Salisbury Collection
The Salisbury Collection focuses on British floras at a national and local level. Most counties are represented and there are also floras for individual towns and cities, e.g. Thomas Hall A Flora of Liverpool (1839). Listings of the ferns, mosses, algae, lichens and fungi found in Britain are included. There are also examples of national floras of Spain, Germany and Russia.
Many of the earlier publications come from the Perkins Botanical Collection and amongst these are examples of herbals, practical field guides and books of botanical instruction in the form of 'botanical dialogues', e.g. Botanical Dialogues Between Hortensia and her Four Children (1797).
Extent: Over 500 books, ranging in date from the 17th century to the 20th century.
Location and Access
The Salisbury Collection is part of Special Collections on level 4 of the Hartley Library.
Special Collections Open Access Area - material in this area can be used by members of the University whenever the Hartley Library is open. Access for visitors is between 08.00-22.00 and photo ID is required when signing in at Library Reception. If you are under 18 please contact libenqs@soton.ac.uk with your enquiry.
Archives and Rare Books Search Room - this is open Tuesday-Thursday 10.00-16.00. Visits are by prior appointment and all visitors will be required to book their visit and to order their material by 12 noon 1 working day (weekdays) in advance. There is information on how to book an appointment at Visiting Special Collections.
Our computer workstations are only available to University staff and students, but you can connect your own device to the free WiFi Guest service.
Catalogue
Library Search includes records for all Salisbury Collection books and journals. It enables you to search the Library's printed books, journals and electronic resources at the same time. Access to e-resources is limited to staff and students of the University.
To limit a search to the Salisbury Collection, enter your search terms followed by B8: Salisbury
By using Advanced Search, you can undertake a more targeted search by selecting search indexes from drop-down lists and by presetting filters for format and date.
See Salisbury Collection for a list of titles on Library Search.
Borrowing Books
Most Salisbury Collection books in the open access area are available for Standard Loan.
If you have a University I.D./Library Card you can borrow books at the Loans Desk or at the self-issue units on level 2.
Reprographics Service
You can request digital photographs of rare books, subject to the age and condition of the item.
See Reprographics Service for a list of the types of copy available and charges.
Enquiries
For general enquiries about the Salisbury Collection contact: Jenny Ruthven email: archives@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80593335
Search Room Bookings: email: archives@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80592721
Address: Special Collections, Hartley Library, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
Collection History
The Salisbury Collection brings together the botanical books donated by Sir Edward Salisbury to the Biomedical Sciences Library in 1978 and those presented by the family of Walter Frank Perkins to the University College of Southampton in 1948.
Sir Edward Salisbury (1886-1978) was a founder member of the British Ecological Society, who researched and wrote on woodland ecology, and with F.E. Fritsch, compiled a number of botanical textbooks during the 1920s. His later publication, Living Garden (1935) contributed to his appointment as Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in 1943, a position he held until his retirement in 1956.
Walter Frank Perkins (1865-1946) was born in Southampton and was educated at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. He later worked as a surveyor in Southampton and was elected as the Member of Parliament for the New Forest in 1910. From 1928 to 1933, Perkins was the Treasurer of the University College of Southampton and presented his larger collection of agricultural books to the College in 1946.
Rare Books Salisbury Coll. QK 92