Behind Closed Doors: Exploring Archives and Special Collections and the Earth, Sea, Sky Exhibition

This hour-long session will include a guided “behind the scenes” tour of the department to our specialist storage area and Conservation studio with time to explore our Earth, Sea and Sky exhibition. Our exhibition features material of a number of ‘citizen scientists’ such as Revd Gilbert White whose work is said to have a profound influence on that of Charles Darwin. You can enjoy the development of nautical charts, the result of expeditions such as those to the Arctic in the 1820s as recorded by William Mogg. You will also have a glimpse of the deep and maritime archaeology in action as we look at the excavation of the Punic ship in Marsala, in which Honor Frost played a significant role. We will be providing curator talks for the exhibition and there will be a self-guided treasure hunt!

Timings

Monday 14 September:

1100-1200

Tuesday 15 September:

1100-1200, 1400-1500

Location & directions

Hartley Library, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1BJ

Directions:

We are situated on Level 4 of the Hartley Library but we'll meet you at the Library main reception.

Contact on day:

Karen Robson

Telephone number:

+442380592721

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Please email [email protected] to book a place, stating your name and which Heritage Open Day Archives and Special Collections tour you would like to attend out of Monday 14 September, 11am-12pm; Tuesday 15 September, 11am-12pm or Tuesday 15 September, 2pm-3pm. If you are booking for more than one person, please state the names of all people you are booking for. We will send you a booking confirmation, followed by joining instructions closer to the date of your tour.

Booking contact name:

University of Southampton Archives and Special Collections Team

Booking telephone number:

+442380592721

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking opens:

01 Jun 2026 06:00 AM

Booking closes:

06 Sep 2026 05:00 PM

Accessibility details

Parking will be available but it will be an issue on site due to the British Science Festival taking place on the same dates, as well as it being the first week of term (Freshers Week). Attendees encouraged to use public transport or walk, not drive.

Additional information

Do check out our talk we are hosting on the same day: "Apples galore! Searching for heritage varieties in Southampton" https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/apples-galore-searching-for-heritage-varieties-in-southampton-tickets-1990567163972 This will take place on Monday 14 September at 6pm. Do you have apple trees in your garden? Find out how Apple Day started at Sholing Valleys, which led to a relationship with Chris Bird of Sparsholt College, and a joint hunt for the rare local apple variety, the Beauty of Bitterne. What did they uncover in the pomological treasures within our Archives?

Max number of people:

15

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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