To celebrate National Volunteers Week 2016, we thought we would let you know what some of our dedicated band of volunteers has been up to recently. Both volunteers featured here are alumni of Battersea Polytechnic, the predecessor to University of Surrey as we now know it.

Volunteer Graham updating catalogue information in the Research Room

The University’s press cuttings collection is benefiting from Graham’s eagle eye as he catalogues the individual articles. He is currently in the 1920s working through the press ads which Battersea Polytechnic placed. There he has discovered a wealth of advertisements and notices for courses, student theatre productions and jobs which chart the ebb and flow of life at Battersea.

Volunteer Richard working in the Archives office

Richard meanwhile is investigating the records of the various University academic departments. He has discovered a wonderful set of colourful menus hand drawn by catering students: a reminder that before the world of desktop computers and design software, handmade was often the way to go!

So a big “Thank You” to both Graham and Richard for all their work in helping us uncover the treasures within our collections.