Useful Links:
Every subject area has unique and specialist types of information, which mean that you need to look beyond Library Search. Some types of information are accessed via specialist databases, for example newspapers, while others are available online.
Different literary genres
Recommended Special Collections include:
- Chorley CollectionChildren's literature chiefly from the Nineteenth Century and first decades of the Twentieth Century
- Bainbrigg Library/Appleby Grammar SchoolThis collection represents the historical portion of the Library of Appleby Grammar School in Cumbria
- Bradshaw-Bewick CollectionThe Bradshaw-Bewick Collection contains works by and relating to the engraver Thomas Bewick (1753-1828)
The collection includes moral instruction books - Burnett CollectionThis collection contains books and annuals which were mostly published in the early to mid-Twentieth Century.
- Burman-Alnwick CollectionThis collection consists of books, pamphlets, broadsides and other material printed in Alnwick 1700-1917
It is also contains Alnwick printings of well-known tales such as The babes in the Wood, The ballad of Chevy Chase as well as children's literature and educational tools - Butler CollectionThe Butler Collection is a collection of children's literature which had been created by Mary Thwaite and further developed by Joan Butler, both librarians for Hertfordshire Library Services. It was jointly acquired by the Robinson Library and Seven Stories, the Centre for Children's Books.
- L.T.Meade CollectionL.T. Meade tried her hand at several genres, including crime fiction, but is most closely associated with stories which targeted a female audience, notably stories about girls' schools.
- St Bees School LibrarySt. Bees School, Cumbria was founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1583 and its library was developed through donations from local gentry and clergy in the Seventeenth Century.
- Sandes Library (Kendal Grammar School)This collection is a valuable example of the kind of material which might have been found in a school library of the Seventeenth to Nineteenth Centuries.
- Wallis CollectionThe Wallis Collection contains books on mathematics and maths education and includes works by Robert Record (the man who introduced the = symbol),
- African Writers' ClubOver 250 hours of radio programmes about African literary, social and cultural affairs.
- Bloodaxe Books CollectionAcquired by the University in 2013, this exciting archive of contemporary poetry contains typescripts, editorial work, correspondence and marketing materials from this internationally-important publisher.
- British Archive for Contemporary WritingThe University of East Anglia's British Archive for Contemporary Writing includes a growing collection of manuscripts, correspondence, interviews and online exhibits relating to contemporary authors.
- Contemporary WritersKey information, interviews and unique critical analysis of over 1,000 contemporary British writers.
- New Writing NorthFunded by Arts Council England, New Writing North is a regional arts organisation supporting writing and reading activity through research projects, the Newcastle Writing Conference and work with local communities and schools.
- Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA)The NCLA hosts an exciting events programme, inviting writers and poets as guest speakers, runs research projects and holds two annual poetry competitions.
- The Poetics of the ArchiveThis AHRC-funded collaborative research project explored the ways that people interact with archival material, resulting in this innovative website. Explore the Books, Words, Shapes, Data, Gallery and Research sections to discover selective digitised materials from the Bloodaxe Archive.
- Writers & Artists YearbookUp-to-date listings of thousands of contacts in the book publishing industry plus advice articles from insiders.
- BBC Shakespeare Archive ResourceBBC Archive containing plays, poems and sonnets, documentaries, interviews and over a thousand stills of classic Shakespeare productions, as well as entertainment programmes referencing Shakespeare. Access is restricted to educational institutions so follow the instructions on screen to obtain a username and password using your Newcastle University email address.
- Cambridge History of British TheatreThree volumes online
- Drama Online This link opens in a new windowThis comprises the text of over 2,300 international plays, from ancient Greek drama to contemporary works; film and audio recordings of productions, and contextual resources relating to drama theory and practice. NEW for 2021/22! We have just bought access to over 600 new playtexts and a new Globe on Film collection.
- John Johnson CollectionFacsimile images of thousands of items selected from the John Johnson Collection of Printed Ephemera held in the Bodleian Library, including posters, adverts and broadsides from the 18th to early 20th centuries.
