John Rylands Research Institute and Library
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social
Promoting world-leading research using the unique special collections of The University of Manchester Library.
Open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Open to visitors Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Pinned
Welcome to the official Bluesky account for the John Rylands Research Institute and Library. 👋
Follow us for the unique special collections from the University of Manchester Library, world-leading research and this wonderful neo-Gothic building.
#HelloBluesky
Follow us for the unique special collections from the University of Manchester Library, world-leading research and this wonderful neo-Gothic building.
#HelloBluesky
In our latest blog, visiting researcher Dr José Álvarez reflects on his three month stay at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library where he explored the life of social reformer Robert Owen (1771-1858).
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
November 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
In our latest blog, visiting researcher Dr José Álvarez reflects on his three month stay at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library where he explored the life of social reformer Robert Owen (1771-1858).
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Read the full blog here: rylandscollections.com/2025/11/14/a...
Big book install today...
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Big book install today...
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This is James John Audubon’s Birds of America, with life-sized illustrations. Supported by a bespoke cradle, the book is open showing the Great Blue Heron.
Find this book in the Collections Gallery. Open Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
In our latest Frankland family archive blog, we explore Grace Frankland’s pioneering work as a bacteriologist - she wrote extensively for both academic and popular audiences, advocating for public understanding of microbes in everyday life.
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Rylands BlogGrace Frankland and the wonderful world of microbes
Archivist James Peters writes about Grace Frankland and her work as a scientist, focusing on her often neglected contribution as a science communicator
ow.ly
November 7, 2025 at 1:36 PM
In our latest Frankland family archive blog, we explore Grace Frankland’s pioneering work as a bacteriologist - she wrote extensively for both academic and popular audiences, advocating for public understanding of microbes in everyday life.
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Blog: ow.ly/IQz650XolqQ
Last few days to visit The Secret Public. The exhibition explores the influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists on mainstream pop culture. 🏳️🌈
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Last few days to visit The Secret Public. The exhibition explores the influence of LGBTQ performers, artists and activists on mainstream pop culture. 🏳️🌈
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
Free entry. Visit Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm. Open until Saturday 15 November 2025.
📓Gay Power, 1970 with cover photo by Diana Davies
We’re making some changes in the Collections Gallery. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see new books, manuscripts and archives on display.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
November 3, 2025 at 10:40 AM
We’re making some changes in the Collections Gallery. Over the next few weeks, you’ll see new books, manuscripts and archives on display.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
The gallery will be open as usual Wednesday-Saturday.
🗺️First to install today is this colourful Japanese map showing the city of Edo from 1860.
Reposted by John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Our final blog post celebrating The Bulletin of
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
October 30, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Our final blog post celebrating The Bulletin of
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
@thejohnrylands.bsky.social going #OpenAccess is out!
This week, Medievalist Dr Ingrid Rembold highlights issue 99:2, with articles on Lorenzo Opimo and the challenges of printing Machiavelli's work.
Read the blog post👇
What was in the news on 30 October 1819? Prices from Liverpool Corn Exchange, a notice from a disgruntled husband...
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
October 30, 2025 at 9:35 AM
What was in the news on 30 October 1819? Prices from Liverpool Corn Exchange, a notice from a disgruntled husband...
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
The Manchester Observer (1818-1822) was a radical newspaper. Explore digitised editions on Manchester Digital Collections: https://ow.ly/zujU50XimeP
Forget Christmas gifts, Queen Elizabeth I gave New Year gifts.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
October 28, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Forget Christmas gifts, Queen Elizabeth I gave New Year gifts.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
This long parchment roll lists the gifts given and received in 1559.
Among the gifts received was a velvet-bound book with silver clasps.
See this item in the Collections Gallery. Visit Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Free entry.
Upcoming events at The Rylands…
You Ought to Know- Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories
Thursday 6 November 20205, 6-7.30pm
Free, book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/you-ought-...
You Ought to Know- Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories
Thursday 6 November 20205, 6-7.30pm
Free, book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/you-ought-...
