This week, library and digital assistant Alexandra Brummitt takes a look at our special edition of Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus published in 1831. She discusses the life and inspirations of author Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the first science fiction writer. Frankenstein or, The Modern Prometheus written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, (born Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin) is…
Category: Collections
Banned books!
This week on the blog we share details of a lovely display curated by staff in our Business and Intellectual Property department (BIPC) for Banned Books Week 2023 (October 1 – 7), using some treasures from our Central Library collections. The display is available to view on the 2nd floor of the Central Library. This is the…
Opening the textile heritage of Leeds
We’re still recovering from our amazing but very-busy Open Day last Saturday, part of our Heritage Open Day (HOD) Week offer. We’ll be bringing you a full round-up of that day, and all our other wonderful HOD events in a few weeks – but today we can share a small snapshot of what we’ve been…
The Chimney Corner: Secret Books from the Secret Library #7
The latest in an occasionally-regular series exploring books and other items selected from our vast collections. In this entry Librarian Antony Ramm looks at a language phrase book from the 18th-century and, in particular, one intriguing handwritten note… This week’s entry in the Chimney Corner series is what appears to be an 18th-century Latin-to-French phrasebook,…
Heritage Open Days 2023
Every September we get very excited about the Heritage Open Days festival, which this year runs from 8th – 17th September. This sees thousands of staff and volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE…
The Chimney Corner: Secret Books from the Secret Library #6
The sixth in a newly-regular series exploring books and other items selected from our vast collections. In this entry Librarian Antony Ramm looks at an intriguing work of natural history from the late-18th century… This is an interesting volume, one whose full title according to our catalogue entry is The Natural History of the Frog…
Tea & Entertainment in the Matthewman Collection
Library Assistant Becky Bavill introduces us to the Matthewman Collection in the Local & Family History Library. This card is part of the Matthewman Collection (SR Q 942.75 35449659). Alfred Earnest Matthewman was born in 1868. He was a solicitor who also worked as part of the Town Clerks Office in Leeds. An active member…
The Leeds Mercury: Making the news, but not yet as we know it
This week we hear from regular guest contributor Tony Scaife, who has been exploring the history of an important local news publication… Leeds’ had two newspapers – the Leeds Mercury and the Leeds Intelligencer – for most of the 18th century. I have been fortunate enough to spend some time with the Local and Family…
The Secret Library | Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog 