Happy Ash Wednesday! Did you know that the oldest work in the DEI library is a fragment of Jacobus de Voragine’s Lenten Sermons (c.1493)? February's Book of the Month blog explores the history of this mysterious little volume. devonandexeterinstitution.org/the-deis-old... #incunabula #incunable

Join us for an evening lecture this month with Professor Craig Beall - 26th February!

A date for your diaries! Join us for our next second-hand book sale on Saturday 28th February, 11-3. All books have been donated by our members and all proceeds raise money to support the Institution.

Earlier this week we had the pleasure of welcoming first year history students from the University of Exeter to our Blue Room, visiting as part of their 'Into the archives' programme.

This #LibraryShelfieDay we’re celebrating one of our best-loved sections: South West Heritage. Many of these books were only recently retired from our browsable modern collections. They will be subject to safe handling practices going forwards, helping to preserve them for the future. #ShelfieDay

Step away from the darkness of January and into the light! This month's Book of the Month blog explores Friedrich Accum's 'A practical treatise on gas-light', (1815) and the introduction of this new technology to our own library. devonandexeterinstitution.org/illuminating...

January Evening Lecture 📣 This month Dr Nick Collins will discuss the ways in which technological innovation reshaped work and daily life in the nineteenth-century. This will provide space for reflection on parallels in the present day.

Join us for an immersive tour of the Devon and Exeter Institution's historic past. Meet characters from previous centuries who worked around Cathedral Close and have stories to tell!! Tickets are purchased via TicketTailor. Refreshments provided 🍷

What's on at the DEI this December! See our website for further details ☃️🎄

Who is this woman, proudly wielding a Christmas pudding? Find out by reading our Book of the Month blog for December: devonandexeterinstitution.org/whats-in-a-p... You can also pick up Christmas cards featuring this image from our Front Desk.

Looking for a meaningful gift this Christmas? Adopt one of our books for your loved one and treat them to a private tour of our historic library, followed by cream tea for two in the Courtenay Room. Gift adoptions cost £45, and help to fund vital conservation work.

Competition time! For this year's DEI Christmas card, we chose this beautiful wood engraving from the 1867 Christmas supplement to the Illustrated London News, based on a drawing by Wilhelm Kümpel. Can you recreate this image, holding an object of your choice, to win a pack of 10 Christmas cards?

I had the opportunity to put together a book display this month in the @dexinst.bsky.social (title: 'Threads through Time')! It's based on depictions of clothing in the historic book collection 📚It will be on display until this Saturday, 22 November

On 27th November, Professor Nicola Thomas will discuss the Reinterpretation of the Redvers Buller statue in Exeter. This will be a space for reflection on the presence of the colonial past in contemporary civic life. Tickets can be purchased here: www.tickettailor.com/events/devon...

These are the words of Mary Somerville, writing in her old age. This pioneering scientist of the nineteenth century is the subject of our Book of the Month blog for November - written and researched by our Library Volunteer Edward Maunder. devonandexeterinstitution.org/mary-somervi...

Ghosts! Spiders! Bats! Surely this is a #Halloween image? Well, it actually comes from the Christmas supplement to the Illustrated London News (1867). During the Victorian era, spooky tales were especially associated with the festive period

A @dexinst.bsky.social board meeting tonight - an honour and a privilege to be voted Hon Sec for another year. Huge progress over the last 12 months; much more planned. Thank you to fellow trustees, the top-class staff, wonderful volunteers, and engaged members that make it what it is.

How about this schoolmaster's log book as #DissertationInspiration? See this book in person at our Dissertation Inspiration Drop In on Friday 24th October, 2-4pm, or email us to make a research appointment. #primarysources #Victorianschools #Victorianchildren #archives #dissertation

What do you call an apple that has fallen off its tree? Well according to this 'Treatise on cyder-making' from 1755 you would call it a 'promiscuous' kind of apple!

Calling all university students! How about this archaeological manuscript as #DissertationInspiration? See this book and a number of other fascinating archives in person at our Dissertation Inspiration Drop In on Friday 24th October, 2-4pm.

Meet the curator! Wednesday 15th October. Drop in between 1-3pm. Our new book display ‘Travelling through the library: Translated literature in the DEI’ has been curated by Richard Mansell, Senior Lecturer in Translation at the University of Exeter. devonandexeterinstitution.org/meet-the-cur...

Calling all university students! How about this nineteenth-century dramatic photo album as #DissertationInspiration? See this album and a number of other fascinating archives in person at our Dissertation Inspiration Drop In on Friday 24th October, 2-4pm.

Just look at the vibrant colours of these marbled endpapers! They can be found in our copy of ‘Cartas erudítas, y curiosas’ by Benito Jerónimo Feijoo (1777).

Calling all university students! How about this seventeenth century medical recipe book as #DissertationInspiration? See this recipe book and a number of other fascinating archives in person at our Dissertation Inspiration Drop In on Friday 24th October, 2-4pm.

One of the voices preserved in People Talking (1975-9), a collection of working people’s memories of Exeter up to 1945. In October’s blog, Jenny Lloyd reflects on the project, which features in the Exeter events for the Festival of #DevonInThe1920s, running 9-18 October. #exeterhistory #oralhistory

Calling all university students! Are you looking for some #DissertationInspiration? Join us for a drop in session to view original primary sources, perfect to give you ideas for your historical research. Free and open to all.

