Special Collections & Archives

Snapshot from the Archives: “A Southlands College Day – and Shakespeare” (1911) by Gilly King, Southlands Archivist.

The above document is a page from an autograph album owned by a Southlands College student, written by her friend and fellow student Winnie Garnish in 1911. These albums were very popular in the Victorian and Edwardian era, particularly amongst young people, and our archives hold many examples of them. They contain poetry, artwork, musings and anecdotes contributed by the friends and family of the album’s owner.

Some entries are poignant, some are beautiful, and others very amusing. They can be likened to a Victorian Facebook as the content was shared amongst their peer group, just like today’s social media posts.

This album was owned by Ms M. Wilkinson (a student at Southlands College, 1909-11), who donated it to the College in 1955. In her accompanying letter she writes:

“The times [on the timetable] sound fantastic but they are correct. Those were the days when our gym tunics had to touch the floor when we knelt, and we had to don an ankle-length skirt to go from our bedrooms to the gym. There was always the possibility that we might meet Dr Chapman [Southlands College Principal 1895 – 1913] or Mr Thompson [drawing Master] or the ‘gas-man’.

Some of us went for psychology lectures given by Prof Adams at St Johns College, just round the corner. The men students had all to be in their places before the crocodile of girls filed in. They were supposed to remain there till we were well off the premises. Alas, some of them were good runners and you can guess the rest.

Doesn’t it all sound funny now?”

We have chosen to display this particular page in today’s Snapshot from the Archives, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s ‘First Folio’ on 8^th November 1623. The student’s knowledge of Shakespeare is impressive – with just a few tweaks added for comic effect. This entry gives a fascinating and  lyrically illustrated glimpse into the punishing schedule of a Southlands student over 100 years ago (the full transcript can be seen below).

You can find all of Shakespeare’s works, plus a wealth of accompanying criticism and analysis, both on the Library shelves (in the 823 section on the 3^rd floor), and online.  See the Shakespeare section of our Drama, Theatre and Performance Subject Guide for more resources, including the open access (free to all) First Folios Compared and Folger Shakespeare Library .