Gregory Walker’s COSEELIS DIRECTORY
INTRODUCTION
This short directory of institutions, libraries and archives relevant to research in Russian and East European studies (REES) in the UK is based on a list of contacts compiled to support the work of the Council for Slavonic and East European Libraries and Information Services (COSEELIS).
RESEARCH AND COLLECTION ACTIVITIES: GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE
The entire area of the former USSR and its successor states; all the former communist states of Central and Eastern Europe (except the GDR) and their successors.
CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION
The directory aims to include:
- Universities and other, non-university, institutions which contain departments, centres, committees or other specifically designated units that are academically active in REES. It does not attempt to list individual academics with REES interests, nor institutions where the only REES activity consists of courses run from a language centre.
- Libraries and archives – not necessarily attached to universities – which either (a) are actively acquiring, or offering access to, material which can support academic work in REES, or (b) are no longer collecting such material but are retaining substantial holdings in REES acquired in the past.
- Centres (officially sponsored or otherwise) with active programmes presenting the arts, culture, social and current affairs, etc., of a country included in the coverage of this directory (see ‘Geographical Coverage’ above). Some of these, though not all, also have libraries.
CONTENT OF ENTRIES
Each entry in the directory contains, as far as possible:
- The title of the institution or organisation, and that of any designated subdivision dealing specifically with REES.
- A brief outline of its relevance to REES and its current activities and interests.
- Website and E-contact addresses, with postal addresses for libraries and cultural centres.
SOURCES, RELIABILITY AND COMPLETENESS
Most of the particulars given are derived from institutions’ own web pages. Not all of these are very informative for the purposes of this directory, and a few are out of date. In some cases supplementary enquiries have been made by email. However, some entries are still scanty, and some relevant institutions or organisations may have been missed altogether. Additions and corrections are very welcome, and should be sent to Gregory Walker at the address below.
ARRANGEMENT
Arrangement is alphabetical by town/city, then alphabetical by institutional title. Within an institution, academic bodies are listed first, followed by any relevant library or libraries.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Grateful thanks are due to Dr Katya Rogatchevskaia, Chair of COSEELIS, and members of the COSEELIS Committee, for their advice and contributions, and also to all those librarians and archivists who responded so helpfully to enquiries.
Gregory Walker
January 2019
COSEELIS DIRECTORY
ABERDEEN
UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN
Aberdeen Centre for Russian and East European History. Focus for research on the history of Russia, North Eastern and Central Europe. Undergraduate, masters’ and PhD programmes.
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/sdhp/aberdeen-centre-for-russian-and-east-european-history-acreeh-254.php
New Europe Centre. Research themes include transformation in, and migration from, Eastern Europe.
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/research-area/887/new-europe-centre/
University Library
Sir Duncan Rice Library, Bedford Road, Aberdeen AB24 3AA
Archives and special collections hold substantial material on Scots in Eastern Europe, Jews in Central Europe, and the Northern Baltic area. English-language printed holdings from 19th and early 20th centuries on Russia, Eastern Europe and Siberia.
Email: speclib@abdn.ac.uk
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/library/
BATH
UNIVERSITY OF BATH
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies. Offers BAs incorporating Russian language with Russian politics, society and culture, and MAs in Interpreting and Translating which include Russian, also PhD opportunities.
https://www.bath.ac.uk/departments/department-of-politics-languages-international-studies/
University Library
Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY
Acquisition in REES is now very limited. Special collections include Elkin Collection of 500+ books on Russian literature, culture, history, arts and theatre, mainly in Russian.
Email: library@bath.ac.uk
https://www.bath.ac.uk/library/
BIRMINGHAM
UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES). Multidisciplinary centre (‘one of the world’s leading institutes in the field’) orientated towards social sciences and history, dealing with Russia, the former USSR, and Central and Eastern Europe. Undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/governmentsociety/centres/crees/index.aspx
Department of Modern Languages. Russian Studies. Research, postgraduate and undergraduate programmes in Russian language, literature and media studies.
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/lcahm/departments/languages/sections/russian/index.aspx
University Library
Main Library, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT
Current acquisition of material in REES is on the recommendation of academic staff. Most of the Baykov Collection on Russian and E European politics, economics and society (‘an archive of international renown’) is held in the Orchard Learning Resource Centre on the Selly Oak campus (olrc@bham.ac.uk). The Main Library holds the collections in Russian language and literature. The Cadbury Research Library’s archives and special collections include material relating to REES, including the papers of the historian E.H. Carr.