You Ought To Know – Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories
This event is part of the ESRC Festival of Social Sciences 2025.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Upcoming events at The Rylands…
You Ought to Know- Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories
Thursday 6 November 20205, 6-7.30pm
Free, book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/you-ought-...
You Ought to Know- Reclaiming Black British Music His and Herstories
Thursday 6 November 20205, 6-7.30pm
Free, book here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/you-ought-...
“Courage, vision, planning & fearless work”: the Congress Lives On.
📅 Mon 3 Nov | Manchester Central Library
With Gary Younge, Young Identity & Shirley May.
Reflection, resistance & creativity to honour Black histories & the 1945 Pan-African Congress. ✊🏾
📅 Mon 3 Nov | Manchester Central Library
With Gary Younge, Young Identity & Shirley May.
Reflection, resistance & creativity to honour Black histories & the 1945 Pan-African Congress. ✊🏾
October 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM
In our latest blog, Dr Naomi Baker writes about Rose Thurgood’s conversion narrative from 1636-7, which gives us a rare insight into religious women’s lives and beliefs in the decades before the English Civil War.
Blog: https://ow.ly/Pt7i50Xcva4
Dr Baker's latest book: https://ow.ly/ltyT50Xcvnm
Blog: https://ow.ly/Pt7i50Xcva4
Dr Baker's latest book: https://ow.ly/ltyT50Xcvnm
October 17, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In our latest blog, Dr Naomi Baker writes about Rose Thurgood’s conversion narrative from 1636-7, which gives us a rare insight into religious women’s lives and beliefs in the decades before the English Civil War.
Blog: https://ow.ly/Pt7i50Xcva4
Dr Baker's latest book: https://ow.ly/ltyT50Xcvnm
Blog: https://ow.ly/Pt7i50Xcva4
Dr Baker's latest book: https://ow.ly/ltyT50Xcvnm
It’s Tuesday and there’s another post on the blog to celebrate the Bulletin of @thejohnrylands.bsky.social going fully #OpenAccess🔓
This week, Dr Janette Martin writes on Bulletin 74:2, The Manchester Guardian archives as a search-engine of the pre-digital age.
Read the blog post: bit.ly/46PfNdJ
This week, Dr Janette Martin writes on Bulletin 74:2, The Manchester Guardian archives as a search-engine of the pre-digital age.
Read the blog post: bit.ly/46PfNdJ
BJRL Goes Open Access: Dr Janette Martin on The Manchester Guardian - Manchester University Press
BJRL 74:2 is now Open Access on Manchesterhive.
bit.ly
October 16, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Dr Zoe Screti and Dr Gillian Pink from the Voltaire Foundation have unearthed an intriguing mystery relating to three Voltaire letters - one that requires analysing the handwriting, folding techniques, and seals of several letters to investigate.
Blog: https://ow.ly/2uVq50XaTRA
Blog: https://ow.ly/2uVq50XaTRA
October 14, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Dr Zoe Screti and Dr Gillian Pink from the Voltaire Foundation have unearthed an intriguing mystery relating to three Voltaire letters - one that requires analysing the handwriting, folding techniques, and seals of several letters to investigate.
Blog: https://ow.ly/2uVq50XaTRA
Blog: https://ow.ly/2uVq50XaTRA
🐝 Knowledge. Wisdom. Humanity. 🐝
The new term is well underway, and we are here to support you in your studies! 📖
Get started with our Special Collections here: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/special-collections/using-the-reading-rooms/
The new term is well underway, and we are here to support you in your studies! 📖
Get started with our Special Collections here: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/special-collections/using-the-reading-rooms/
October 13, 2025 at 8:14 AM
🐝 Knowledge. Wisdom. Humanity. 🐝
The new term is well underway, and we are here to support you in your studies! 📖
Get started with our Special Collections here: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/special-collections/using-the-reading-rooms/
The new term is well underway, and we are here to support you in your studies! 📖
Get started with our Special Collections here: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/special-collections/using-the-reading-rooms/
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, reminding us of a pertinent blog post from 2022 by Dr Anna Jamieson about the mental health of women in 18th- and 19th-century England.
Read the blog here: https://ow.ly/2wvr50X9MYH
📸 Louisa Murray, a.k.a. Lady Stormont, by John Raphael Smith
Read the blog here: https://ow.ly/2wvr50X9MYH
📸 Louisa Murray, a.k.a. Lady Stormont, by John Raphael Smith
October 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay, reminding us of a pertinent blog post from 2022 by Dr Anna Jamieson about the mental health of women in 18th- and 19th-century England.
Read the blog here: https://ow.ly/2wvr50X9MYH
📸 Louisa Murray, a.k.a. Lady Stormont, by John Raphael Smith
Read the blog here: https://ow.ly/2wvr50X9MYH
📸 Louisa Murray, a.k.a. Lady Stormont, by John Raphael Smith
Come to our annual Poetry Reading delivered by Mimi Khalvati. Her poetry is inspired by everything from her Persian background to travels in the Mediterranean.
📅Thursday 23 October, 7.00pm
🎟️Free, book here: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/mimi-khalvati-rylands-poetry-reading
📅Thursday 23 October, 7.00pm
🎟️Free, book here: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/mimi-khalvati-rylands-poetry-reading
October 9, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Come to our annual Poetry Reading delivered by Mimi Khalvati. Her poetry is inspired by everything from her Persian background to travels in the Mediterranean.
📅Thursday 23 October, 7.00pm
🎟️Free, book here: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/mimi-khalvati-rylands-poetry-reading
📅Thursday 23 October, 7.00pm
🎟️Free, book here: https://manchesterliteraturefestival.co.uk/events/mimi-khalvati-rylands-poetry-reading
Looks like a great event over at Manchester Central Library.
📰🗞️Featuring material from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social
📰🗞️Featuring material from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social
The People’s Papers: Revisiting 1970s Manchester
Explore the activist & community print culture that helped shape Greater Manchester, with PhD researcher Arielle Lawson (@peoplespapers)
📅 Mon 4 Nov
🕕 6–8 PM
📍 Manchester Histories Hub, Central Library
Free & open to all! Book: bit.ly/PeoplesPapers
Explore the activist & community print culture that helped shape Greater Manchester, with PhD researcher Arielle Lawson (@peoplespapers)
📅 Mon 4 Nov
🕕 6–8 PM
📍 Manchester Histories Hub, Central Library
Free & open to all! Book: bit.ly/PeoplesPapers
October 7, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Looks like a great event over at Manchester Central Library.
📰🗞️Featuring material from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social
📰🗞️Featuring material from @wcmlibrary.bsky.social and @aiucentre.bsky.social
In our latest blog, ECR Fellow Arianna Tozzi delves into a lesser-explored aspect of Manchester’s cotton archives to investigate how imperial botanists helped advance agricultural research that supported the spread of plantation crops like cotton in 19thC Britain.
Blog: https://ow.ly/hGLK50X642P
Blog: https://ow.ly/hGLK50X642P
October 3, 2025 at 10:37 AM
In our latest blog, ECR Fellow Arianna Tozzi delves into a lesser-explored aspect of Manchester’s cotton archives to investigate how imperial botanists helped advance agricultural research that supported the spread of plantation crops like cotton in 19thC Britain.
Blog: https://ow.ly/hGLK50X642P
Blog: https://ow.ly/hGLK50X642P
Thursday 9 October, 5.30pm celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBT Foundation
🎶🎧📚We’re creating a playlist so bring your vinyl and CDs for our DJ to spin. See collections from the Rylands and the Foundation.
Book free tickets here: https://ow.ly/qz6650X3Gfm
🎶🎧📚We’re creating a playlist so bring your vinyl and CDs for our DJ to spin. See collections from the Rylands and the Foundation.
Book free tickets here: https://ow.ly/qz6650X3Gfm
Community Playlist Live!
Celebrate LGBT Foundation's 50th anniversary, and John Rylands' exhibition of LGBTQ+ pop, by helping us build the ultimate LGBTQ+ playlist!
ow.ly
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Thursday 9 October, 5.30pm celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBT Foundation
🎶🎧📚We’re creating a playlist so bring your vinyl and CDs for our DJ to spin. See collections from the Rylands and the Foundation.
Book free tickets here: https://ow.ly/qz6650X3Gfm
🎶🎧📚We’re creating a playlist so bring your vinyl and CDs for our DJ to spin. See collections from the Rylands and the Foundation.
Book free tickets here: https://ow.ly/qz6650X3Gfm
Sci-fi and Satire! : In this week's blog post, Early Career Fellow at the John Rylands (2024-2025) @roseannakettle.bsky.social
writes about William Gifford's fascinating satirical work on the topic of gaslight technology in Georgian London.
Blog: ow.ly/Ln1850X2H0X
writes about William Gifford's fascinating satirical work on the topic of gaslight technology in Georgian London.
Blog: ow.ly/Ln1850X2H0X
September 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Sci-fi and Satire! : In this week's blog post, Early Career Fellow at the John Rylands (2024-2025) @roseannakettle.bsky.social
writes about William Gifford's fascinating satirical work on the topic of gaslight technology in Georgian London.
Blog: ow.ly/Ln1850X2H0X
writes about William Gifford's fascinating satirical work on the topic of gaslight technology in Georgian London.
Blog: ow.ly/Ln1850X2H0X
📰Love local papers? Join this online event...
Join us for an online People's Papers research project workshop to learn about the history of 1970s alternative newspapers, their archival preservation & their continued relevance for today. All welcome! Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/archiving-...
September 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
📰Love local papers? Join this online event...
In his latest blog post on the Frankland Family Archive, John Rylands archivist James Peters talks about Sir Edward Frankland's time analysing London waters, and how he indirectly paved the way for the public control of London’s water.
Blog: ow.ly/9n3k50WYNVG
Blog: ow.ly/9n3k50WYNVG
Rylands BlogSir Edward Frankland: water, politics and profits
Archivist James Peters talks about Sir Edward Frankland’s career in the surprisingly politically charged subject of analysing water pollution levels
ow.ly
September 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
In his latest blog post on the Frankland Family Archive, John Rylands archivist James Peters talks about Sir Edward Frankland's time analysing London waters, and how he indirectly paved the way for the public control of London’s water.
Blog: ow.ly/9n3k50WYNVG
Blog: ow.ly/9n3k50WYNVG
Great to see our founder Enriqueta Rylands getting a bit of attention... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The unknown Manchester lady who funded a Hogswart-style library
How Cuban-born Enriqueta Rylands spent more than £100m to set up the John Rylands Library.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Great to see our founder Enriqueta Rylands getting a bit of attention... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Joint exhibition with www.stuartlindenrhodes.com and @jonshard on until October 5th at Manchester Spinningfields. Some the photography courtesy of @universityofmanchester @thejohnrylands.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Joint exhibition with www.stuartlindenrhodes.com and @jonshard on until October 5th at Manchester Spinningfields. Some the photography courtesy of @universityofmanchester @thejohnrylands.bsky.social
In our latest blog, senior photographer Tony Richards explains how the Imaging Team at the Rylands created a 3D representation of Cuneiform 931 (a tablet from the Old Babylonian period) for an exhibition by the @wellcomecollection.bsky.social
in London. Blog: ow.ly/zS7B50WVCfk
in London. Blog: ow.ly/zS7B50WVCfk
September 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In our latest blog, senior photographer Tony Richards explains how the Imaging Team at the Rylands created a 3D representation of Cuneiform 931 (a tablet from the Old Babylonian period) for an exhibition by the @wellcomecollection.bsky.social
in London. Blog: ow.ly/zS7B50WVCfk
in London. Blog: ow.ly/zS7B50WVCfk