Ward Collection, Special Collections, Hartley Library: Home

Ward Collection

The focus of the Ward Collection is the Peninsular War (1808-1814). There are contemporary publications such as the Narrative of the Principal Events of the Campaigns of 1809, 1810 & 1811 by William Stothert (1812), histories of the war and memoirs of prominent figures,e.g. those of Field-Marshal Viscount Combermere and Sir William Napier and descriptions of battles and sieges, in some cases accompanied by detailed maps and plans such as J. Belmas Journaux des siéges faits ou soutenus par les Français dans la Péninsule, de 1807 à 1814 (1836-1837). Recent additions to the collection include contemporary Spanish pamphlets.

Secondary sources on the Peninsular War can also be found in the Ward Collection.

Extent: 280 books ranging in date from the early 19th century to the late 20th century.

Location and Access

The Ward Collection is part of Special Collections on level 4 of the Hartley Library and items are fetched for use in the Archives and Rare Books Search Room.

The Search Room 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.

Catalogue

Library Search includes records for all Ward Collection books. 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 Ward Collection, enter your search terms followed by B8: Ward Collection

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 Ward Collection for a complete list of titles.

Enquiries

For general enquiries about the Ward 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

Special Collections, Hartley Library, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ

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.

Collection History

Stephen George Peregrine Ward (1917-2008), who served in the Western Command during the Second World War, was a military historian and author of Wellington's Headquarters: a Study of the Administrative Problems in the Peninsula, 1809-1814 (Oxford, 1857). He also contributed numerous articles on the subject to Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research.

In 1946 he acquired many books on the Peninsular War from the library of Sir Charles Oman (1860-1946), the author of A History of the Peninsular War, 7v. (1902-1930) and presented these, together with his own collection of books and notes to the University Library.

Rare Books on the Peninsular War subsequently acquired by the Library are added to the Ward Collection.