory activities.
A close-up of a child in a yellow shirt playing with colourful ice cubes in a tray. Text reads: “Mini Museum Explorers, 16 December” and “An icy adventure awaits” with the Natural History Museum logo.
December 13, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
sochistnathist.bsky.social
🚨We have a SUPER exciting announcement!🚨

Our next Summer Meeting will be at @zslofficial.bsky.social on the theme of The Zoological Society of London at 200: Science, Society, and the Natural World 🥳

📅1-3 July 2026
🗺️Zoological Society of London

Find out how to submit 👇🏻
shnh.org.uk/all-events/c...
Dark green background with white text overlaid reading "call for papers", surrounded by various natural history illustrations of animals wearing party hats.
December 5, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
joecozens.bsky.social
The National Archives are hiring a Poor Law Research Assistant (39k for 2 years) working on Paul Carter's AHRC project on poverty/welfare in Wales, 1834-1930. Deadline 16 Dec.

www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi...
Quick Check Needed
www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk
December 6, 2025 at 9:11 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
I’m new to the appreciation of National Trust at Christmas. I’m a convert! A fairytale theme at #NymansNT
A low lit cosy room with antique style items on the walls. In the foreground is a display board headed ‘Goldilocks and the three bears. In the background is a tall Christmas tree lit in whites. The corner of a white walled room. In the background is an unlit small Christmas tree and antique plates on the wall. In the foreground are three life sized models of white polar bears. One adult sized bear is standing tall on its back legs, one small bear sits on its bottom and one stands on all fours. Between them is a small table with three different sized wooden bowls placed on top. An old stone doorway surrounded by Christmas style wreath decorations. Potted plants surround the steps leading to the doorway. Inside the entrance is a decorated tree. A cosy low lit small room with antique style furniture and objects, and on the left is a fireplace with fake glowing hot coals. In the foreground is a small table with a clock, tea pot and two cups and saucers on it. In the background is a plinth with a single red rose under a glass dome and leaning on the floor against the wall at the back is a gold coloured large frame with and reproduction of an image of Disney’s Beast from Beauty and the Beast.
December 7, 2025 at 7:54 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Really chuffed we have achieved this in a year (started mid Nov 2024).

It took us 10 years to achieve this on Twitter/X.
December 4, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
Are you in love with the items featuring Abraham Gottlob Werner's 'Nomenclature of colours' (1814)? Then head over to our Digitised Special Collections to see the entire work.

⬆️ Use the link in our bio to explore this collection and many others.

#SciArt #NatureInArt #ZoologicalArt #BotanicalArt
A box of botanical themed postcards. A display of t shirts, scarves and socks.
December 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
If you're looking for Christmas present ideas, there are plenty in the Museum shop -- including many which use the Library and Archives collections!

Lots of ideas for the nature lover, artist or book worm in your life.
#NaturalHistoryMuseum #Archives #Christmas #SpecialCollections #EntomologicalArt
A display of mugs, books, boxes and tins. A display of four books.
December 1, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
We've put together a 25-day advent calendar showcasing Library and Archives collections. Enjoy! 1. 'Snowy Owls’, John James Audubon (publ. 1827-1838). Did you know... #adventcalendar #Christmas #SpecialCollections #Art #NaturalHistoryMuseum #BirdsInArt
Alt text: an advent calendar, with 2 white owls
December 1, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
Can you help make our December?? 🎁🎄🎉

We are a smidgen away from 14,000 followers, please share and help us get there ready for the big HO HO HO!

#NaturalHistoryMusuem #Library #Archives #Art #SpecialCollections #MuseumArchives #MuseumLibrary #Nature #NaturalHistory #Books #Science
a blue background with the words happy december written on it
ALT: a blue background with the words happy december written on it
media.tenor.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
joshlukedavis.com
"resigns before investigation concludes" is never the most encouraging of signs is it 👀
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
London zoo boss quits amid claims of ‘unacceptable workplace behaviour’
Exclusive: Matthew Gould, close friend of George Osborne and former envoy, resigns before investigation concludes
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
🔎Discovering the Okapi
🌍The Museum: creating advocates for the planet - the history of exhibitions and galleries at the NHM, and the way these have helped to develop a knowledge and appreciation of the natural world
🐋 Whales, Science and Conservation
🌱Ordering and Naming Nature

#Archives #Art
Group of people looking at a table display of artwork and photographs, surrounded by bookshelves.
November 27, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
Visitors to the Museum will have the exciting opportunity to enter our beautiful Earth Sciences Library.

