As the weather continues to get nicer, here’s your reminder to not bring food into the library as it attracts unwanted visitors.
[Images from British entomology: being illustrations and descriptions of the genera of insects found in Great Britain and Ireland … Shelfmark: RBS N115 (CUR)]
An image of Professor Biscuit, the orange college cat of St Hugh's, visiting the Library Office.
Welcome back everyone! We hope you are feeling well rested and ready to hit the books. If you have any questions, feel free to come by the library office like Biscuit here.
Here are some highlights from the first issue of the JCR Newsletter ‘Hugh’s News’ from Michaelmas 2002. The tone and content of the various incarnations of the JCR publications have shifted over time in response to levels of student engagement and concern, ranging from the jocular to the serious.
And the winners are 🥁…
“The Eyes of Gaza”
“Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead”
“Wilting: a poetry memoir on love, loss, and grief“
We will add these and a few of the top performing books to our Pop Lit section. Keep an eye out for their arrival and display in the upcoming weeks. ✨📚✨
Our archival tour continues! Today we are looking at the evolution of sports and fashion. These two photographs of the St Hugh’s hockey team, taken in the 1900s and the 1920s, demonstrate the changing attitudes to women’s dress, sport and physical movement in the early twentieth century.
Get your voting fingers ready, the PopLit Poll is now live!
Click here to access the poll:
vote.easypolls.net/698c912afaa5...
The album was displayed in the JCR and students could purchase copies of the photographs to support the Scholarship and Fellowship Fund.
Today we continue on the tour of our exhibition to give you a peek at what the college looked like in the '20s. These photographs come from an album created in 1928, showing all the main parts of the College.
The Weston Library is currently celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th birthday with their latest exhibition titled “Dancing with Jane Austen.” Haven’t read Austin but feel inspired? Snag one of her books from our Austen display located in the library lobby!
Image from “The Castle of Health” (RBS BB20 (ELY))
Image from “The Castle of Health” (RBS BB20 (ELY))
Have a bit of the termly plague? Need a quick solution? Why not take some advice from Thomas Elyot’s 1778 edition of “The Castle of Health”.
[Note: please seek medical advice from a modern professional as early modern advice isn’t…well… always scientifically accurate.]
Photograph of the Dramatic Society’s production of Twelfth Night in the College gardens. Repeated returns to Shakespeare in the Society’s programme reflect both his lasting cultural significance and the enthusiasm of successive generations of student performers.
Illustrations by John Tenniel from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” (823/C23) & “Through the Looking Glass: And What Alice Found There” (823/C23).
Today is Lewis Carroll’s birthday! Did you know that we have two beautiful editions of his stories about the famous Alice in the Stacks? All Stack books are available for viewing, just ask library staff to retrieve them for you.
Explore a different time and space with our new historical fiction book display located in our library’s lobby.
This beautifully arranged exhibition will be on display till the end of term. Look out for future posts where we will highlight the amazing pictures showcased now.
Introducing our new exhibition ‘JCR, Sports, Societies.’ This Library exhibition for Hilary term traces the rich history of the JCR, sports, clubs and societies at St Hugh’s.
Oxford Clarion's "Cat map" of Oxford cats
I reckon you can learn a lot about the atmosphere in various Oxford colleges by looking at what they choose to name their cats (courtesy of @oxfordclarion.bsky.social ). We should all aspire to the energy of a Teabag, Isambard Kitten Brunel, or an Admiral Flapjack
oxfordclarion.uk/college-cats...
Dante’s “Comedy” has been influential throughout literature but have you read it? Pictured is an image from our 16th c. edition showcasing the 2nd circle of hell reserved for those who committed the sin of lust. Here, victims are subjected to a forceful, never-ending storm of wind.
(RBS JJ7 (DAN))
And the winner is 🥁…. "The Book of Dust: The Rose Field" by Philip Pullman! We will buy this and a few other high scorers from the list so keep an eye out for their arrival in the library.
🌟📖🌟
Today is the day to start voting! Pick which books you would like to see on the Popular Literature shelves. Poll closes Monday, 17th November at 9
am!
Link to vote:
tinyurl.com/mvpaau9z
Drumroll please 🥁… it’s time to reveal our Pop Lit shortlist!
It’s about that time! We are launching the Pop Lit Poll next week. Need to make a last minute request? Now’s the time. Please send suggestions via email or the Book Suggestion Form on the website. 🗳️
Happy Halloween!
Illustration from Predica dellarte del bene morire by Girolamo Savonarola (RBS HH6 SAV 6)
Learn more about mythical creatures and their attributes in our exhibition titled “St Hugh’s Library of Curiosities” on display until the end of term.
This beast is said to come from Ethiopia and India, and is not to be confused with the lion-like creature we often think of from Egyptian mythology. Topsell notes that “the sphynges are more meeke and gentle” creatures and carry their food in pockets found within their cheeks.
According to “The History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents” by Edward Topsell, “the Sphinx or sphinga is of the kinde of apes, hauing his body rough like Apes.”
Introducing our new part-time library team member Flapjack. She might have some difficulties retrieving your book requests since she lacks opposable thumbs. She’s trying her best though. 🐾
Take a step back in time to discover the histories of alchemy, death, language, and fantastical beasts in this term’s new exhibition titled “St Hugh’s Library of Curiosities”, on display until Hilary 2026.
Image from “The History of Great Britaine”, RBS KK5 (SPE)
October is #BlackHistoryMonth, a time of year when we celebrate the history and important contributions made by Black people. In honour of this year’s theme Pride in Our Roots, here are our recommendations for books on Black history.
BOTD Joan Harrison, alumna, contributor to Hitchcock film scripts and 1941 two-time Oscar nominee. (Alumni 791.43 LAN)