@uoscollections.bsky.social
Home of the National Fairground and Circus Archive, the University Archives, Special Collections and the Heritage Collection.
Our current exhibition Peter Blundell Jones: Architecture, Landscape and the City explores the life, work and legacy of the late British architect, writer and teacher PBJ.
Not able to come and see it in person? No problem! You can explore the exhibition virtually! 👀👀
tinyurl.com/4zku9bkw
🚨The call for papers for the History and Archives in Practice 2026 conference #HAP26 is now live! 🚨
Along with @ihr.bsky.social @nationalarchives.gov.uk.web.brid.gy @royalhistsoc.org we invite you to explore 'Shaping Societies, Improving Lives: The Impact of Archives and Historical Research' ⬇️
As part of Heritage Open Days 2025, former History student Megan Ellis researched the Elmfield Building which originally housed the Department of Glass Technology and the Turner Museum of Glass (now in the Robert Hadfield building, open to the public 9-4, Mon-Fri).
Read more ➡️ tinyurl.com/mr273ez5
For this year's Heritage Open Days, we have a curator-led tour of our Peter Blundell Jones: Architecture, Landscape and the City on Saturday 13th September at 10:30am!
Places are limited so please book a place by clicking on 'book here' under the Western Bank Library tab 🏙️✏️🧱🎨
tinyurl.com/56s7m7s
The NFCA is delighted to announce the launch of its new online exhibition - Sanger 200.
2025 marks 200 years since the birth of ‘Lord’ George Sanger, one of the most significant circus proprietors of all time.
Take a look inside
tinyurl.com/Sanger200
Clowns are performers of comedy and arts, usually wearing bright costumes and make up. Clowns commonly perform in circuses meaning they feature a lot in our National Fairground and Circus Archive held here @unisheffieldlib.bsky.social
Some people consider clowns humorous right?... #EYAHumour 🤡
History Day North is in full swing!
Stop by our stand to learn more about our archives, National Fairground and Circus archive, Special Collections, rare books and heritage collection as well as our digital collections and exhibition programme 📚📜💾🖼️
#HistDayNorth #DCDC25
Who is joining us at #HistDayNorth and #DCDC25 @durham-university.bsky.social this year? 🎉
We can't wait to tell people about our amazing collections at History Day North tomorrow Tuesday 29th July 12:30-4:30pm!
The National Fairground and Circus Archive team were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of David Springthorpe on 16th July. David was the longest serving contributor to the World's Fair Newspaper and was a great friend of the showmen community. We send our condolences to his family and friends💐
23.07.2025 12:50 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Embroiderer and artist Diana Springall has been awarded a Doctor of Letters for her contribution to the arts by @sheffielduni.bsky.social!
In 1987, Diana created 'Graduation' for Level 5 of Western Bank Library which is now part of our Heritage Collection. Find out more here➡️ tinyurl.com/nhzdcfzw
Peter Blundell Jones: Architecture, Landscape and the City opens TODAY!
Alongside documents, plans, photos, books and letters, the exhibition offers the rare chance to see a scale model of part of Sheff in 1900 created by students taught by PBJ!
FREE ENTRY! Open Mon-Fri 9-5 at Western Bank Library
✏️1 WEEK TODAY✏️
Our new exhibition Peter Blundell Jones: Architecture, Landscape and the City opens Monday 21st July!
Explore the life, work and legacy of the late British architect, writer and teacher PBJ (not peanut butter and jelly!) who taught at @sheffielduni.bsky.social School of Architecture
✨NEW EXHIBITION✨
Peter Blundell Jones: Architecture, Landscape and the City
✏️COMING SOON…🧱
More info about PBJ ➡️ www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/news...
Check out this blog post from the university’s Digital Preservation Manager Bryony Hooper about our recent digital preservation work!
@dpc-chat.digipres.club.ap.brid.gy
#digipres
🍦Happy National Ice Cream month!🍦
Ice cream has always been a popular treat at fairgrounds and circuses, especially in the warmer months, and a lot of work goes into designing and making an eye-catching ice cream stand to attract customers!
