LSE Library is opening a new exhibition to share even more of the amazing stories we have within our archives and special collections, writes Eleanor Payne. 

Foundations: LSE and the Science of Society celebrates the achievements of LSE staff and students and investigates the innovative founding principles of the School. Perfect in size for a lunch hour visit, come along and discover how and why LSE was founded and the transformation it has seen under different Directors.

Find out how Beatrice Webb recorded her involvement in LSE and how she pioneered social change.

Learn how the LSE motto and coat of arms we all know and love were chosen under the instruction of William Beveridge.

Be inspired by the achievements of pioneers such as Bronislaw Malinowski and Arthur Lewis in the fields of Social Anthropology and Development.

In October 1895 the London School of Economics and Political Science was founded. 120 years later, now is an opportune time to reflect on the lasting impact that the individuals that have studied or taught here have had on both LSE and society. In fact, we found it difficult to choose which to feature in the exhibition because, quite simply, there were so many of them! There are probably over a dozen more exhibitions like this in the making.

For now though, we hope this exhibition can inspire you. We can also consider how different society might have been without LSE.

Foundations: LSE and the Science of Society opens on 19 September and runs until 19 December 2015.

For further information and opening times visit lse.ac.uk/library/exhibitions.

This post was published during LSE’s 120th anniversary celebrations

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