Liz Smith
@lizsmith.bsky.social
Digital curator for 19th century science collections, Cambridge University Library. Love food, drink, immersive theatre, culture in general. Attached to many fandoms.
Bought myself a little treat from the Dorchester Book Fair today
October 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Bought myself a little treat from the Dorchester Book Fair today
TIL that people used to use bread as erasers! From an annotation by Margaret Keynes, one of Darwin’s granddaughters, in Gwen Raverat’s copy of the first edition of Period Piece (MS Add.8209.3: 374)
September 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
TIL that people used to use bread as erasers! From an annotation by Margaret Keynes, one of Darwin’s granddaughters, in Gwen Raverat’s copy of the first edition of Period Piece (MS Add.8209.3: 374)
There be dragons here @theul.bsky.social
July 31, 2025 at 11:03 AM
There be dragons here @theul.bsky.social
Catch you next time, Canada 🇨🇦
July 12, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Catch you next time, Canada 🇨🇦
Rhys Darby at Alexandra Palace was an absolute joy of an evening. He’s just starting his U.K. tour so there’s lots of chances to catch him!
June 1, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Rhys Darby at Alexandra Palace was an absolute joy of an evening. He’s just starting his U.K. tour so there’s lots of chances to catch him!
Fascinating bound herbarium at the Linnean Society - probably early 19th c. I’ve never seen an iris laid out like that before!
May 24, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Fascinating bound herbarium at the Linnean Society - probably early 19th c. I’ve never seen an iris laid out like that before!
In love with this gorgeous sundew collected in Norfolk in 1872 - with thanks to @cuherb.bsky.social
May 24, 2025 at 1:27 PM
In love with this gorgeous sundew collected in Norfolk in 1872 - with thanks to @cuherb.bsky.social
Charmed by this publisher’s ad at the back of “The Poisoned Cup: a tale of Weymouth and Sandsfoot Castle” by Joseph Drew (1954).
April 11, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Charmed by this publisher’s ad at the back of “The Poisoned Cup: a tale of Weymouth and Sandsfoot Castle” by Joseph Drew (1954).
New obsession unlocked. Not usually particularly into tapestries but was absolutely fascinated by the natural history specimens pictured in this 18th c tapestry woven at the Gobelins factory in Paris.
April 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
New obsession unlocked. Not usually particularly into tapestries but was absolutely fascinated by the natural history specimens pictured in this 18th c tapestry woven at the Gobelins factory in Paris.
Very much on holiday. Have barrelled through Kaliane Bradley’s Ministry of Time (supplied by the wonderful The Book Shop in Bridport) in something like 24 hours. Bliss.
April 8, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Very much on holiday. Have barrelled through Kaliane Bradley’s Ministry of Time (supplied by the wonderful The Book Shop in Bridport) in something like 24 hours. Bliss.
Still finding fun new (to me) things in the Darwin Archive (MS DAR 225: 179)
March 20, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Still finding fun new (to me) things in the Darwin Archive (MS DAR 225: 179)
Pleasantly surprised by this beauty while changing trains in Crewe
March 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pleasantly surprised by this beauty while changing trains in Crewe
Many thanks to @linneansociety.bsky.social and @zibaldoni.bsky.social for a fascinating evening thinking about naturalists’ notebooks (and a chance to see some of Linnaeus’!)
March 9, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Many thanks to @linneansociety.bsky.social and @zibaldoni.bsky.social for a fascinating evening thinking about naturalists’ notebooks (and a chance to see some of Linnaeus’!)
Pieris season begins 🥰
March 6, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Pieris season begins 🥰
French astronomer and writer Camille Flammarion was born on this day in 1842! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get to visit the observatory in his house thanks to Projet Archiflamm who will be making a digital edition of his papers. Can’t wait to see what they come up with!
February 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
French astronomer and writer Camille Flammarion was born on this day in 1842! A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to get to visit the observatory in his house thanks to Projet Archiflamm who will be making a digital edition of his papers. Can’t wait to see what they come up with!
Lovely dinner and exciting theatre. Perfect Friday evening in London!
February 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Lovely dinner and exciting theatre. Perfect Friday evening in London!
Several weeks later and I’m still thinking about Woven Histories: textiles and modern abstraction at @nationalgallerycan.bsky.social - especially struck by the work of Marilou Schultz and Jeffrey Gibson. It’s on til 2 March, so check it out if you’re in Ottawa!
January 20, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Several weeks later and I’m still thinking about Woven Histories: textiles and modern abstraction at @nationalgallerycan.bsky.social - especially struck by the work of Marilou Schultz and Jeffrey Gibson. It’s on til 2 March, so check it out if you’re in Ottawa!
RIP David Lynch. Thank you for making life feel weirder.
January 17, 2025 at 6:56 PM
RIP David Lynch. Thank you for making life feel weirder.
Christmas in Canada - walking in a winter wonderland
December 24, 2024 at 8:54 PM
Christmas in Canada - walking in a winter wonderland
A witch riding a snowball from a selection of stories and drawings made by and for the Darwin family (CUL MS DAR 185: 109/9)
December 17, 2024 at 3:37 PM
A witch riding a snowball from a selection of stories and drawings made by and for the Darwin family (CUL MS DAR 185: 109/9)
Cambridge people - Noshe, the new Afghan cafe on Mill Road, is delightful.
November 29, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Cambridge people - Noshe, the new Afghan cafe on Mill Road, is delightful.
Just as freaked out as everyone by the weirdly warm autumn, but I have to admit I’m enjoying the second flush on our raspberry buddleia.
October 6, 2023 at 12:45 PM
Just as freaked out as everyone by the weirdly warm autumn, but I have to admit I’m enjoying the second flush on our raspberry buddleia.
Hello, Clare Bridge. Good to see you again.
October 4, 2023 at 2:37 PM
Hello, Clare Bridge. Good to see you again.