What is your favourite ice cream flavour?🍨
The NFCA & Bents Green School have worked in collaboration to deliver the 2025 Arts Council England Arts Award certificate to its year 10 students.
Drop by level 5 of the Western Bank Library to view the exhibition display of ceramics, print, photography & graffiti art.
On until the end of Sep
Our Anatomy at Sheffield exhibition has now finished! 🫀🩻
If you missed it, worry not! You can explore the exhibition virtually on our website ➡️ tinyurl.com/56zu23kt
Can anyone guess what our next exhibition will be about? 👀
A prolific travel writer, Margaret Hides specialised in writing about travel for people with physical disabilities as a person with a disability herself. She sent many postcards to her husband Michael on her travels 🌍✈️
Explore the Hides in the Michael Hides Archive tinyurl.com/47s94jke
#EYATravel
It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dear friend and supporter Steve Richley who passed away yesterday 3rd June 2025.
Steve was a circus historian, publisher, collector & author of many books. He was a long-term supporter of the archive and he will be sorely missed by everyone here.
120 years ago today @sheffielduni.bsky.social was granted its university charter 🥳 It followed the dissolution of Victoria University into Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool unis in 1903.
The Charter came to Sheff from London by train on 3rd June 1905 by George Franklin, Chairman of the Uni Council🚂
☀️Come and join us at Weston Park May Fayre THIS SUNDAY to learn more about our archives, rare books, special collections and heritage collection!☀️
🎨We also have some fun activities for you to have a go at!🎨
FREE ENTRY
Back in 2024, we hosted the It's All a Show exhibition curated in collaboration with Sheldon Chadwick from the Showmen's Mental Health Awareness Charity. 👀 You can still discover the exhibition online here: my.matterport.com/show/?m=V5QB... #mentalhealthawarenessweek
16.05.2025 08:47 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0These images are part of the National Fairground and Circus Archive which we hold. More info here: tinyurl.com/mrsns5ms
We do also have several collections which explore folklore which can be explored here: tinyurl.com/mrx4vwjm
As we continue to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we delve into our archive to find this gem of a photo.
Walter Marshall can be seen here standing next to his plane during his time in the RAF in World War 2, where he was stationed in India, South Africa, Palestine, Egypt & Israel.
#ve80
✨New blog✨
Check out our new blog post for May’s theme #EYAFunandGames from the National Circus and Fairground Archive at the University of Sheffield! 🎡🎠🎪 @uoscollections.bsky.social
#ExploreYourArchive
www.exploreyourarchive.org/photographic...
In 1945, students from @sheffielduni.bsky.social marked Victory in Europe Day by organising a celebratory dance in the Students' Union. Whilst we are sure the dance was a success and lots of fun, an attendee recalled that 'the band was not drunk it was just no good'!🎺🥁
#VE80 #Victory80
There is plenty of fun and games to be had in the month of May as there are lots of May Fairs! #EYAFunandGames @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social
The Knutsford May Day Fun Fair in Cheshire is one of the most famous in the UK and can be traced back to 1864! 🎈🎉🎡🎠
More info here ➡️ tinyurl.com/5h6hhwtf
👀 Its all fun and games at the fair! 👀 Take a look at this blog by Explore Your Archive, which features some of the amazing photographic collections found at the National Fairground and Circus Archive: www.exploreyourarchive.org/photographic...
02.05.2025 10:23 — 👍 3 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
Representing The National Fairground and Circus Archive overseas, our Senior Archivist Arantza Barrutia will be speaking this week at the two-day salon, Fairs & Frontiers.
Taking place in The House of Mysteries, Ghent, the salon explores the rich and multifaceted world of European funfair culture.
These colourful and distinctive natural history lecture slides were collected by Arthur Edgar Beet, an academic in the Applied Science Department at the University of Sheffield.
Digitised images of the Beet Lantern Slide Collection can be found here: tinyurl.com/2v8abbfm #EYAEarth
