Tuesday Treasure: Women’s Social Lives in 19th Century Commonplace Books

Get to know our collections up close as we tell you stories about a selection of objects in our ever-popular Tuesday Treasure lunchtime drop-in.

Uncover the personal lives of 19th century women through newly acquired commonplace books in the University of Leeds Libraries’ collection. Used as artistic and literary outlets, including poems, letters, drawings and more, these commonplace books offer a glimpse into the sharing and collecting of culture amongst women in the Romantic and Victorian periods. 

Every book tells a new and personal story. One book, full of paintings of moths, shells, and poems about the natural world, can tell us of the author's connection to nature and the ways in which she understood and made sense of the world. Another book, full of postcards, maps out the international awareness of the author, connecting them to global locations, and establishing them in an imperial world beyond Britain. A pair of books, belonging to a husband and wife, allow us to explore the dynamics of marriage through the sharing of art and poetry between the couple, and give insight into what it means to share your personal life. Another book, full of poems and letters home, shows familial relationships, and changing emotions after moving away from home and settling in to another place to become someone new. 

This collection of books reveals the personal lives of women who, at the time, were not allowed to share and engage in conversations surrounding culture and art in many public spaces. Passed between friends, or used as a personal diary, they offer an insight into 19th century women's lives and ask us to re-consider our creative practices now.