On Monday 21st April, the University of St Andrews hosted the annual Forbes Collecting prize ceremony, a partnership between the University and notable antiquarian Bill Zachs, founder and director of the Blackie House Library and Museum.
The prize, which is in its tenth year, was open to all students who have a collection of printed, manuscript, or photographic material, with past winners haven presented collections about mountaineering, green Penguin book editions, lesbian pulp fiction, and instruction manuals of South Indian Dancing. This year’s finalists ranged from works of Agatha Christie in translation and Beano annuals to typewriter font sets and the poetry of Robert Burns.
Run through the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums the Prize aims to encourage and empower students with a passion for curation of their materials and emphasises the joy to be found in it. Bill Zachs said “The James Forbes Book Collecting Prize at St Andrews University, like the prizes established at other Scottish universities (Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow) celebrate collecting in the past, present and future.
“Forbes (1809-1868), a brilliant physicist and glaciologist, gave his highly important scientific collection to the University of which he was Principal. In each of the past ten years the Forbes Prize winner receives funds (£500) to grow their own collection, while at the same time the endowed Forbes Prize fund enables the student winner to work with the special collections librarians to find relevant books which are then donated in the student's name to the University.
“In doing so, the joy of collecting and philanthropy are united, honouring Forbes and this year’s winner. The winner is then eligible to submit their collection to a nationwide competition which also has the dual concept of collecting and donating.”
University of St Andrews Assistant Rare Books Librarian Briony Harding who co-ordinates the prize each year said:” It’s fantastic that St Andrews has a collecting prize, which encourages students to collect written and printed material. It’s been a joy over the years to see just what students collect – not just the subject matter, but also the variety of objects, where printed material such as books, photographs, and postcards can be supported by ceramic tiles, DVDs, and typewriters.
“Many of the students, who don’t necessarily think of themselves as collectors, are passionate about what they collect, and I hope that the Prize continues to encourage students on their collecting journey over the next ten years.” The Prize, originated in 2015, is offered in honour of James David Forbes (1809-1868), the eminent scientist and Principal of the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard at St Andrews, whose library was presented to the University in 1929.
The Forbes donation makes up just a small part of the University’s own extensive and historically significant archive of rare books. Sean Rippington Head of Archives and Rare Books at the University of St Andrews said “The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413. We’ve been collecting for over 600 years, with more than 220,000 rare and early printed books, a huge number of archives and manuscripts, and over a million photographs in our University Collections and Museums.
“These are of national and international significance, and are used for teaching and research, consulted in a dedicated reading room, digitised and made accessible online, and displayed in exhibitions in St Andrews and elsewhere. They form a unique part of what makes St Andrews a world leading university.”
The winner was announced at a special reception held during the evening.
