Collection: University of St Andrews

Collection-level records:

• Collection history (Collection development policy)

  The University Collections have been forming since the foundation of the University in 1413, and now constitute an extensive record of the institution’s history and its teaching and research activity. In many instances, the collections are also representative of the social, cultural, intellectual, scientific or political development of Scotland, and of connections between St Andrews, Scotland and the wider world.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC

• Collection overview (Collection development policy)

  Museum Collections

  The Museum Collections encompass approximately 115,000 items in the fields of Anatomy and Pathology, Chemistry, Geology, Historic Scientific Instruments, Psychology, Zoology, Ethnographic and Amerindian material and the Heritage Collections (fine art, silver, textiles and furniture, archaeology, numismatics). The Heritage, Chemistry and Scientific Instrument Collections are Recognised Collections of National Significance under the scheme administered by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.

  Archival Collections

  The archival collections comprise the University’s institutional records (sometimes called the muniments) and the manuscripts. The earliest muniments date from the early 13th century, before the foundation of the University in the early 15th century. They include a huge range of material, including title deeds on vellum, minutes, accounts, matriculation and graduation records and lists of students, maps and plans, photographs, administrative files and correspondence. The most recent muniments were created and are managed digitally. The University’s collection of manuscripts ranges in date and subject from Greek papyri and medieval philosophical treatises to modern business papers. The Collection is particularly strong in material relating to the North-East Fife, including estate, architectural and business records as local church and burgh records. They form the primary resource for research into individuals or studies connected with the University, and the history of science, literature and theology. There is a small, but high-quality, collection of non-European material in a variety of languages.

  Photographic Collections

  The Photographic Collection numbers nearly two million images which exist in a wide variety of formats: negatives, slides, prints, postcards, albums and born digital image files; and cover a wide variety of subject areas from social documentary to travel and exploration. Collections date from the earliest days of photographic experimentation in the 1840s, through to contemporary acquisitions, and include several notable photographers and photographic firms. As such they form a nationally and internationally significant account of the history of photography, and the important role of St Andrews and Scotland as a major hub for photographic activity.

  Rare Book Collections

  The Rare Book collection contains approximately 210,000 volumes. From 1710 to 1837, the Library was entitled to a copy of every book printed in Britain under the Copyright Deposit Act, as a result of which it is particularly strong in 18th century material, with a special emphasis on books relating to the Scottish Enlightenment. The main subject areas of the collections are theology, classics, history, English and Scottish literature, philosophy, science and medicine. There are about 180 incunabula, 5,000 16th century books, 7,000 17th century books, as well as a substantial general collection of 18th and 19th century items. The collection is also constituted of a number of personal and named collections which the University has received as donations.

  Source: Collection development policy

  Date: 2022

  Licence: CC BY-NC