Email: library@bham.ac.uk
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/libraries/index.aspx
https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/facilities/cadbury/index.aspx
BRISTOL
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL
School of Modern Languages. Department of Russian. Undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes in Russian and Czech studies. Individual academics with REES research interests in several other departments.
Email: sml-office@bristol.ac.uk
University Library
Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TJ
Active acquisition to support Russian and Czech studies. Special collections include an important Shostakovich archive.
Email: library-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk
CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge Committee for Russian and East European Studies (CamCREES). For interdisciplinary collaboration. Participating departments etc. include Slavonic Studies; Politics and International Studies; History; History of Art; Music; and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
https://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/slavonic/camcrees
Cambridge Courtauld Russian Art Centre (CCRAC)
Department of History of Art, 1-5 Scroope Terrace, Cambridge CB2 1PX
Jointly founded by the Courtauld Institute of Art and Cambridge University’s Department of the History of Art to promote the study of Russian and Soviet art.
Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages. Slavonic Studies Section. Undergraduate, postgraduate and research programmes, concentrating on Russia, Poland and Ukraine, with emphasis on history from the Middle Ages to the present.
https://www.mml.cam.ac.uk/slavonic
University Library
West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR
Legal deposit library and one of five National Research Libraries. In REES, acquisition now focused Russian, Polish and Ukrainian studies, but major collections in most subjects and countries covered by REES. The most significant special collection is the Catherine Cooke Collection for research on Russian and Soviet art and design.
Email: slavonic@lib.cam.ac.uk
www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/slavonic-collections
Modern and Medieval Languages Library
Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DA
Extensive collections on Slavonic languages and literatures, primarily to support undergraduate and MPhil students.
Email: mmlib@hermes.cam.ac.uk
https://mml.cam.ac.uk/library/research-help
Scott Polar Research Institute Library
Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1ER
‘The world’s premier Polar library’, with wide coverage of the Russian Arctic and Siberia, including archives and a picture library.
Email: library@spri.cam.ac.uk
https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/library/
CARDIFF
UNIVERSITY OF CARDIFF
School of History, Archaeology and Religion. Central and East European Research Group. Promotes and supports interdisciplinary research on Central and Eastern Europe, including Russia.
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/explore/research-units/central-and-east-european-research-group
University Library
Arts and Social Studies Library, Colum Drive, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 0DE
Special Collections include an extensive collection of publications (largely in English) on Central and Eastern Europe, notably Czechoslovakia and Poland. Archives of the British Labour Party include Soviet Union correspondence (1919-1939) and papers of Annie Grace Henderson (1888-1974) including her 1930s travels in the Soviet Union.
specialcollections@cardiff.ac.uk
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/special-collections/subject-guides/
COLCHESTER
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX
University Library
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, Essex CO4 3SQ
The library no longer collects in REES, since there are now no academic programmes in the field, but the substantial REES holdings built up over several decades from the 1960s have so far been retained. Special collections include the Ellis East European Elections Collection.
Email: libline@essex.ac.uk
https://library.essex.ac.uk/home
COVENTRY
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK
University Library. Modern Records Centre
University Road, Coventry CV4 7AL
The centre holds a digitized collection on the Russian revolution and Britain (1917-1928), and the archives of some British Trotskyist and far-left movements with Soviet connections.
Email: archives@warwick.ac.uk
https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/
DURHAM
UNIVERSITY OF DURHAM
School of Modern Languages and Cultures. Department of Russian Studies. Undergraduate, masters’ and PhD programmes in Russian studies, with emphasis on the period from 1700 to the present, including history, language, literature, music, gender studies and cinema. Active interdisciplinary research.
https://www.dur.ac.uk/mlac/russian/
Russkiy Mir / Russian World Centre. Facilities for promoting acquaintance with Russian culture, including a lending library.
https://www.dur.ac.uk/russkiymircentre
University Library
Stockton Road, Durham DH1 3LY
Collecting to support research and teaching in Russian studies relies on recommendations from academic staff. Material on Central Asia, acquired while there was teaching and research on this area, has been retained but is rarely added to.