- Oxford Scholarly Editions Online This link opens in a new windowFull text literary works, including editorial annotations, enabling you to track variations between editions. We have bought the Romantics Prose, Romantics Poetry (NEW FOR 2018/19!) , 18th Century Drama and 18th Century Prose collections (c.350 titles).
- The London StageThis work documents theatrical performances in eighteenth century London. You can search all performances listed in 'The London Stage' by title, performer, theatre or date.
- Screen PlaysAHRC project concerned with all theatre plays produced for British television since 1930.
- Theatre Archive ProjectCollection of interviews from this project which aims to reinvestigate British theatre history 1945-1968, from the perspectives of both the theatregoer and the practitioner.
- TheatrevoiceResource with audio content relating to British theatre, featuring actors, writers and directors talking about their work.
- V and A theatre and performance collectionsResources and guidance for researchers from the museum's extensive theatre collections.
- Children's Poetry ArchiveChildren's Poetry Archive
- First World War poetry digital archiveThe First World War Poetry Digital Archive is an online repository of over 7000 items of text, images, audio, and video for teaching, learning, and research.
- Oxford Scholarly Editions Online This link opens in a new windowFull text literary works, including editorial annotations, enabling you to track variations between editions. We have bought the Romantics Prose, Romantics Poetry (NEW FOR 2018/19!) , 18th Century Drama and 18th Century Prose collections (c.350 titles).
- Poetry ArchiveAn online collection of poets from around the world reading their own work in the English language. It includes historic recordings.
General literary resources
- Archives HubSubject guide to archive collections held in UK universities and colleges.
- BBC Shakespeare Archive ResourceBBC Archive containing plays, poems and sonnets, documentaries, interviews and over a thousand stills of classic Shakespeare productions, as well as entertainment programmes referencing Shakespeare. Access is restricted to educational institutions so follow the instructions on screen to obtain a username and password using your Newcastle University email address.
- British Archive for Contemporary WritingThe University of East Anglia's British Archive for Contemporary Writing includes a growing collection of manuscripts, correspondence, interviews and online exhibits relating to contemporary authors.
- Harry Ransom Center Digital CollectionsMaterials from nearly 100 archival collections from some of the best known English and American writers of the 19th and 20th centuries have been digitised and made available online by this famous research centre.
- Literary Print Culture: The Stationers' Company ArchiveThe Stationers’ Company Archive is one of the most important resources for understanding the workings of the early book trade, the printing and publishing community, the establishment of legal requirements for copyright provisions, and the history of bookbinding. Explore extremely rare documents dating from 1554 to the 21st century in this invaluable resource of research material.
- Location Register of 20th Century English literary manuscriptsThis has become established as a standard reference source for the study of English literature. It includes information about the manuscript holdings of repositories of all sizes, from the British Library to small-town museums, and about literary authors of all genres, from major poets to minor science fiction writers and romantic novelists.
- Mass Observation Online 1937-1967 This link opens in a new windowThis a major resource for British social history from 1937-1967. It contains material generated by the Mass Observation social research organisation, including all the day surveys, diaries and subject directives from 1937-1967, a wide range of themed topic collections, together with other material such as images and essays. We also have access to the Mass Observation 1980s and 1990s database. Read our blog post for more information about this archive.
- Mass Observation Project 1981-2009. This link opens in a new windowThis contains responses to the Mass Observation project in the 1980s,1990s and (NEW!) 2000s, covering political and social themes of the period, plus insights into everyday life. A fascinating insight into late twentieth century Britain. We also have access to the earlier Mass Observation Online database covering 1937-1967. Read our blog post for more information about this resource.
- Perdita Manuscripts This link opens in a new windowBritish female writers' manuscripts from the 16th and 17th centuries, featuring genres such as autobiography, diaries, historical writing, prose, travel writing and verse. The documents have been digitised from the originals, and can be searched or browsed in various ways. An indispensable resource for anyone interested in women and women's writing in Early Modern Britain.
