‘The Archives show the history of the school in objects. The Fellows’ Library books were useful to me to show how other generations lived. The value of the objects we saw increased as I explored the different exhibits.’ Joe Atkinson, Year 7 Books are brought into lessons as well. The material does not only illustrate learning but allows contact with the objects as stimulation, which some will remember much better as a result. Upper School boys have been exploring Classics texts from the Library in early editions of their A–level authors. Societies ask for displays and talks based on original material from the collection. English hosts a display of John Donne and John Milton books to illustrate their world and the part religion played in it. Our holdings of 17th century English literature are important, going back to our Founder’s era, and the Reformation texts bring home the violence of belief in that time. The ‘Wondrous to Behold’ Lent show exhibited, some for the first time, 50 early science books surrounded by a host of objects to set them in context. This minor blockbuster attracted significant numbers of pupils, and from such shows come many enquiries; individual boys can examine material interesting to them on private visits.
The Archive and Fellows’ Library
Since 2006, the Archive has been used increasingly as a resource in the College curriculum from DUCKS right through to the Sixth Form. Sometimes the boys have visits to the Archive or material from the Archive is taken into the classroom. In addition, the pupils have many opportunities to study the archival material either through displays and exhibitions or during research following-up personal interests. The Fellows’ Library has a collection of some 6,000 books and perhaps the most exciting aspect of this is to see the boys’ sense of wonder and amazement when viewing the material ‘hands on’ in open displays (which allow judicious turning of pages, under supervision). The questions they ask reveal that for many what they are examining is from a world and culture that is strange and far removed from their modern digital experience. Our material can help to explain the past and how earlier ages treated almost every subject they study and how the content of their present day syllabuses came about. Each year, the Year 7 boys come to see two displays of some 10 books each to show the history of Mathematics, in a series of text books dating from 1522 to the 19th century, and key features of their medieval history course, from 14th century manuscripts to how the Victorians treated the Middle Ages.
Hands-on access to material in the Archives can be very inspiring.
Many boys enjoy the role of pupil librarian.
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