Email: c.w.purcell@durham.ac.uk
https://www.dur.ac.uk/library/
EDINBURGH
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND
George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EW
Legal deposit library. Regular collecting on Russia/USSR and (to a lesser extent) on E Europe from the 1960s, chiefly in politics, history, literature, culture and the arts. Acquisition now concentrates mainly on Scottish links with, and the activities of Scots in, Russia and E Europe. Poland is the country most heavily represented after Russia/USSR. Special collections include the John and Ljubica Erickson Collection of over 7000 items (not yet fully catalogued) dealing with the history of the Red Army and Soviet military affairs more widely.
Email: enquiries@nls.uk
For a description of the NLS’s Slavonic and EE collections, see: https://www.nls.uk/collections/foreign/slavonic
UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
Department of European Languages and Cultures. Russian Section. ‘The oldest Russian teaching organisation in Scotland’. Undergraduate (MA), postgraduate and doctoral programmes in Russian studies.
https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/delc/russian
Princess Dashkova Russian Centre. Promotes Russian-language studies and the understanding of Russia through research, training and information exchange. Houses a multi-media library. Associated with the Research Unit for the Study of Russian in Context (RiC) and with academics in the Department of Politics and International Relations.
https://www.ed.ac.uk/literatures-languages-cultures/dashkova
University Library
George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9LJ
Holdings are predominantly in Russian literature, language and history. Range of online resources for Russian studies. Archival collections include letters from Mark Aldanov to Ivan and Vera Bunin.
Email: IS.Helpdesk@ed.ac.uk
https://www.ed.ac.uk/information-services/library-museum-gallery
EXETER
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
College of Humanities. Department of Modern Languages. Russian. Undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral programmes in Russian studies. Research focuses on 20th-century Russian literature and cultural history.
https://www.humanities.exeter.ac.uk/modernlanguages/russian/
University Library
Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4PY
Holdings are predominantly in Russian literature, language and history.
Email: libraryhelp@exeter.ac.uk
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/library/
GLASGOW
UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
School of Modern Languages and Cultures. Slavonic Studies. Russian, Czech and Polish studies, including media, cinema, censorship and drama besides language and literature. Undergraduate (MA), postgraduate and research programmes.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/
School of Social and Political Sciences. Central and East European Studies (CEES). ‘World-leading centre for research’. Also undergraduate (MA) and postgraduate programmes in REES (history, economics, politics, society), linked with teaching of Russian, Polish, Czech and Hungarian. Research groups within CEES include the Glasgow Baltic Studies Research Unit (GBRU), which focuses on the late Soviet and early independence period and has its own archive.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/subjects/cees/
University Library. Russian and East European Library
Hillhead Street, Glasgow G12 8QE
‘One of the best Russian, Central and East European collections in the world’. Held in the Main Library. Strong emphasis on Russian/Soviet economy. Major microform collections of Russian archives. Wide coverage of Central and East European politics, history and economics 1918-1998. Current collecting focuses on Russian/Soviet politics, government, culture, history and society; Baltic States; Poland; and the Czech Republic. Special collections include the Trotsky Archive.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/library/
KEW
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU
The official archive for the UK Government. Extensive and varied documentation relating to REES, especially to British official relations with the countries concerned and British military involvement in the area, e.g. the Crimean War and anti-Bolshevik intervention. (See also Imperial War Museum under LONDON.)
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY
Library and Learning Services
Penrhyn Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 2EE
Special collections include the Vane Ivanović Library and Archive, with c. 5000 books on 20th-century Europe, especially Balkan history and politics.
Email: archives@kingston.ac.uk
https://www.kingston.ac.uk/library-and-learning-services/archives-and-special-collections/
LEEDS
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
School of Languages, Cultures and Societies. Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies. ‘One of the most attractive Slavonic research centres in the north of England’. Undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral programmes. Research interests include Czech as well as Russian themes.
www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/info/20058/russian_and_slavonic_studies
Brotherton Library
Woodhouse Lane, Leeds LS2 9JT
Current acquisition in REES were made on the recommendation of the Archivist at the Leeds Russian Archive (see below) in consultation with the Department. The Leeds Russian Archive, one of the library’s special collections, is a major research resource with c.650 collections relating to Russian and Russian émigré history, literature and culture, and to Anglo-Russian contacts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Apart from archival collections, the LRA also maintains its own collection of printed books.
