Victorian Studies

The Gibson Library is a major resource for the study of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. Its historic collection of 25,000 volumes is based on that of the Saffron Walden Scientific and Literary Institution founded in 1832. The majority of volumes are for reference only, but there is also an extensive contemporary lending collection with many books providing information about the Victorian and Edwardian periods. 

The collection covers the following major topics: art, literature, social sciences, biographies, genealogy and family history, the history of printing, botanical illustration, archaeology, the history of exploration, and topography. There are also several hundred 19th century novels.  

Reference - there is a large collection of reference books, including biographical dictionaries, and specialised bibliographies. 

Periodicals - the Gibson Library subscribes to a wide range of academic journals and periodicals that cover aspects of the Victorian and Edwardian periods. These include: Victorian Studies, Past & Present, History Workshop Journal, Historical Journal, and more specialised publications such as the Bronte Society Transactions, Burlington Magazine, Notes and Queries. 

In addition to the many current titles to which the Centre subscribes, there are long runs of Victorian publications such as the Gentleman’s Magazine.