- Pulter ProjectCollaborative digital edition and exhibition of the verse of the female poet, Hester Pulter (1605-1678), whose manuscript of 120 poems was lost to view until the late 20th century.
- Romanticism : life, literature and landscape. This link opens in a new windowThis digital collection offers students and researchers of the Romantic period unique access to the working notebooks, verse manuscripts and correspondence of William Wordsworth and his fellow writers, including Dorothy Wordsworth, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Thomas De Quincey and Robert Southey.
- Science Fiction HubThe first ever subject gateway for scholars of science fiction and related genres. It is based on the extensive archival resources at Liverpool University, and includes links to quality-assured sites elsewhere.
- Shelley-Godwin ArchiveDigitised manuscripts of Percy Bysshe Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, William Godwin, and Mary Wollstonecraft. Includes all known Frankenstein manuscripts.
- African Writers' ClubOver 250 hours of radio programmes about African literary, social and cultural affairs.
- BBC Archive: booksBBC programmes about books and writers.
- Box of Broadcasts This link opens in a new windowBox of Broadcasts provides access to over 2.2 million TV and radio broadcasts from over 75 channels, including most of the UK’s freeview network, all BBC TV and radio content from 2007, and several foreign language channels. This resource is not available outside the UK.
- Bridgeman Education (images) This link opens in a new windowThis database provides access to over three million images, including paintings, posters, artefacts and photographs, from galleries and collections worldwide. All images are copyright-cleared for educational use, and cover a wide range of themes. NB If accessing off-campus, click on User login>Login via Shibboleth>Ncl Uni once you are on Bridgeman.
- Drama Online This link opens in a new windowThis comprises the text of over 2,300 international plays, from ancient Greek drama to contemporary works; film and audio recordings of productions, and contextual resources relating to drama theory and practice. NEW for 2021/22! We have just bought access to over 600 new playtexts and a new Globe on Film collection.
- Kanopy This link opens in a new windowKanopy is an on-demand film streaming platform providing access to over 30,000 films. Films include classic and contemporary feature films, together with documentaries across a wide range of subject areas.
- Poetry ArchiveAn online collection of poets from around the world reading their own work in the English language. It includes historic recordings.
- UbuWebUbuWeb is a completely independent resource dedicated to all strains of the avant-garde, ethnopoetics, and outsider arts. It hosts a wide range of texts and audiovisual materials.
- Cambridge Histories: literary studiesOnline version of this major multi-volume work
- Complete Prose of T.S. EliotThese eight volumes gather together, for the first time ever, all of T.S. Eliot’s collected, uncollected and unpublished prose, making available material that has been restricted or inaccessible until now.
- Contemporary WritersKey information, interviews and unique critical analysis of over 1,000 contemporary British writers.
- Discovering literature: Romantics and VictoriansBritish Library site with 8,000 pages of collection items, which explores more than 20 authors through 165 articles, 25 short documentary films, and 30 lesson plans.
- Literature, poetry, fiction: British Library guide for researchersGuide to the research collections at the British Library and elsewhere, relating to literature, written by subject experts.
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography This link opens in a new windowAn illustrated collection of more than 57,000 specially written biographies of the men and women from around the world who shaped all aspects of Britain's past.
- Oxford English Dictionary onlineThe Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language.
It is an unsurpassed guide to the meaning, history, and pronunciation of 600,000 words, past and present, from across the English-speaking world.
- Oxford Scholarly Editions Online This link opens in a new windowFull text literary works, including editorial annotations, enabling you to track variations between editions. We have bought the Romantics Prose, Romantics Poetry (NEW FOR 2018/19!) , 18th Century Drama and 18th Century Prose collections (c.350 titles).
- Writers & Artists YearbookUp-to-date listings of thousands of contacts in the book publishing industry plus advice articles from insiders.
Relevant Subject and Resource Guides
