Book and Journal Collections
Rare books, historic journals and artists’ books, alongside special collections on writing, arts education, Cornish culture, Victorian life and the history of film and cinema.
26 Characters Collection
Founded in 2003, 26 Characters Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation for writers. Words feature in the everyday work of many of the contributors who work as writers, authors, journalists, poets, designers and communication specialists but the group also encourages participation from anyone with a passion for words and writing. The name 26 was chosen as there are 26 letters in the English alphabet – 'the DNA of language'.
This growing Collection contains published works produced by the 26 group covering a diverse range of subjects and themes from children's literature, the armistice and the environment through to malt whiskey and postcodes. Publications showcase the creative dialogue between writers, words and language which is explored further in new ways through collaborations with other writers, artists, museums and organisations such as the London Underground and Woodland Trust. 26's projects are often created in response to the stimuli of a single idea, image, object or place with the transformative power of words explored not only in innovative and creative writing but also through the considered nature of the publications printed format and typography which shifts the emphasis and meaning of words in other ways.
This Collection will appeal to those with an interest in writing, illustration and graphic design but would also be of interest to anyone seeking fresh outlooks and approaches to often familiar subjects.
Archive details
- Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
- Materials from this Collection are available to view with us in Archives & Special Collections on Level 0, The Exchange.
- Some specialist format items from the Collection are only available by appointment please ask staff for further details.
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
Elmhirst Special Collection
The Elmhirst Special Collection is on loan from the Dartington Trust. The Collection comprises over 1300 items from the personal library of Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst. The Elmhirsts bought the Dartington Estate in 1925 and set about transforming the 14th century site, setting up farming and forestry projects alongside innovative and experimental educational and arts projects.
The Collection reflects the diverse and eclectic interests of the couple, with titles encompassing a wide range of subjects including poetry, anthropology, farming, educational theory, architecture and the Arts.
As such this collection has a wide appeal for many of the subjects taught at both Falmouth University and University of Exeter's Penryn Campus.
Archive details
- This Special Collection is available by appointment. Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
- Potential users may find it beneficial to undertake preparatory research prior to a visit. Suggested resources are available at Archives & Special Collections: Introductory Reading.
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
Roger Towe Illustrated Books Collection
Founded in 1993 by Librarian Roger Towe the former Head of Falmouth Campus Library, this Special Collection consists of approximately 800 rare and specialized illustrated books.
This genre of books was a personal passion for Towe who was a mine of information on the subject and beloved by students. The eclectic nature of this Collection includes publications from the Folio Society, Atlantic Press (set up by Steve Braund long time leader of MA Authorial Practice at Falmouth University) and many other high quality and innovative illustrated books.
This Collection also includes publications by guest speakers from the annual Illustration Forum and selected past students. The finest illustrated books tend to be, by their nature, authorial with Towe building the collection to encompass this alongside key examples of great illustration (eg: Sue Coe’s 'Pit’s Letter') and cutting edge examples of book illustration (eg: Martin Tom Dieck, David Shirley and Graham Rawle).
Archive details
- This Collection is held at the Falmouth Campus Library and is available for loan.
- The Collection is fully catalogued. Published books are searchable on the Library catalogue.
Explore more collections
Penryn Campus Library holds this exciting collection of special and unusual books relating to film and cinema history. Amongst this diverse collection are film annuals dating back to the 1940s, books about film stars from the days of silent films onwards, titles relating to various film genres such as westerns, science fiction, romance and musicals along with a range of novels that have been made into films. World cinema and animation are also well represented.
The Collection is an invaluable resource for those researching the history of film, cinema and popular culture including fashion and design, or for those just wanting to learn more about their favourite Hollywood star!
This Special Collection is largely available by appointment only. Those items within this Collection that are loanable should be requested via Library Search.
Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue
The Collection is formed from duplicates from the wider Bill Douglas and Peter Jewell Collection held at The Bill Douglas Cinema Museum at the University of Exeter's Streatham campus.
Potential users may find it beneficial to undertake preparatory research prior to a visit. Suggested resources are available at Archives & Special Collections: Introductory Reading.
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
Scrupulously amassed over many years by Brontë enthusiast Shelia Johnson, the Collection includes many editions of works written by Charlotte, Emily and Anne including well known novels such as Wuthering Heights and Jayne Eyre, along with lesser-known poetry.
The Collection contextualises this literary output through exhaustive biographies of the sisters and their brother Bramwell, and their childhood at the Parsonage in Haworth in Yorkshire as well as published volumes of correspondence. Other highlights include fiction inspired by the family and their work, such as the charming ‘The Brontës went to Woolworths’.
Alongside published titles the Collection also includes five volumes of archive material collected by Johnson, including photographs, postcards and news-cuttings.
English, History and Creative Writing students will find this Collection of particular interest.
This Special Collection is available by appointment.
The Collection is fully catalogued. Published books are searchable on the Library catalogue and the scrapbooks on the Archive catalogue.
