This September we are giving you the opportunity to visit LJMU Special Collections & Archives during Heritage Open Days for a private view of the archives, including access to material never before exhibited.

As part of the Extraordinary Women theme for Heritage Open Days, we will be focussing on some of the extraordinary and trail blazing women associated with LJMU Special Collections & Archives.

You will be able to see a range of material from the nineteenth century through to the late twentieth century, from Victorian women’s magazines to punk fanzines and photographs, from film footage showing gymnastics in the 1950s to scripts, photographs and programmes from Willy Russell’s many plays featuring extraordinary women, there is sure to be something to appeal to everyone.

We will highlight women including Fanny Louisa Calder and Irene Mabel Marsh, both pioneers in their fields and founders of two of LJMU’s founding colleges, Poly Styrene, lead singer with X Ray Spex, actors at the Everyman Theatre including Julie Walters and Alison Steadman, as well as notable fictional female characters such as Shirley Valentine and Rita (from Educating Rita).

Femorabilia, our collection of girl’s comics and women’s magazines, will be on display, including titles such as Bunty, Girls’ Crystal, Jackie, Just Seventeen and Spare Rib, showing changing attitudes towards and perceptions of girls and women during the twentieth century.

Archive staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide background and context to the material.

Opening Times:

Friday 7 September: 1-4pm
Saturday 8 September: 1-4pm
Friday 14 September: 1-4pm
Saturday 15 September: 1-4pm

Attendance is free, please book your place via Eventbrite or for further information email: archives@ljmu.ac.uk or call 0151 231 3241.