University treasures to go on display with help of Lottery grant

A treasure trove of rare manuscripts and books held at the University of Leeds can go on show to the public thanks to a round of Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grants announced today. The University boasts one of the finest collections of rare books and manuscripts in the world in its Special Collections , housed in the Brotherton Library. The breadth of the subjects is exceptional, from exquisite photographs of pre-revolutionary Russia to books dating from the beginning of printing, as well as the archives of some of the 20th century’s most influential poets and writers, and much more. Now a grant of £1,385,800 has provided the final piece of the jigsaw for a £1.9 million project for a gallery where some of them can go on display – Treasures from the Brotherton: Inspiring Audiences and Engaging Communities . This project will open the collections to audiences in Yorkshire and beyond by creating a gallery where permanent and temporary displays can be supported by a diverse programme of workshops, talks, discussions and activities to bring the archives alive for a variety of audiences. Vice-Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands said: “We are incredibly proud of our Library with its Special Collections of international importance which have been built up over the past century. “I am delighted that this grant will allow us to bring these ‘treasures’ to a much wider audience.