The Friends of Aberdeen University Library will be hosting a series of fascinating talks across the coming academic year on a variety of topics relating to our collections or those of other Libraries. The Friends are a charity founded in 1962 to support the work of the Library and to help promote the rich collections we have at the University of Aberdeen.

The full programme of talks can be seen below, with the first event taking place in just over one week’s time. All of the talks are free and open to all.

The mystery of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s library solved?

7 October 2019, 19.30 – 20.30

Join Dr William Zachs as he discusses the mystery of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s library in this evening lecture.

The recent recovery of a substantial part of the private library of the creator of Sherlock Holmes presents an opportunity to understand Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his world in new and unexpected ways. The collection includes special annotated copies of his own books – not least the very first Sherlock Holmes story, A Study in Scarlet (1887). Among the volumes are source books for the detective stories which have endlessly captured the imagination of the world. No less central to this collection are over one hundred presentation copies from such authors as H. G. Wells, J. M. Barrie and others which reveal Conan Doyle’s extensive literary, political, medical and social networks. The annotated copies of the writings or other Scottish authors – Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson in particular – further uncover dimensions of Conan Doyle’s literary influences and networks. 

Guest Speaker: Dr William Zachs, University of Edinburgh

Venue: The Sir Duncan Rice Library, Craig Suite, Floor 7

Booking available via Eventbrite

Duels, rebellions and slave children: Aberdonians in the Ceded Island

24 October 2019, 18.00 – 19.00

Join Dr Désha Osborne as she discusses Aberdonians in the Ceded Islands in this evening lecture.  

Guest Speaker: Dr Désha Osborne, Hunter College, City University of New York

Venue: Special Collections Seminar Room, Lower Ground Floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library

Booking available via Eventbrite

Join Dr Monica German as she discusses Scottish and Arctic narrative in this evening lecture.

Guest Speaker: Dr Monica German, University of Westminster

Venue: Special Collections Seminar Room, Lower Ground Floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library

Booking available via Eventbrite

Friends of Aberdeen University Library AGM, followed at 6.30pm by a talk:

Catholic sequestrations in early modern Scotland

16 April 2020, 18.00 – 19.30

Join Dr Eilish Gregory as she discusses Catholic sequestrations in early modern Scotland and the impact of the historic Act of Union in 1707.

The talk will begin at 6.30pm, before this the Friends of Aberdeen University Library Annual General Meeting will take place at 6pm, all are welcome to attend.

Guest Speaker: Dr Eilish Gregory

Venue: Special Collections Seminar Room, Lower Ground Floor of the Sir Duncan Rice Library

Booking available via Eventbrite

Contact: e.grant@abdn.ac.uk