In this post, the first of a series from the University Archives, we look at how parts of the campus and Dundee have changed over the years. We start by looking at the Belmont area of campus, where the Belmont Halls are now. This image taken in 2017 will be familiar to many. Belmont doesn’t…Continue Reading Then and now: changing Dundee – Belmont
We’re excited to share with you this plan of Dundee’s underground from 1908. Dr Kenneth Baxter from the University Archives explains how this ambitious plan was finally realised in 1908 with funding from the Baxter family, who also donated the money to found University College Dundee. Designed by the then city architect Joseph King, the…Continue Reading Dundee’s Hidden History: City’s underground route revealed
Every year, the Dundee Women’s Festival, a city‐wide event, takes place in Dundee, during the first two weeks of March including International Women’s Day on 8th March. This festival is organised by women in the local community and is an established and popular festival. This year is the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day and…Continue Reading Dundee’s Wonder Women of Science
Christine Kingsley from DJCAD writes about her daily walks along a river during lockdown and how the space, sights, sounds and her sketches help her through lockdown. Although written last year, our lives are much the same now and Christine’s words and images point to a way we can all, through appreciating nature, find a…Continue Reading Walking for wellbeing – my river shift
Dr Kenneth Baxter from the University Archives explores the connection between Winston Churchill and Dundee’s famous war poet and ‘fighter writer’ Joseph Lee. Drawing on material from the Archive collections held by the University he uses contemporary cartoons and journalism to explore reactions to Churchill’s time as an MP in the city. Churchill was MP…Continue Reading Dundee, Churchill and Joseph Lee
It is Dundee Science Festival and the University archives have been Tweeting about the history of Life Sciences at the University. It’s 50 years since the first Chair of Life Sciences, Peter Garland, took up his post and since then the School has become one of the leading life sciences research institutions in Europe, regularly…Continue Reading The history of Life Sciences: from the archives
To mark this year’s Remembrance Day commemorations Dr Kenneth Baxter from the University Archives has made two short films about soldiers who died in the First World War. The first looks at two young men who lost their lives in the conflict, George Paton and James Braid. Braid’s letters to his family which are in…Continue Reading Remembering the University’s war dead
Dr Kenneth Baxter’s newest upload on YouTube offers a taste of the Archive’s visual records that show the changes to Dundee over the years. The video shows how Dundee changed as it grew and developed into a 19th Century industrial town. The plans can be seen in the MS 17/P Thornton Collection which contains maps…Continue Reading Mapping the Changes by Dr Kenneth Baxter
To celebrate Black History Month, Dr Kenneth Baxter from the University’s Archives Services takes a closer look at the work and lives of Walter and Angeline Kamba, two of the University’s most notable figures to work at the University with a BAME background. The Kambas came to Dundee in 1969 after they were exiled from…Continue Reading Celebrating Black History Month – Walter and Angeline Kamaba
Alex Coupar has worked as a photographer in and around Dundee since 1955, documenting the areas and events which reflect both our culture and history. During his career, stretching over fifty years, Alex has recorded the intricacies of every day life as well as national and civic events. Before his photography career took off, Alex…Continue Reading Coupar’s Camera
This beautifully detailed etching was created by Gail Low & Sian MacFarlane for the River Deep Mountain High exhibition. The plate includes an excerpt of a longer poem, ‘Timefolds’, which addresses absence & presence in the archives & in relation to Dundee’s industrial past. Tay Vaults by Sian MacFarlane and Gail Low Etching on zinc “The text…Continue Reading RDMH – Tay Vaults by Sian MacFarlane and Gail Low
To mark what would have been John Lennon’s 80th birthday on 9th October Archive Services have been showing some of their remarkable photographs of the Beatles. Taken by Hungarian photo-journalist Michael Peto the images include the Beatles being awarded the MBE in 1965. Peto was given access to the group while they were recording Help…Continue Reading John Lennon Photographs