#ExploreArchives
We have a new blogpost exploring the Papers of the Mountbatten Centre for International Studies and the issue of nuclear proliferation buff.ly/kxALKRe @explorearchives
https://specialcollectionsuniversityofsouthampton.wordpress.com/2026/09/11/the-papers-of-john-simpson-and-the-mcis/
specialcollectionsuniversityofsouthampton.wordpress.com
September 11, 2026 at 10:15 AM
A photo of Prince George of Battenberg on the deck of HMS Surprise in October 1901 #EYASurprise @explorearchives
Black and white photograph of Prince George of Battenberg, HMS SURPRISE
Black and white photograph of Prince George of Battenberg sitting on the shoulders of one of the officers of HMS SURPRISE, who is leaning against a bollard. Prince George is wearing a sailor suit an…
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August 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Today is Mount Everest Day - commemorating the day of the first successful summit of the mountain in 1953 - the Himalayas are visible in this photo from 1922 of the river running through Srinagar @explorearchives buff.ly/w9jqoqy
May 29, 2026 at 10:01 AM
Did you know that amongst all the treasured paper collections we hold, we also hold objects, such as this pair of stunning sheep earrings from our Montse Stanley collection! Baa! #UnusualArchives #Archive30 @ARAScot @explorearchives @arascot.bsky.social buff.ly/trVDC9x
April 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
For today's @ARAScot #SportsArchives theme, we post a photograph of the Makabi sport club from our Women's Campaign for Soviet Jewry collection. buff.ly/VQcg7Ju @explorearchives
April 9, 2026 at 10:05 AM
On 20 October 1970 buff.ly/rYZkCcf Lord Mountbatten spoke about the importance of nature conservation at an event held in the orangery at Broadlands - supporting the local group of the World Wildlife Fund #EYAWildlife @explorearchives
Speeches Luncheon, the Royal Overseas League Council Opening of Hyde Park Barracks, London Film premiere of WATERLOO in aid of the Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Families Association British Sub-Aqua Club, Southampton branch Royal Automobile Club luncheon for Sir Ian Frank Bowater, Lord Mayor of London Royal Thames Yacht Club laying up dinner Annual general meeting of the Soldiers', Sailors and Airmen's Families Association Launching of the gramophone record of THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LORD MOUNTBATTEN, Imperial War Museum, London World Wildlife Fund, Orangery Trafalgar night dinner, HMS WESSEX President's lunch, Romsey Show
Session inactive
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March 13, 2026 at 10:45 AM
On this day in 1984 Andropov was replaced by Chernenko as general secretary of the Communist Party of the USSR – the Women’s Campaign for Soviet Jewry targeted Andropov on this placard - 'Andropov - Pirate of...' answers on a postcard... @explorearchives @jwaonline.bsky.social
February 13, 2026 at 11:30 AM
These 1829 surveys show how British colonial doctors in Latin America helped destroy inclusive indigenous medical practises, in which gender and wealth played no role. In Britain, only wealthy men could be doctors.

#ExploreArchives #EYAInclusion
December 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
#EarlyModern recipe books reflect collective medical knowledge. Anyone of any gender, ethnicity, or status could practise medicine. But the founding of the RCP in 1518 was an attempt to stamp out this inclusive culture and ensure that only wealthy men could be doctors

#ExploreArchives #EYAInclusion
December 5, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Dr Pye-Smith’s scrapbook includes an ode by James Hadfield to Jack Squrriel, one of many pets he had while held in Bethlem for trying to assassinate George III. The British state would rather criminalise those with mental health conditions than support them in the community
#ExploreArchives #EYAPets
December 3, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Dog health in #EarlyModern recipe books! The 6th recipe down in the 1st image asserts that ox blood poured into an open wound ‘cureth ye scabs in dogs,’ and the treatment for mange involves train oil (from whales), soap, gunpowder, and flower of brimstone (sulphur)

#ExploreArchives #EYAPets
December 3, 2025 at 10:19 AM
In oral history recordings, silence can be as powerful as the words it punctuates. In this emotional clip, former RCP president Andrew Goddard speaks about losing his friend and colleague, Donal O’Donoghue, to #COVID.

