Salisbury Collection (Special Collections)

About the Salisbury Collection

Sir Edward Salisbury

Sir Edward Salisbury (1886-1978) was a founder member of the British Ecological Society, who researched and wrote on woodland ecology, and with F.E. Fritsch, compiled a number of botanical textbooks during the 1920s. His later publication, Living Garden (1935) contributed to his appointment as Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew in 1943, a position he held until his retirement in 1956.

In 1978, Sir Edward presented his collection of British regional floras to the Biological Sciences section of the University's Wessex Medical Library and these form the basis of the Salisbury Collection.

Content

The collection comprises the regional floras presented by Sir Edward Salisbury, floras held by the Biomedical Sciences Library (Boldrewood) until its closure in 2009, including listings of British ferns, mosses, algae, lichens and fungi, and material from the Perkins Botanical Collection, which was presented to the University College of Southampton in 1948 by the family of Walter Frank Perkins (1865-1946). This part of the collection includes floras, reference books, practical field guides and examples of 'botanical dialogues' from the 18th century.

Extent

500 books, ranging in date from the 17th to the 20th century.

Using the Salisbury Collection

Access

The Salisbury Collection is part of the Special Collections Division on level 4 of the Hartley Library, which is on the Highfield Campus.

Most of the books published after 1850 are shelved in the Special Collections open access area and can be used whenever the Hartley Library is open. Earlier publications are used in the Archives and Rare Books Search Room which is open Monday to Friday 09.30-17.00.

You can request Rare Book material:

  • By phoning the Search Room on 023 8059 2721 or ext. 22721
  • By emailing archives@soton.ac.uk
  • By visiting the Search Room and completing a request slip

If you are not a member of the University you will need to show a form of ID on arrival at the Library and on entering the Archives and Rare Books Search Room.

Catalogues

All Salisbury Collection books are included in WebCat, the online catalogue of the University Library. They are indicated by the call number prefix and location Salisbury Coll. or Rare Books Salisbury Coll. The WebCat Tutorial shows the most effective ways to search the catalogue. For basic searches use the 'word or phrase' option in Quick Search.

Borrowing Books

The Salisbury Collection books on open access can be borrowed for 3 weeks if you have a University ID/Library card. All loans are made at the Loans Desk on level 2.

Photocopying

The nearest photocopiers are behind the main staircase on level 4. If you are not a member of the University, you will need to go to the Photocopying area on level 2 to create a 'Guest Account' and then add credit to the account by using the Money Loaders, also on level 2. The loaders take 50p, £1 and £2 coins, notes and credit/debit cards. For more information see the iSolutions guide to the University Printing and Copying Service.

Bound volumes in the Rare Books Collection cannot be photocopied, but you can order photographic or microfilm copies, subject to the age and condition of the item.

Enquiries

The Enquiries Office is next to the entrance to the Special Collections open access area. You can also make enquiries by email j.c.ruthven@soton.ac.uk or by phoning ext.23335. The external number is 023 8059 3335.