University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections
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archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections
@archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
360 followers 240 following 35 posts
We hold the University archive, collections related to the artist E H Shepard, the collections of the National Resource Centre for Dance and other Special Collections.
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Happy #WorldKindnessDay! What can we learn about kindness from Winnie-the-Pooh and friends?

Line illustrations copyright ©The Trustees of The Shepard Trust
Colouring of the illustrations copyright ©1970 and 1973 The Trustees of The Shepard Trust and HarperCollinsPublishers Limited
[Ref EGM/1/32/1]
A watercolour drawing of Christopher Robin reattaching Eeyore's tail while Winnie-the-Pooh watches on.
November 13, 2025 at 9:08 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
And now for our latest 'Unlikely Objects in the Archive' post, we have: molecular models!
These were created by a Physics student in the 1960s, and then used as a teaching aid in schools for over 25 years before being donated to our collections.

#scienceteaching #physics
A collection of polystyrene models of molecules. They are coloured black and white, mauve, green and red. Unfortunately the archivist's molecular knowledge is limited, so we can't say what type of molecules they are.
October 28, 2025 at 10:06 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Some of the fabulous mid-20th century electro-plated nickel silver-ware objects in the University's archive, used in Battersea Polytechnic's Domestic Science training restaurant to keep guests' food warm.

You can see these on display outside our Research Room on campus.

#universitycollections
A chafing pan A small gueridon stand with a burner lamp beneath. A large gueridon stand - the pan would have rested on top of this, keeping the food warm. The burner in the centre of the gueridon stand.
October 9, 2025 at 8:28 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
We're showcasing some of the objects in our University Archives, dating back to 1891 when we started out as Battersea Polytechnic in south London.
This pennant dates from the 1960s, when the Polytechnic became a University at Guildford.

It may have been waved at sports events.

#EYAEducation
A turquoise-blue pennant with a gold braid border. The University of Surrey coat of arms is in the centre. Close up of the embroidered University of Surrey coat of arms, featuring three swords denoting the three polytechnic institutes, originally planned in South London, below the Surrey County blue and gold chequers and two woolsacks, denoting the university's new location in Guildford.
September 25, 2025 at 3:12 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
This month we're very pleased to have the September feature over on the #ArchivesHub monthly blog.

Our blog explores the background of Classical Greek Dance, a fascinating early 20th Century dance movement, using items from two of our dance collections.

#dancearchives
Black and white photograph of a female dancer, standing on a grass with the sky behind her. She is dressed in a white tunic with a decorative border and is leaning back, holding a spear and poised to throw it.
September 2, 2025 at 11:04 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Calling the hive mind of Bluesky, and in particular those with paleography skills or an interest in early 20th century cookery.
We think the 'Occupation' listed here is 'Fancy Rose Maker' - opinions sought on whether this is correct and what this job entailed...

#paleography #educationhistory
A yellowing student registration card from Battersea Polytechnic, showing the details of one Florence Bland, who was enrolled on the Cookery course in 1923-1925.
August 6, 2025 at 2:51 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Wishing a Happy Birthday to Percy Bysshe Shelley, born #OTD in 1792!
This little volume of his collected works is from our Thomas Farrer Collection of rare books and has some beautiful marbling on the inner covers.
A tiny book, open at the title page showing a black and white portrait of Percy Shelly and the title 'The Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley'. There is a stamp showing that the book is part of the Farrer library of the University of Surrey. Interior of a book with marbling in shades of deep red, gold and blue.
August 4, 2025 at 8:35 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
2/2 ...such as one Alexandra Bannerman from 1923, who was studying to become a Health Visitor with a side interest in Motor Car Mechanics 🩺⚕️🚗
Sepia coloured registration card for a student of Battersea Polytechnic from 1923-1924. The student is studying for a Health Visitor Qualification, with modules including Sanitary Law, Personal Hygiene and Child Care. The reverse of the card shows that she was also studying Motor Car Mechanics and Driving - presumably to ensure that she could travel independently to perform her role.
July 21, 2025 at 2:07 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
1/2 We're delighted to be launching a staff project aimed at conserving our collections while providing a wellbeing and social activity. @surreylib.bsky.social colleagues joined us to clean and repackage early 20th century student registration cards, and discovered some hidden stories...
A group of people sitting at tables, undertaking conservation cleaning work on yellow registration cards.
July 21, 2025 at 1:57 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Lovely location at Watts Gallery near Guildford for joining a cross collaboration of researchers from @uniofsurrey.bsky.social School of Arts, Humanities and Creative Industries to talk about interdisciplinary research and seeing where our archive collections could connect.
An arts and crafts-era half-timbered building surrounded by lush shrubs and trees, against a blue sky.
July 3, 2025 at 8:47 AM
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Dancing in the research room! 💃
We welcomed a group from ‪‬Grinnell College, Iowa to our Research Room to investigate the links between dance, and language using our #rudolflaban archive, and in particular, the Czech dancer Milca Mayerova.
@grinnellcollege.bsky.social
#dancearchives #archives
A group of students and staff in a research room stand and raise their hands in the air (like they just don't care, but the vibe in the room was full of laughter). A group of five students sit around a table looking at a mixture of archive materials.
May 29, 2025 at 11:53 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
In honour of #WorldBeeDay, here is a honeybee, drawn lifesize by E. H. Shepard for 'Winnie-the-Pooh'.

Ref. EGM/1/10 (c) HarperCollins Publishers Limited
An illustration of an interested-looking honey bee, with splodges of yellow on her tummy and blue wings. Underneath is written 'WTP 16', probably by the printer.
May 20, 2025 at 8:13 AM
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A lovely morning working with one of our volunteers on a project to clean and rehouse hundreds of early 20th century student registration cards.

A chance to explore some forgotten stories and have a natter!