Members' Magazine Auction Did you know that as a member of the Devon and Exeter Institution, you can bid for a year's worth of back issues of your favourite magazine? Bidding for this year's auction closes on Tuesday 30th September. devonandexeterinstitution.org/members-maga...

This morning we kicked off our Heritage Open Days with a Librarian's Tour. If you missed out, we have another Librarian's Tour on Thursday at 2pm. Visit our website to see full listings of all the exciting events taking place this week: devonandexeterinstitution.org/heritage-ope...

Inspired by the Women’s Rugby World Cup, we searched our historic book collections for stories of women in sport, and that’s where we came across ‘a damsel named Margot, who resided at Paris in 1424, and played at hand-tennis with the palm, and also with the back of her hand, better than any man’.

Came across an obscure local satire serial that the @dexinst.bsky.social was subscribed to for a few years in the 1880s. Some of the members were not pleased about its presence in the reading room!

Our second-hand book sale is taking place this Saturday! We’ve had some amazing donations and this promises to be our biggest book sale yet. As well as fantastic modern fiction, non-fiction and children’s books, there will be loads of books about: - Art - War - Cinema - Local history

#OnThisDay in 1521, Tenochtitlan fell and the Aztec empire ended. ‘The History of Mexico’ (1807) illustrates the Greater Temple, which was destroyed by the Spanish. Some scholars suggest 13th August 3114 BC as the start date for the Mayan Calendar – though the 11th is more widely agreed upon. #OTD

Who's this serious fellow? Well, it's the First Earl of Clarendon of course! In July, Thomas Gray joined us from The King's School in Ottery St. Mary for work experience, and studied Clarendon's history of the English Civil War. Read Thomas' blog here: devonandexeterinstitution.org/clarendons-a...

Join us on Saturday 30th August, 11am-3pm, for a second-hand book sale, taking place in our beautiful Georgian library.

"The microscope extends the boundaries of the organs of vision, enables us to examine the structure of plants and animals; presents to the eye myriads of beings, of whose existence we had before formed no idea".

We are accepting abstracts for our annual lecture series on subjects interacting with the theme of "A New Leaf" 🍃📚 The deadline for submissions is Monday 25th August. Please see the full call for papers on our website: devonandexeterinstitution.org/whats-on/tal...

Over the last fortnight, we've been very pleased to host Eloise Bennett-Voci and Charlotte Lovell as interns from the University of Exeter's Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage programme. Read their blog here: devonandexeterinstitution.org/archives-of-...

Earlier this week, our Director Emma attended an event at the Houses of Parliament as part of a delegation of culural ambassadors from #Exeter. We were welcomed by Jayne Kirkham MP and Steve Race MP for the launch of the Great South West Creative Industries Report greatsouthwest.co.uk/insights/

And finally finally (apols), it was an honour to welcome a new bench to the @dexinst.bsky.social courtyard garden- the first thing bought with #GoodbyeLegsRide donations. Wonderful to share this moment w Emma, DExInst Director, and Anna ExCoL Director. Proper post on that in a few days!

It is always fantastic to see a previous DH intern's subsequent endeavours! What a brilliant opportunity to work with and learn from @dexinst.bsky.social !🤩 #DigitalHumanities #DHLab #HASS #Arts #Culture #Heritage #Devon #Exeter #Interns #DHInterns #Digital #Humanities #DH #DHExeter

We've been lucky to host two interns from the University of Exeter's Pathways to Arts, Culture and Heritage programme. As you can see, it's been a hoot! They will be on hand tomorrow, as part of our usual Wednesday tours, to tell visitors about what they've discovered.

Come see our new book display! It showcases star items identified by our collections review, including this hand-coloured lithograph illustrating G. Belzoni's researches in Egypt and Nubia (1820). Display available to view in the Outer Library until Friday 29th August. Free and open to all.

Join us on Tuesday 8th July for our next Librarian’s Tour. Visit our beautiful Georgian library and see some of our historic book collections up close. No white gloves needed! Free and open to all. Book here: webcollect.org.uk/dei/event/li...

It’s #ArtWeekExeter and we’re hosting two colourful exhibitions which are free and open to all. Crab and Bee’s ‘Matter of Britain’ and Jeremy Speck and Davina Quinlivan ‘The First Word is Hope’

Our Book of the Month blog for June was written and researched by our wonderful library volunteer Edward, who has looked into the life of Exeter-born mathematician William Kingdon Clifford. devonandexeterinstitution.org/clever-cliff...

What’s happening today? *Special edition* We’re open from 11-4pm for @exetercityoflit Bookmarket ✔️Secondhand book sale ✔️Bookbags and merch ✔️Bibliotherapy ✔️Silent Book Club ✔️Devonshire Association See you soon! #in_exeter #visitexeter @exetercityoflit.bsky.social @heritagefunduk.bsky.social

Here's EVERYTHING taking place at The Book Market this Sunday at @exetercathedral.bsky.social green from 11am - 4pm. It's looking like the weather is on our side, now we just need you to join us for this free day of literary loveliness! Learn more: www.exetercityofliterature.com/current-proj...

It’s #VolunteersWeek2025 and we’d like to say a huge thank you to our volunteer teams, who’ve gone above and beyond to keep the Institution running smoothly this year. Find out more here.. devonandexeterinstitution.org/volunteering/

On Saturday we were very pleased to welcome members of the British Astronomical Association, who hired our Blue Room for their meeting. We dug out some treasures from our science section for their visit, including Richard Proctor's 'The moon' (1873), which includes these stunning lunar landscapes.