Munby Fellowship in Bibliography

The Munby Fellowship was founded in memory of the late Alan Noel Latimer Munby, a greatly respected scholar in the field of bibliography, especially in the history of the book trade and of book-collecting.

Munby was Librarian of King’s College (1947–74), a Syndic of Cambridge University Library, and generously gave his time and expertise to all who asked for his advice and help in pursuit of their research. Read more about the legacy of Munby here.

The object of the Munby Fellowship is to continue his work by sponsoring bibliographical research based in the first instance on the collections of the libraries of Cambridge, and likely to be of benefit also, in the broadest sense, to scholars using those collections in the future.

Exceptionally for 2025-27, the Munby fellowship is offered as a two-year post, funded by an exciting collaboration between the University Library Research Institute and the University’s Collections-Connections-Communities Strategic Research Initiative (CCC). The University Library’s Munby Fellowship is being matched with funding from CCC through an Isaac Newton Trust Strategic Research Grant to facilitate Natural History Humanities research inspired by Cambridge collections across its galleries, libraries, archives, museums and Botanic Garden. 

See below for further details.

Duties

The Munby Fellow will be given a work space in the University Library and will enjoy access to the Library’s collections on the same terms as the members of its permanent staff. A modest amount of help with research expenses is available. The Fellow will be expected to submit a written report on the progress of the research project during the second half of the tenure of the Fellowship and this report may form the basis of an informal discussion between the Electors to the Fellowship and the Fellow. The Fellow will not be called upon to undertake any routine departmental or other staff duties or responsibilities within the Library.

It is expected that the Munby Fellow will be offered a non-stipendiary college fellowship at Darwin College co-terminous with their appointment. 

Who may apply?

The Munby Fellowship is open to graduates in any discipline, of any university or nationality. Preference will be given to scholars at post-doctoral or an equivalent level.

Research topics

The Fellow will be free to pursue research of their choosing in any area that brings together the wide fields of Bibliography/History of the Book and Natural History Humanities. Proposals working across Cambridge collections, and which make connections between library/archival collections and those in galleries, museums or the Botanic Garden, are especially welcomed.

For Bibliography, we are following The Bibliographical Society’s wide definition which places emphasis on the physical object as historical evidence and is inclusive of book cultures from all parts of the world. Natural history collections could be studied through bibliographical approaches such as book history, textual transmission, the making and use of manuscripts, the history of printing, publishing, illustration and bookbinding, as well as book-ownership, book-collecting and the study of provenance and readership.

The University of Cambridge cares for some of the world's most extensive and globally significant natural history collections. Many of these are connected through the pioneering work of natural historians, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries, whose collections were categorically divided and distributed among different institutions in Cambridge (e.g. Charles Darwin, John Stevens Henslow, Adam Sedgwick, Leonard Jenyns). However, the scale and scope of the natural history collections across Cambridge means that a wide range of topics could be supported. Some suggestions are given below of ways in which bibliography and natural history humanities could be brought together through the collections, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. If you have any questions about topics, please contact Dr Suzanne Paul, Keeper of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts (sp510@cam.ac.uk).

Teaching aids, focusing on wall charts of mainly the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, including a collection from the Department of Geology at the UL. Other wallcharts are held at the Herbarium and Whipple Museum. The geology wallcharts relate to the earth and environmental sciences (primarily geology and botany) and incorporate themes of science teaching and learning and scientific illustration (including women artists). They could be related to other teaching aids such as herbarium specimens and instructional models in the Whipple Museum, for example.

 Ecology in the twentieth century, using papers at the UL of Arthur Tansley, Alexander Watt, Peter Scott and others at the UL and Oliver Rackham (Corpus Christi College, digitised collection available on Cambridge Digital Library).

Alfred (and Edward) Newton
The Newtons, particularly Alfred, contributed many thousands of specimens to the Museum of Zoology. Alfred Newton’s archives are at the University Library and his collection of books is in the Balfour and Newton Library in Zoology. Links could be made to Alfred and Edward’s use of publishing to further the science of ornithology. There are also significant links to colonial legacies through Edward’s position as Britain’s Colonial Administrator on Mauritius and through the family wealth that was derived from the profits of slavery.

 William Swainson (1789–1855), naturalist and artist, whose zoological collections, including bird skins and Brazilian insects, is at the Zoology Museum, with some of his ornithological drawings at the UL and dried plant specimens at the Herbarium. Swainson is of interest in the history of scientific printing and publication as the first illustrator and naturalist to use lithography in his works.

 Hugh Strickland (1811–1853), ornithologist and geologist, whose many publications include an important work on the dodo. His collection is the most significant contribution to the bird collection in the Cambridge Museum of Zoology. The Museum also holds his vast archive, which is little studied. He was also a collector of collections, and a founding member of the Ray Society, which published works on natural history.

 The Rare Books collections at the UL are especially strong in natural history from the fifteenth century onwards, including early printed works in zoology, early herbals, fine flower-books, examples of nature printing and books containing botanical specimens. The UL’s Legal Deposit privilege means there is an outstanding collection of popular natural history works, including school books and books written for children. Rare books formerly at the departments of Geology, Plant Sciences and the Botany School are also now held at the UL. The Wane Collection of Ornithological books, 18th–20th century, from the library of Rev. F.I. Wane is on deposit at the UL. Significant collections of rare books and printed collections on natural history are also held at some Faculty and Departmental libraries, museums and colleges, including the Cory and Herbarium Libraries, the Zoology Library, Earth Sciences and the Fitzwilliam Museum. There is also an online guide to the University Library’s large collection of scientific archives and manuscripts.

How to apply

The Fellowship for 2025-27, beginning in October 2025, is now open for applications. The closing date is 17 January 2025 with interviews taking place on 27 February 2025.

Any informal queries about the role should be directed to Dr Suzanne Paul, Keeper of Rare Books and Early Manuscripts (sp510@cam.ac.uk).