0905, 2022

The Legacies of Jean Boyd (1934-2022) and Nana Asma’u Fodio (1793-1864)

By Special Collections|9th May 2022|Collections & Research|1 comments

In this blog we celebrate the life and work of the late scholar Jean Boyd (1934-2022) and the poet Nana Asma’u Fodio (1793-1864). Jean Boyd who was a Research Associate at the Centre of African Studies, SOAS, University of London, 1990, as well as having served as an Education Officer in the Colonial Service in Nigeria (1955-1960) and following Independence worked for the Nigerian Public Service (1960-1984). Jean Boyd spent 25 years

Read More

1505, 2015

Hebraica Libraries Group visit

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|15th May 2015|Collections & Research|0 comments

This week’s blog has been written by Mary Seeley, Subject Librarian (History & Religions, Ancient Near East, Semitics & Judaica) at SOAS. The Hebraica Libraries Group is a joint forum of libraries in the field of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, ranging from major university collections in the UK such as SOAS, Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and Southampton to specialist collections like the Wiener Library and private religious colleges and institutions such

Read More

2507, 2014

Sir Reginald Johnston – The Last Emperor’s Fan

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|25th July 2014|Collections & Research|1 comments

This month’s piece has been written by our guest blogger, Jiyeon Wood, Subject Librarian (Arts & Multi-Media), SOAS Library. It highlights one of a small number of historical artefacts held by SOAS Archives. While I was researching the library’s special Chinese Art collection, I came across this remarkable fan. According to the records, this fan, donated to the Percival David Foundation, became part of the SOAS collection in 2009. With its

Read More

0606, 2014

New Rare Book: Kinshūdan or 錦繡段 by Ten’in Rytaku, 1422-1500

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|6th June 2014|Collections & Research|0 comments

Today we’re highlighting a new transfer to the SOAS Library rare book collection – Kinshūdan (錦繡段) by Ten’in Rytaku, 1422-1500 (龍沢, 1422-1500); SOAS Library Classmark: EF.c.351.c.59 /127896.   The work, Kinshūdan, is a Japanese edition, published in Osaka in 1701, of a collection of Chinese poems, originally published in 1483. This work is in Chinese script, with additional notes and kaeriten by Utsunomiya Ton’an, ?1633- ?1707 (宇都宫遯庵, ?1633- ?1707). This

Read More

2003, 2014

Women’s History Month 2014: Alice Werner: Linguist, Writer and Teacher

By Special Collections, SOAS Library|20th March 2014|Collections & Research|0 comments

In celebration of Women’s History Month and UNESCO World Poetry Day, we are taking a look at the life of Alice Werner, writer, poet and teacher of the Bantu language. Born in Trieste on 26 June 1859 and educated in Germany and England, Alice traveled extensively, living in New Zealand, Mexico, America and throughout Europe She is notable for her many achievements. Not only was she was one of the first women to graduate from Newnham College,

Read More