Celebrating the launch of the Special Collections and Archives online catalogue
2nd December 2016
Last night saw the successful launch of the new Special Collections and Archives online catalogue. Three of the University’s archive collections have already been catalogued – the University Archive Miscellaneous Donations collection; the Cyder Press Collection and the Dymock Poets Special Collection.
Last night focused on the Dymock Poets collection – a unique gathering of material on famous poets such as Rupert Brooke, Robert Frost and Edward Thomas who lived in and visited the Gloucestershire village of Dymock during the summer of 1914. The collection not only documents this “brief idyll”, but covers the lives of the poets and the ensuing century of interest they have generated.
Archivist Louise Hughes says “We are so lucky as an institution to have such a fantastic archive dedicated to these world-renowned poets and their Gloucestershire connections. Not only do we have a wealth of published material by and criticism of the poets, we have original drafts of poetry, unpublished letters and private photographs – completely unique and held here at the University. Our new online catalogue has enabled this and other collections to be opened up to researchers both here and all over the world. It is a major milestone.”
Staff and students read poetry by the Dymock Poets and were joined by members of the Edward Thomas Fellowship and Friends of the Dymock Poets. The great turnout, mulled wine and festive treats made it a fitting celebration.