A rare occasion to see treasures from the collection and learn about the Museum’s work as shown through the collections we care for.

#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #MuseumArchives
An event advert. The image is a mash up of five images including artwork, a photograph and sketch. The wording reads: Library & Archives Open Day, free, 5 December 2025 10.00 - 16.00. Location: Lasting Impressions Gallery (Red Zone).
November 27, 2025 at 10:12 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Yesterday, 11/11 in the post came a medal I saw a year ago on a dealers website. It’s not rare or special medal.

But it’s important to me - awarded posthumously to mum’s Grt Uncle, Jabez Buckley (1886-1915), we know little about and have no photo of, he stepped off a ship in Gallipoli and died.
A World War One medal with a red/white/blue ribbon is held by two hands.
November 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
#Ephemera #PrintedEphemera
guildhalllibrary.bsky.social Guildhall Library @guildhalllibrary.bsky.social · Nov 10
A new Lady Mayor of the City of London was celebrated this weekend in all its grandeur. A look into our collections at Guildhall Library has revealed this beautiful & elaborate Victorian invitation to the event from 1882 (S PAM 851)
An invitation card to the Lord Mayor's Show from 1882 with elaborate Victorian decoration and lettering.
November 10, 2025 at 5:11 PM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
@tomrosenthal.bsky.social thank you another completely moving, gripping and heart warming one 😍

Yesterday at a Remembrance parade I noticed a man with a long line of medals, shedding a tear. It is your influence that made me say hello & ask him to tell me about his medals & we chatted for 15mins x
November 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
Museums allow family historians like me to feel close to their ancestors.

My 3x great grandfather Anthony Holland Sodar (1817-99) went from driving a stage coach, to mail cart to omnibus. With little info about him, the London Transport Museum allows me to sit in a real omnibus and feel connected.
Side on photo of a large wooden omnibus on display in a museum gallery. The main body is painted dark green, with a yellow border and large wooden wheels painted yellow. It has the words ‘omnibus’ painted yellow along the side. A selfie of a person standing in front of a large wooden omnibus. It is painted dark green, with the words ‘omnibus’ painted in large yellow letters along the side. The rear view of a wooden omnibus with its door open and two steps leading up into it. The steps are painted yellow and the main body of the vehicle is a dark green. You can just see two seated mannequins inside. Selfie of a person sitting inside a wooden omnibus. The interior is dark, but you can just about see a long velvety bench and mannequin of a woman dressed for the 19th century in the background.
October 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
When your pangolin wardrobe choice aligns with a reading room visitor requesting to see a volume of bound artwork, which includes a pangolin 😍

#NaturalHistoryMuseum #SpecialCollections #Artwork #TeamPangolin
Person wearing a jumper with ‘protect the pangolins’ written on it, stands in a library behind a large bound volume of artwork on a table. The volume is open at an image of a pangolin.
October 16, 2025 at 3:35 PM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
I’m not a huge Christmas decoration person, but Festive Dippy tugged on my heart strings 😍
October 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
mattpope.bsky.social
Awful news from Wales, the St Fagan's Museum has been broken into and prehistoric goldwork has been taken. Its painful to think what objects might now be at risk. Thoughts with the museum team who must be devastated, all speed to the police and a curse on the crooks.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
St Fagans: Bronze Age gold jewellery stolen from musuem
Police are investigating a burglary at St Fagans museum in the early hours of Monday morning.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 6:24 AM
ohreallyhells.bsky.social
I love the beauty, colour and texture of autumn 🍂 ❤️
Very lucky to have Nymans National Trust next door. #NymansNT @nationaltrust.org.uk
Small white autumn flowering crocus. Yellow and red flowers. Large clump of pampas grass in the foreground, with tall trees in the background. Close up of the tops of grasses with blue sky behind.
October 7, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Reposted by Hellen Pethers
nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social
Library & Archives Open Day (free)
19 September 2025

When: 10.00 - 16.00
Where: Lasting Impressions Gallery (red zone)

Our team have developed four themed displays:
🐋 Whales, science and conservation
🌱 Ordering and naming nature
✏️ Writing from the field
❄️ Polar expeditions

#NaturalHistoryMuseum
Image of people standing round a table displaying library and archives material
September 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM