The Sir Duncan Rice Library

History, Heritage & Walter Scott (UNI-Versal)

As his monument in Edinburgh’s Princes Street attests Walter Scott is central to Scotland’s history and heritage. Over the last thirty years the Walter Scott Research Centre at the University of Aberdeen has worked to rediscover his role in our heritage and to look at aspects of his work that speak to our experience…

Once Upon A Time - Sharing History Through Storytelling Workshop (UNI-Versal)

Legend, myth, folklore - words to excite an audience and alarm the historian! How do we tell the story of the past - “all our yesterdays” as Shakespeare put it - in as engaging a way as possible, yet still hold on to the intrinsic uncertainty that is at the heart of history? In this workshop, storyteller Andy Cannon…

Short Talk: EXPLORATION -John Rae & The Arctic (UNI-Versal)

During preparation for the exhibition ‘The Northwest Passage’, museum staff found many interesting items in the University of Aberdeen’s rare books and museum collections relating to Arctic exploration, especially the travels of John Rae in the 1840s and 50s. Join curator Jenny Downes for a look into these collections and…

Short Talk: GAMING - In Plague-Ridden Medieval Aberdeen (UNI-Versal)

In this talk, historians Dr Jackson Armstrong and William Hepburn explain how the grisly history of medieval Aberdeen came to life as the video game “Strange Sickness”, funded via Kickstarter. In the game players begin their journey in 1498 as Robert Collison, a young Aberdeen Town Council member faces the terrifying…

Storytelling and Public Speaking Workshop for Adults (UNI-Versal)

Do you get nervous when you stand up in front of an audience to speak?Do you wish you were more confident at speaking in public? Then join storyteller, Anna Fancett, for a workshop prompted by stories from history and find out how to share a short narrative in front of a live audience with confidence. In this workshop…

Storytelling Workshop for Children (UNI-Versal)

Do your children love stories? Would they like to become a storytelling star? Then come along to this workshop. Prompted by stories from history, they will learn how to break a story down into easy chunks, bring it to life through lively telling, and perform in front of an audience. This workshop is suitable for children…

Talking about Dr Jeannie MacLeod (UNI-Versal)

Dr Jeannie MacLeod (1872 – 1902) was the second ever female graduate of the University of Aberdeen’s Medical School, graduating in 1902 shortly before her tragic and premature death. Jeannie was a pioneer who helped pave the way for future women doctors; her remarkable talent set a precedent not only of equality, but for…