Email: specialcollections@library.leeds.ac.uk
https://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections/collection/728/leeds_russian_archive_guide
LIVERPOOL
UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL
Department of Politics. Europe and the World Centre. Research interests include Eastern and Central Europe and the Balkans, and ethnic policies in post-communist Europe.
https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/europe-and-the-world/
LONDON
ARMENIAN INSTITUTE
Armenian Church Hall, Iverna Gardens, London W8 6TP
Non-affiliated body offering cultural and current affairs programmes, also language classes. Its Library has over 7000 volumes, including the collection of Prof Charles Dowsett, former Professor of Armenian at Oxford.
Phone: 020 7938 3336
www.armenianinstitute.org.uk/library/
BALASSI INSTITUTE. HUNGARIAN CULTURAL CENTRE LONDON
10 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7NA
Officially supported centre promoting Hungarian art and culture.
Email: info@hungary.org.uk
www.london.balassiintezet.hu/en/
BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE
BFI National Archive and BFI Reuben Library
Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT
The UK’s largest collection of cinema and TV recordings, in multiple formats, as well as books, journals, press cuttings, posters, scripts and personal papers. Although the emphasis is predominantly on the UK, the scope is international and includes much material from, or relating to, Russia, the USSR and Eastern Europe. The Collections Search database gives access to the holdings of both archive and library.
https://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections
THE BRITISH LIBRARY
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
Legal deposit library. ‘One of the leading collections of the world’ for research in REES, with many special collections and extensive online resources.
Email (general): Customer-Services@bl.uk
For descriptions and further contacts, see:
https://www.bl.uk/subjects/slavonic-studies/collection-guides/
More detailed descriptions of collections in some languages can be found in:
https://www.bl.uk/subjects/slavonic-studies
BULGARIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE LONDON
188 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5HL (Bulgarian Embassy)
Officially supported, with active cultural programme.
Library.
Email: office@bcilondon.co.uk
CHATHAM HOUSE (The Royal Institute of International Affairs)
10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE
Russia and Eurasia Programme. Conducts and supports research on Russia, Eastern Europe and the area of the former USSR.
https://www.chathamhouse.org/about/structure/russia-eurasia-programme/about
Library. Extensive coverage of publications (mainly in English) on international relations, security affairs, and the political, economic and environmental situation in Russia and Eastern Europe. A wide range of electronic resources bearing on international relations is accessible.
Email: Library@chathamhouse.org
https://www.chathamhouse.org/library/library-collections
CZECH CENTRE
30 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY
Showcasing Czech culture in the UK, also Czech language courses. Officially supported by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Email: info@czechcentre.org.uk
http://london.czechcentres.cz/
FRANCIS SKARYNA BELARUSIAN LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
37 Holden Road, London N12 8HS
The library is an independent institution owned by a charitable trust. Book collection estimated at c. 30,000 volumes, over 20 printed before 1800. The strongest areas are history, literature, language, religion, folklore, local lore, bibliography, music and art. All standard reference works are available. A collection of expatriate publications, both books and periodicals, is fairly comprehensive. New publications from Belarus are purchased regularly, as well as all important Belarus-related works appearing abroad in any language. Most books are in Belarusian, with a fair number in Russian and Polish, and fewer in German, French and other languages. The archives contain Church documents of the 18th and 19th centuries, materials from the period of the Belarusian Democratic Republic (1918), and the archives of Belarusian organisations and personalities in exile. See more here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Skaryna_Belarusian_Library_and_Museum
Email: library@skaryna.org.uk
GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
Centre for Russian Music. Research into, and performance of, Russian and Soviet music. Its special collections include the Ivashkin-Schnittke Archive. (The Sergei Prokofiev Archive, formerly held here, has been transferred to Columbia University Archives.)
Centre for the Study of the Balkans. Interdepartmental centre for collaboration in research Turkey). Stevan K. Pavlowitch Collection on Balkan history recently received.
IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM LONDON
Lambeth Road, London SE1 6HZ
Collections cover all aspects of conflict involving the UK, British Empire and Commonwealth from the First World War to the present. Contents include private and official papers, printed matter, sound recordings, film and photographs. Much material relating to REES, including British anti-Bolshevik intervention 1918-1921. (See also The National Archives under KEW.)
