​Democratizing Knowledge:
In Chambers's Encyclopaedia
THIS IS A LEGACY PAGE. RESEARCH FOR THIS PHD WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 2018
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Driven by an investigation of a collection of 20,000 W&R Chambers wood engravings held by National Museums Scotland, this project will examine the first two editions of Chambers’s encyclopaedia (1860–68 and 1888–92). It will explore how these were affected by changes in technology and working practices in the printing and publishing industries, specifically looking at images, illustrations, and the philosophy and ideals of Victorian "progress" and "self-improvement."
First and second edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia at Chetham's Library
Woodblocks showing fossils from the first edition (left) and the second edition (right).
First and second edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia at Chetham's Library
PhD Project
THIS IS A LEGACY PAGE. RESEARCH FOR THIS PHD WAS COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER 2018
This AHRC funded PhD research project into Victorian book illustration, is a collaboratation between the National Museums Scotland and the University of Reading, Department of Typography and Graphic Communication.