For further information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
This Special Collection offers a range of texts related to all aspects of mining history and Cornish geology, as collected by Camborne School of Mines.
Highlights include J C Burrow’s seminal work on underground mining photography 'moungst mines and miners', Percy's 'Metallurgy' and several notable series of historic published reports and papers.
Alongside those studying Mining Engineering this Collection is of value to those studying local history and the impact of mining on Cornwall.
This Special Collection is largely available by appointment only. Those items within this Collection that are loanable should be requested via Library Search.
Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
Please do contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk for more details.
Selected from the private library of former University of Exeter Professor of Victorian Studies Chris Brooks, this large Special Collection features a wealth of published titles documenting all aspects of Victorian culture, including literature, history, architecture, art and design.
Also included are biographies of key political, literary and artistic figures alongside novels by many notable authors of the period such as Charles Dickens, Sir Walter Scott, Joseph Conrad, The Bronte's and Wilkie Colins.
The Collection is of great relevance to History, English and Writing students. In addition, the many beautifully bound and illustrated volumes are also of interest to those studying a wide range of arts courses. As such this Collection has a wide appeal across the many areas taught by both Falmouth University and University of Exeter's Penryn Campus.
This Special Collection is largely available by appointment only. Those items within this Collection that are loanable should be requested via Library Search.
Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
The Collection is formed of duplicates from the wider Chris Brooks Collection held at the University of Exeter's Streatham campus, which also contains a wealth of non-published material.
Potential users may find it beneficial to undertake preparatory research prior to a visit. Suggested resources are available at Archives & Special Collections: Introductory Reading.
For further information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
Penryn Campus Library holds a collection of publications written about, in, or inspired by, Cornwall.
Featured poets include established Cornish writers such as A. L Rowse, Jack Clemo, Charles Causley and Roger Venables alongside contemporary poets such as Rupert Lloydel and Penelope Shuttle.
The Collection's eclectic mix of poetry is of value not only to creative writers but also to those with an interest in traditional Cornish Stories, life in Cornish communities, feasts and festivals, local history and landscape.
The Cornish Poetry Collection is largely available by appointment only. Those items within this Collection that are loanable should be requested via Library Search.
The Collection is listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
The Archives & Special Collections Service in partnership with the Gorsedh Kernow has developed a Special Collection of published material produced by or about Cornish Bards.
This Collection consists of over 700 items on a variety of subjects such as poetry, music, performance, politics, history and Cornish language.
The many dictionaries, textbooks and Cornish language translations are a particular strength of the Collection and show the development and use of Cornish over time.
Small publications are also a great attribute of the Collection, produced in limited numbers and of a highly specialist nature the many self published or community publications highlight a whole array of interests and subjects.
The scope of the Collection is vast with a wide appeal so browsing is strongly encouraged to fully appreciate the incredible range of topics covered.
This Special Collection is available by appointment.
Items are listed and can be searched on the Library catalogue
Potential users may find it beneficial to undertake preparatory research prior to a visit. Suggested resources are available at Archives & Special Collections: Introductory Reading
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
Photo Credit: Gorsedh Kernow.
Penryn Campus Library and Falmouth Campus Library jointly hold this varied and eclectic collection. Spanning decades and an array of subjects the collection is a wonderful starting point for research, teaching, and historical study.
Whether you are gathering inspiration, or just have a general curiosity of what is within, the Historic Journals Collection offers a wealth of potential.
These include both well known titles such as Picture Post and smaller scale publications produced by local organisations such the Journal of the Old Cornwall Society.
A full list of the titles available can be found on our Library catalogue
If you would like to view items from these collections
For items at the Falmouth Campus please ask at the library issue desk
For items in Special Collections at the Penryn Campus these are currently view by appointment with us in Archives & Special Collections on Level 0, The Exchange.
Contact archives@fxplus.ac.uk for further details
Joy Nightingale taught pottery at Dartington Hall Trust's adult education course for over a decade. Having met and been influenced by potters such as Bernard Leach and Marianne de Trey, Nightingale would go on to be an accomplished potter in her own right. The creative environment of Dartington and Devon more broadly allowed Nightingale's practice to grow and develop. She would go on to set up a pottery in Totnes and became a member of the Devon Guild of Craftsmen (now Make Southwest) in the 1960s, designing and setting up two of their major summer exhibits at Dartington.
This Special Collection comprises of titles from Nightingale's personal library on pottery and fine and applied arts. These include texts on practical pottery techniques, individual potters such a Bernard Leach, Michael Cardew and Mary Rogers alongside a selection of books on art history, sculpture, painting and drawing.
This Collection has a strong appeal for those interested in applied arts and the development of creative practice.
This Special Collection is largely available by appointment only. Those items within this Collection that are loanable should be requested via Library Search.
Items are listed, and fully searchable, on the Library catalogue.
For more information please contact us at archives@fxplus.ac.uk