#ExploreArchives #EYASilence

👉 history.rcp.ac.uk/exhibitions/...
December 2, 2025 at 2:02 PM
The first mention of #HIV/AIDS in RCP minutes is 6 years after the first AIDS-related death in Britain. The RCPs silence helped the state take advantage of the epidemic to spread fear, introduce queerphobic policies, and cut services such as healthcare

#ExploreArchives #EYASilence
December 2, 2025 at 12:34 PM
These beautiful plant drawings were made by an unnamed Chinese artist, possibly at the behest of colonialist John Bradby Blake in 1771-2. Ordinary sticky tape is a nightmare for archives, but acid-free repair tape can be used to patch up torn pages.

#ExploreArchives #EYAConservation
November 29, 2025 at 1:29 PM
It’s hard to remove archives safely from envelopes that open at 1 end. We’re repackaging with 4-flap folders that can be opened without damaging the contents. These letters from Eugène Dupuy to Charles Édouard Brown-Séquard can now be accessed more easily & safely

#ExploreArchives #EYAConservation
November 29, 2025 at 8:56 AM
21st November is World Television Day – we hold the papers of TV writer Norman J. Crisp under MS199 - he wrote episodes for `Dixon of Dock Green', `Dr Finlay's casebook, `Secret army' `Compact' and more... @explorearchives
Papers of Norman J. Crisp
Papers, 1954-92, including drafts of short stories from 1954; story outlines, scripts and correspondence relating to screenplays, including the film MURDER ELITE; drafts, research notes, corresponden…
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November 21, 2025 at 11:45 AM
On this day in 1834 King William IV dismissed Lord Melbourne’s government – the last time a British monarch would dismiss a government with a majority in the Commons – Wellington became a caretaker Prime Minister but urged Peel to return from Europe ASAP! buff.ly/PbQlDg4 @explorearchives
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November 14, 2025 at 11:43 AM
An @explorearchives theme for November is #EYASpirituality - so we share the prospectus of the second international conference of the World Congress of Faiths, held at UCL in July 6-17, 1936 @UCL
November 7, 2025 at 11:15 AM
The Battle of Kinburn in the Crimean War was fought 170 years ago last Friday and is referenced in a short letter (MS62/BR/30/22/8) sent to Palmerston from his wife Emily Mary, Lady Palmerston, written just four days after the battle @explorearchives
Letter from Emily Mary, Lady Palmerston, Broadlands, to her husband, Henry John Temple, third Viscount Palmerston: Crimean War: victory at Kinburn; Minny and Lord Ashley
Letter from Emily Mary, Lady Palmerston, Broadlands, to her husband, Henry John Temple, third Viscount Palmerston, on the victory at Kinburn in the Crimean War; Minny and Lord Ashley. \[Transcript…
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October 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Today is the UN's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - poverty was far more widespread in nineteenth century Britain and produced some interesting speculation on potential remedies (MS61/WP1/982/8): buff.ly/bqzcyiP @explorearchives
October 17, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Two hundred years ago today Pierre Louis, Comte Roederer, wrote to the Duke of Wellington on the proposed duel between Francis I of France and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor – this took place 300 years earlier in 1525 @explorearchives buff.ly/Mz7Yq4l
October 10, 2025 at 2:00 PM
200 years ago today the Stockton and Darlington Railway officially opened - the world’s first public railway to use steam locomotives – a Special Collections railway-themed blog will be coming down the line next month... @explorearchives
September 27, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Special Collections will be hosting a pop-up event in the foyer of the Hartley Library on our Highfield campus next week - these will be from 11:00 - 11:30 Mon 29th Sep - Thu 2nd Oct - an opportunity to find out more about our Archives and Special Collections @explorearchives
September 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
September 22nd – 24th is Rosh Hashanah so we share this anthology of ‘Penitence, Prayer & Charity’ taken from the archives of Rabbi Abraham Levy @explorearchives buff.ly/axYP0h0
September 22, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day buff.ly/HzXlCXP , so we share this letter buff.ly/0vSij8Z written to the Duke on buried treasure at Corunna MS61/WP2/79/107 @explorearchives
International Talk Like a Pirate Day - Wikipedia
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September 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM