University of Southampton
Address
Southampton
England
SO17 1BJ
United Kingdom
Phone
+1 23 8059 2721
Fax
History
The Hartley Library is located on Highfield campus and is one of the largest university libraries in southern England, with extensive holdings of printed books, journals and online resources. The library also houses the main Archive and Special Collections which has an extensive collection of 6.5 million historic manuscript items and over 50,000 printed books. Sections of Hartley were designed by the architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, who was also known for Cambridge University Library, Battersea Power Station and the iconic red telephone box.
Geographical and Cultural Context
The Parkes Collections form the basis of one of the Hartley Library's special collections at the University of Southampton.
The archive and library contains a wealth of material of interest to the historian of Anglo-Jewry as well as James Parkes's personal papers. In recent years, the Parkes Collections have developed as a place of deposit for archives concerning nineteenth and twentieth century Anglo-Jewry. Of particular interest are materials relating to national and international organisations and to Jewish individuals. These include the papers of Anglo-Jewish leaders, such as Selig Brodetsky, Neville Laski and Chief Rabbi Joseph Hertz, and those of some of its most important institutions: the Anglo-Jewish Association, the Board of Guardians for the Relief of the Jewish Poor and the London Board of Shechita.
The Parkes Library remains unique since it is the only collection devoted to the relationships between the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds. It includes books by most of the important writers on Jewish history from the fifteenth century to the present day. The most important sections of the collection are those dealing with the history of Jewish communities, Jewish-Christian relations, antisemitism and the Holocaust, together with a section on the development of Zionism and the history of Palestine up to and including the foundation of the state of Israel.
Records Management and Collecting Policies
The archive holdings of the University of Southampton and its predecessor, the University College of Southampton and the Hartley Institution, dates back to the 1860s, soon after the foundation of the Hartley Institution. That said, over 95% of the present holdings of manuscripts, which now number some 7 million items, have been received since March 1983.
Building(s)
The Special Collections Division is situated on Level 4 of the Hartley Library at the University's Highfield site. There are two main areas: the Special Collections Open Access area houses the more modern printed material (which includes the Parkes Library) while the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books Searchroom is where the manuscript and rare book material is consulted.
Archival and Other Holdings
Finding Aids, Guides, and Publication
Opening Times
The service is open Tuesday-Thursday 10h00-16h00.
Conditions of Access
Access to the Archives and Manuscripts and Rare Books Searchroom service is available to anyone regardless of whether you are attached to an academic institution.
Research Services
All visits are by prior appointment and all visitors will be required to book their visit and to order their material at least 1 working day in advance.
There is a maximum limit of 10 items per day for bookings.
Bookings are made by emailing Archives@soton.ac.uk. We require the following information for bookings: details of name, University ID number (members of the University of Southampton only), permanent residential address and contact details, date of visit and list of items to be consulted. A booking form can be provided for use.
Each booking is for one person only on a first come, first served basis. If you are unable to attend please contact us as far in advance as possible to let us know.
Special Collections has introduced a Virtual Reading Room service, where researchers can book a digital appointment to view Special Collections' material remotely, wherever they are based. Digital appointments are one hour in length and are facilitated using an on-site visualiser and viewed via Microsoft Teams. They are offered for slots 1000-1100, 1130-1230, 1300-1400, 1430-1530 (UK time). The digital appointments service will initially be available on Mondays as we develop and refine this service. To book a digital appointment, please email us at Archives@soton.ac.uk.