Children's Literature: Archives and Special Collections

The Children's Literature Collection (CLC) came to existence in the 1990s by acquiring book material from different depositors and sources with the aim  to build a resource center for supporting the teaching and research of children literature studies at Roehampton. It is a reference collection of about 3,000 critical, theoretical, bibliographical and reference works. The Collection also holds runs of approximately 40 specialist children's literature journals, and special collections of antiquarian children's books. .   

Full details can be found on the CLC guide.

​​​Children's Literature Digital Collection​

The Children's Literature Collection came to existence in the 1990s by acquiring book material from different depositors and sources with the aim to build a resource centre for supporting the teaching and research of children literature studies at Roehampton. It is a reference collection of about 3,000 critical, theoretical, bibliographical and reference works. The Collection also holds runs of approximately 40 specialist children's literature journals. 

​​A small selection of these have been digitised in their entirety and can be found at the link below.

Children's Literature Digital Collection

Richmal Crompton (1890 - 1969) is best known for the Just William stories which were written between 1919 – 1969. Deposited with the Foyle Special Collections and Archives by the author’s heirs and executors in 2008, this is one of the most comprehensive archive collections of an author’s life and work.

It comprises personal records such as correspondence and other documents relating to the private life of Richmal Crompton, including an extensive family photographic collection going back to the late 1800s.

This is complemented by an eclectic private library of the author, of which many books are inscribed with her name and annotated by her.

Richmal Crompton first wrote Just William stories for ‘Happy Mag’; this developed into 39 books; in addition to that she published 49 books for adults. Her professional life as a writer, is documented through holdings of idea jottings for her stories, many finished and draft scripts for the book publications, radio plays which were transmitted from 1946, film and TV adaptations. The collection also holds correspondence with the publishers and fans, as well as many press cuttings from the 1950s to ca. 2010 related to the author or her creations.

Further, the Richmal Crompton Collection also holds the author’s published works, including adult fiction and all Just William stories in various publications and translations as well as Just William memorabilia including games, puzzles and other artefacts.

The collection is rounded up by personal items which notably includes Richmal Crompton’s desk, chair and typewriter, but artefacts such as spectacles.

All this gives a full and complete portrait of a woman’s life and career.

The Froebel Archive for Childhood Studies was established in 1977 and focuses on Friedrich Froebel’s educational legacy, early years and elementary education. It holds a variety of books, administrative records, staff and student registers, minutes of meetings, photograph albums and student work, reflecting on the history of the Froebel College and its student life. In 2008, the Froebel Trust, formally known as the National Froebel Foundation, deposited its comprehensive historical archive collection with the Foyle Special Collections and Archives. The two collections are a unique historical record of the Froebel movement in the UK.

A selection of key Froebelian texts, including the journal Child Life have been digitised and are available via our Special Collections Digital Resources. 

Who is Friedrich Froebel? 

Friedrich Froebel (1782 – 1852) is regarded as one of the most influential educationalist of the nineteenth century, inventor of the concept and word Kindergarten, and responsible for the first training programmes for female kindergarten teachers. He opened his first Play and Activity Institute in 1837 which he renamed in Kindergarten in 1840.    

In addition to the Kindergarten, Froebel is best known for his creation of the Gifts, an ordered sequence of building block as educational toys. 

For more information on the Gifts and Friedrich Froebel's educational principles, visit the Froebel Trust website.