University of Bristol - Historic Collections: Special Libraries and Archives

Title: University of Bristol - Historic Collections: Special Libraries and Archives

Description: Since its foundation as a University College in 1876 the University of Bristol has been acquiring material in printed, manuscript and other forms to support research and teaching across the major subject areas. Much pre-1876 material has been acquired by gift or purchase.

The strengths of the collection for the CASBAH project lie primarily in large holdings of family and estate papers relating to the Caribbean. Relevant archival material is to be found in 2 main collections, entitled Pinney Papers and Miscellaneous West Indies Papers.

The above-mentioned resources are complemented by scattered holdings of relevant printed and other material dating from the 17th century onwards, held mainly in the Arts and Social Sciences Library, but also in other libraries of the University. This includes a comprehensive set of British Parliamentary Papers, and the Anti-slavery collection: 18th-19th centuries from the Library of the Society of Friends (World Microfims, 1978 - 25 microfilm reels). A search of the library's online catalogue under relevant keywords suggests perhaps up to 1000 monograph titles, covering history, economics, politics, sociology, literature, education, rural development, and biology. Material on slavery and sugar plantations is well represented, particularly with regard to the history of Jamaica, Barbados and Nevis.

Strengths: The following manuscript collections are particularly pertinent to Caribbean studies:

• Pinney Papers - This collection consists of accounts, letter books, family and estate papers, mainly relating to Dorset and the West Indies (island of Nevis), 1650-1995. (213 bound volumes, 164 archive boxes, 1 shelf oversized materials)
• Miscellaneous West Indies Papers - Papers deposited by solicitors and others, miscellaneous personal and estate papers, 1663-1929. Material covers: Antigua, Barbados, Montserrat, Jamaica, Grenada, Tobago, Nevis, St Christopher/St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Tortola, Trinidad, Honduras, Dominica, Barbuda, Demerara and Berbice [British Guiana], British Honduras, Bermuda, St Croix, and Mauritius. Collection numbers: DMs, 15, 89, 125, 126, 134, 137, 143, 158, 170, 174, 183, 211, 229, 234, 262, 276, 277, 359, 440, 444, 446, 739, 740, 792, 1061, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1106, 1135, 1353, 1467, 1538, 1607, 1781, 1818, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841 (approximately 41 archive boxes). The main subjects covered include the sugar trade, estate management, slavery, economic affairs and medicine.

Size: c.1000 monograph titles, c.250 archive boxes and 213 bound manuscript volumes

Catalogue: Online Public Access Catalogue (Aleph)

Catalogue URL: http://www.lib.bris.ac.uk/ALEPH

Main URL: http://www.bris.ac.uk/is/

Access: Non-members of the University should make written application to the University Librarian for permission to use the library before making their first visit. Please write to: The Librarian, Arts & Social Sciences Libraries, University of Bristol Information Services, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TJ.

Acquisition dates: 1876 - present

Note:

Interest: Caribbean

Complete: Complete

Subjects

Plantation economy

Sugar plantations

Slavery

History

Personal/Corporate names

Places

Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Lucia

Saint Christopher and Nevis

Montserrat

Mauritius

Jamaica

Guyana

Grenada

Dominica

Bermuda

Barbados

Antigua and Barbuda