The University of Sussex Special Collections
The University of Sussex holds a number of internationally acclaimed archival, manuscript and rare book collections, mostly relating to twentieth-century literary, political and social history. Our special collections include the papers of Rudyard Kipling, the New Statesman Archive, a series of collections relating to the Bloomsbury Group, including the Monks House Papers (Virginia Woolf), and over 60 other manuscript collections. The Mass-Observation Archive contains the papers of the social research organisation of the 1930s and 40s and continues to collect new material in the present day. We also hold the University’s own archival and administrative records. Special Collections also cares for the Barlow Collection of Chinese ceramics, bronzes & jades.
Access to some material is by surrogate.
Latest news & events:
Duff Photographic Collection : encompassing many aspects of human life –childhood, school, leisure, marriage, sex, work, unemployment, old age, the photographic books produced by Euan Duff portray everyday life in Britain over the last five decades. A catalogue is now available along with further information about the collection and a showcase with accompanying commentary by Duff.
Kate Paul Collection: journals, correspondence and book manuscripts of writer and former art student Kate Paul, providing a fascinating insight into the London art scene of the early 1960s. Catalogue available.
Barry Wilkinson Film Magazines: a collection of film related magazines dating between 1936 and 1966 and including Sight & Sound, Picturegoer and Film Pictorial. Catalogue available.
Trix Kipling Papers: a catalogue of the collection of draft stories and poems by Rudyard Kipling's sister is now available.
Pappe Papers: a catalogue of the papers of Helmut Pappe, sociologist and University of Sussex lecturer, is now available. Papers include much of Pappe's work on the life and works of Jean Charles Leonard de Sismondi, nineteenth century economist and historian.
German Jewish Collections: Catalogues to the Arnold Daghani Collection and the Elton/Ehrenberg Papers are now available through the Special Collections website.