For enquiries about University Collection contact:
Jenny Ruthven
email: archives@soton.ac.uk or tel. 023 80593335
Address:
Special Collections, Hartley Library, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
Second copies of books are available for Long Loan.
If you have a University ID/Library card you can borrow books at the Loans Desk or at the self-issue units on level 2.
Printed Collections
Archive Collections
See the Archives Guide
Collections include:
The collection includes publications by and about the University and its predecessors, the Hartley Institution, Hartley University College and the University College of Southampton.
There are publications on the controversy surrounding the original Hartley Bequest, official publications such as calendars, annual reports, newsletters and exam papers, staff publications e.g. Viewpoint and some examples of early student publications e.g. Southampton University College Magazine 1914-1928.
The photographic collection includes photos of people associated with the institution and of the buildings of the original Hartley Institution and the site at Highfield.
Extent: Approximately 2,000 books, pamphlets, periodicals and ephemera. Approximately 600 photographs.
University Collection is part of Special Collections on level 4 of the Hartley Library.
The books and journals are shelved in the Special Collections open access area and can be used whenever the Library is open.
Photographs are fetched for use in the Archives Search Room which is also on level 4. The Search Room is open Tuesday to Thursday 10.00-15.00. Access is strictly by appointment, which must be made 5 working days in advance. Contact archives@soton.ac.uk to order material.
COVID-19 and External Users
Social distancing measures mean that our libraries have reduced capacity and we regret that at present we are unable to offer access to the University Collection books shelved in the Special Collections open access area to alumni, members of the public, External Borrowers and SCONUL Access Users. Rare Books can be used strictly by appointment. Please contact archives@soton.ac.uk to make an appointment or with any enquiries.
If you do not have a University I.D. Card, you will need to show photographic I.D. and a form of I.D. which includes your permanent residential address when you enter the Hartley Library and also when you arrive at the Search Room.
University Collection books are listed in the card catalogue next to the collection; post-1980 acquisitions and all journals are listed on WebCat and have the call number prefix Univ. Coll.
The photographs are listed in the printed Local Illustrations Index, which is shelved next to the WebCats in Special Collections open access area.
The University of Southampton has its origins in the Hartley Institution, founded in 1862 from the bequest of a local merchant, Henry Robinson Hartley. Originally accommodated in a building on Southampton's High Street, the Hartley University College (as it had become), moved to the current Highfield site in the years either side of the First World War.
In 1952 the University received its Royal Charter and became an independent University, having at that time around 1,000 students. Over the last sixty years this number has increased to over 24,000 students, there being more than 16,000 undergraduates over 7,000 postgraduate students. The University has expanded on to five campuses, which accommodate its eight Faculties.
Univ. Coll. per LF 789.9
The nearest copier is behind the main staircase on level 4.
If you are not a member of the University, you will need to set up a guest account online, see Hartley Library: Visitors
Rare Books Univ. Coll. LF 785.6