#archivevolunteers #chat #wellbeing #studentlife #archiveconservation
A table with yellow registration cards and conservation cleaning materials, with the hands of our volunteer who is busy removing surface dirt.
May 8, 2025 at 8:19 AM
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If you spotted our post from a couple of weeks back, you may like to know that the sword and shield are part of our Classical Greek Dance display outside our Research Room on campus.
If you're in the area, do visit us to find out more, and look out for our forthcoming blog post on CGD.
A sword, shield and two black and white photographs of women dancing are shown in a display cabinet. A collection of black and white photographs of women dancing outside and a notebook displayed in a glass cabinet.
May 2, 2025 at 12:36 PM
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It's International Dance Day, and here is a fabulous image from our new display on Classical Greek Dance.

The Classical, or Revived, Greek Dance movement was created in the early 1900s by Ruby Ginner using images from ancient Greek art to reconstruct dance movements.
This black and white photo shows four young women in ancient Greek-style tunics in a variety of poses. They are in a garden, with trees and bushes in the background.
April 29, 2025 at 9:12 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Looking forward to getting our next display in at the Research Room!

Any guesses as to what our theme might be? 🤔

Keep an eye out in May for further information 👀
A sword and a shield displayed on a table. The shield has wiggly snakes painted around the outer edge and is slightly battered. We believe that it was probably a repurposed dustbin lid. The sword has a short metal blade and a intricate, gold-coloured hilt. Ref. CGD/O/1-2
April 16, 2025 at 1:53 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
The University of Surrey Archives and Special Collections will be closed for the Easter break from 17-23 April, reopening on Thursday 24 April for all your archive enquiries.

We hope you enjoy the Easter Bank Holiday weekend!
A statuette of a woman clothed in orange robes sitting cross legged and raising one hand in a gesture of peace. It was made by Doris Flinn c. 1930s and originally owned by Madge Atkinson, founder of Natural Movement system of dance. Next to it is a figurine of Christopher Bruce as 'Pierrot Lunaire' in Glen Tetley's ballet, sculpted by Nathan David in 1979. Both figures are positioned on the window sill of the Archive and Special Collections Research Room, overlooked by a tree outside the window.
April 15, 2025 at 11:07 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Removing efflorescence from some of the rare books in our Thomas Farrer Collections - these are salts from the binding process that emerge over time due to changing atmospheric conditions.
We can see a shelf with four leather and cloth-bound books. One of the books shows white markings over the title 'Carlyle's Works'. We can see blue-gloved hands wiping the spine of a leather-bound book with a cloth. Several books on a shelf. The white mark on the book from the original image has been removed so that it is restored to its former glory.
March 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
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It's St. Patrick's Day ☘️, in honour of which here are some battered but obviously much loved scores from the Bellairs School of Dancing.

Bice Bellairs was one of the founders of the Guildford School of Acting, now part of the University of Surrey.

[Ref. BB/T/2/2/1/7 & BB/T/2/2/1/11, c. 1940s]
A battered emerald green book of Irish Folk Dances, written and arranged by Peadar O'Rafferty. There is a jaunty pattern of shamrocks around the edge, and along the top is written 'Bellairs School of Dancing'. The spine is held together with aging sticky tape, one of the things us archivists really dislike as it leaves a residue, but it shows how much use this book got during its life. A very battered and dog-earred score titled 'Irish Jig'. The score is annotated and the edges are torn, frayed and held together with sticky tape, about which I've mentioned earlier. 'The Irish Folk Dance' book from the previous image is places on top.
March 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
It's #EYAJustice month!
These papers from the University of Surrey Student Union archive show the activity of the student body, in this case the resolution to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in October 1973.

Ref. no. SU/1/7/3/2
A typed page from the proceedings of the University of Surrey Student Union, entitled 'NUS Motion - Human Rights'. The motion was passed on 24 October 1973. Close up text from the NUS Motion to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, showing the text 'All Human Beings are born free and equal'.
March 14, 2025 at 1:35 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Oooh, books! Must be World Book Day... 📚
Just a tiny number of the books we hold in our collections, from the Ernest Shepard Archive to the rare books from the Thomas Farrer Collection.
Winnie-the-Pooh, The Secret Garden, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, When We Were Very Young, Andersen's Fairy Tales and Treasure Island, all arrayed on a shelf. Some of the books are new, others are older and show signs of being read and reread.
March 6, 2025 at 10:42 AM
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We had a great session introducing students from our Children's Literature module to the archives - investigating how to interrogate and interpret original sources using items from our E. H. Shepard Archives, some of his original sketches and illustrations for 'Winnie-the-Pooh'. 😍
A group of students looking at a variety of archive material, under a screen giving tips about interpreting archives for research. There are also drawings and illustrations by E. H. Shepard on display.
March 5, 2025 at 10:31 AM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Today we're pondering the likely causes of three chairs being smashed - found in a file of correspondence from the Battersea Polytechnic Day Students Representation Council in 1924.

[Ref. No. BA/G/1/5/1]
A 1924 note on Battersea Polytechnic headed paper that three chairs had been smashed, with the cost of replacement at 10 shillings and 6 pence. The cause of chair smashing is sadly unrecorded.
February 25, 2025 at 2:58 PM
archives-unisurrey.bsky.social
Hello Bluesky!

We're the University of Surrey's Archives and Special Collections.
Follow us for stories from our varied collections, which include the Rudolf Laban and the E.H. Shepard archives as well as the University's own archive and special collections.

We're looking forward to meeting you!
An old-fashioned lamppost, painted dark blue, with trees, university buildings and blue sky in the background. This is the Battersea Lamppost, one of the few surviving objects from the University of Surrey's predecessor institution, the Battersea Polytechnic.
February 21, 2025 at 12:20 PM