Manuscripts and Special Collections

Featured Topic for Tuesday: Travellers and Tourists.

Loch Ranza Pier, Arran, from the Clyde notebook of Arthur T. Metcalfe, c.1904

Casting the spotlight on the experience of early travellers reveals Europe, site of the Grand Tour, as the destination of choice.

We see that in Britain road maps and city plans were available as guides, while accounts of scenic views demonstrate the increasing popularity of inland tourism in the 19th century.

The Kangaroo, Botany Bay

A kangaroo in 1787, an Abyssinian scene, and the natural beauty of Iceland reveal the draw of exotic destinations.

Those who travelled on official business left detailed accounts of their experiences. Private travellers such a English visitors to America in the 19th century, write about their impressions of different cultures.

We are reminded also that travellers came to Britain. Some visited briefly but others - such as George Africanus of Nottingham - settled into local communities.

Six Topics are Featured:

In Good Health
Travellers and Tourists
From the Cradle to the Grave
By Sword and Gun
A Literary Miscellany
From the University's History

About the Topics

In Good Health

In good health topic

The collections contain many items that show the changes in healthcare and medicine from the past several hundred years.

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Travellers and Tourists

Travellers and tourists topic

Maps, illustrations and travellers' accounts describe early explorations, the experience of visiting foreign countries, and the beginnings of tourism.

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From the Cradle to the Grave

Cradle to the grave topic

Changing experiences of birth and death, childhood and adult life, work and leisure, are illustrated in letters, images, and printed ephemera.

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By Sword and Gun

By sword and gun topic

Famous wars, and the personal experiences of fighting men, are described in original manuscript accounts, photographs, posters and published records.

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A Literary Miscellany

Literary miscellany topic

Local authors, including D H Lawrence, join literary figures of earlier centuries in a compilation featuring satire, drama, and ballad literature.

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From the University's History

University history topic

Memorable events in the history of the University of Nottingham are illustrated, from its civic college origins to current international activities.

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