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Eleanor Payne

December 3rd, 2015

Foundations exhibition at LSE Library – Beatrice Webb’s diaries

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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Eleanor Payne

December 3rd, 2015

Foundations exhibition at LSE Library – Beatrice Webb’s diaries

0 comments

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

“Foundations: LSE and the Science of Society” LSE Library exhibition is a great introduction to the history of LSE’s foundation, from concept to realisation. It also details some of the personal achievements of notable individuals such as Malinowski and Beveridge. Eleanor Payne, LSE Library, shares with us her favourite item from the exhibition.

My favourite item on display here is one of Beatrice Webb’s diaries. I think you get a real glimpse of her personality, especially when she talks about the “nondescript set of university men” that were interviewed for the prospective lecturers at the School in 1895. She also writes “It struck me always as a trifle difficult to teach a science which does not yet exist”.  Here I really detect an “I told you so” undertone to her words; perhaps she had been suggesting this might be the problem to her Fabian colleagues all along?!  Fascinating.

Beatrice Webb's diary at the Foundations exhibition
An open page of Beatrice Webb’s diary at the LSE Library Foundations exhibition. Beatrice Webb’s diaries are also available on the LSE Digital Library.

 

Eleanor Payne giving a talk at the LSE Library Foundations exhibition
Eleanor Payne presenting the archives at the LSE Library Foundations exhibition. LSE

Foundations: LSE and the Science of Society exhibition is in the LSE Library Exhibition Space. Open until Saturday 19 December 2015,  admission to the exhibition is free and it is situated on the left hand side as you enter the Library. The next library exhibition, ‘Women, Peace and Equality’ opens on Saturday 9 January 2016.  Follow the Library Twitter account @LSELibrary for information about forthcoming associated events and exhibition sneak peeks in the New Year.

Posts about LSE Library explore the history of the Library, our archives and special collections.

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

LSE 120th anniversary

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About the author

Pencils on a yellow background. Photo by Joanna Kosinska on Unsplash

Eleanor Payne

Eleanor Payne is formerly of LSE Library.

Posted In: Beatrice and Sidney Webb | Events | LSE Library

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