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON
King’s Russia Institute. Research and postgraduate centre supporting interdisciplinary study on Russian society, politics and economy, and on the Eurasian region more broadly. MSc and PhD programmes.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/departments/kri/
Department of War Studies. Russian and Eurasian Security Research Group. Focus for research, seminars, workshops and training of postgraduate students.
https://www.kcl,ac.uk/sspp/departments/warstudies/research/groups/res/index.aspx
KCL Library
The Strand, London WC2R 2LS
Special collections include the very important FCO Historical Collection, formerly the bulk of the FCO Library, deposited at KCL in 2007. It contains much material relevant to REES, especially concerning UK-Russian/Soviet relations. (Note that FCO archives are held at The National Archives.)
Email: specialcollections@kcl.ac.uk
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/library/archives/special-collections/individualcollections/fco.aspx
THE LONDON LIBRARY
14 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LG
‘The UK’s leading literary institution’. Independent subscription library. Until 2017 was actively collecting on Russia and in Russian, especially in the arts and humanities. No longer any specialist expertise or active collection policy aimed at Russian studies and literature.
Email: enquiries@londonlibrary.co.uk
For an informative guide to the Russian collections, see:
http://www.londonlibrary.co.uk/images/RausingRussianColl2018.pdf
LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY
Guildhall School of Business and Law. Offers BA courses in Translation, including Russian and Polish, and MA courses in Translation and in Interpreting, which include Russian, Polish and Romanian.
https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/schools/business-and-law/
Library
16 Goulston Street, London E1 7TP
The library’s special collections include the TUC Library, within which are the Russian Collections, consisting of material collected by TUC delegations to the USSR in 1920, 1924 and 1925.
Email: specialcollections@londonmet.ac.uk
LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE (LSE)
Largest UK HE institution specialising in research and teaching in the social sciences. Several departments offer programmes with substantial REES content, including International Relations, International History and Economic History, as well as the postgraduate European Institute. Russian is taught by the Language Centre in support of other departments.
www.lse.ac.uk/international-relations
www.lse.ac.uk/international-history
www.lse.ac.uk/european-institute
LSE Library (British Library of Political and Economic Science – BLPES)
Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE
One of five National Research Libraries, and a major resource for REES research in the social sciences, in which it has collected systematically since 1945. The Russian Collection contains Russian-language material, including much primary source documentation. Recently-published Russian and Eastern European material is also being added to the main collection under an approval plan. Other special collections include the Schapiro Collection, which deals chiefly with Soviet and E European affairs of the Khrushchev and Brezhnev periods.
Email: library.enquiries@lse.ac.uk
MARX MEMORIAL LIBRARY AND WORKERS’ SCHOOL
37A Clerkenwell Green, London EC1R 0DU
Independent institution ‘at the heart of the British labour movement’ since 1933. Library collections include much material on the USSR and international communism, Soviet posters, and the archives of some British friendship organisations.
https://www.marx-memorial-library.org/
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD
Library and Archives. The Library and Archives has been developing its unparalleled collection of natural history literature, artwork and information resources since 1881. It includes Russian and East European material related to natural history and the sciences, and many works on the topography of, and travels and voyages in and to, Russia and Eastern Europe. Archives include some file correspondence with Russian scientists. Active collecting of material in Russian stopped several years ago.
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/library-and-archives.html
POLISH CULTURAL INSTITUTE
10 Bouverie Street, London EC4Y 8AX
Official body to foster cultural ties between Poland and the UK. Very active programme covering the arts, film, theatre, music and literature.
Email: london.pci@instytutpolski.org
POLISH INSTITUTE AND SIKORSKI MUSEUM
20 Prince’s Gate, London SW7 1PT
The institute’s collections focus on the wartime history of Poland and the Poles. They include the archives of the Polish Government in Exile, extensive documentation on the Polish armed forces 1939-1945, and many personal and subject collections, besides a Photo Archive and a Film Archive.
POLISH LIBRARY
238-246 King Street, London W6 0RF
The library of the Polish Social and Cultural Association (POSK) is an important research resource specialising in the collection of Polonica, especially of émigré Polish publications. Holdings include books, periodicals, newspapers, MSS and photos. ‘The primary source of research and information on [Polish] émigré social history and culture since the end of II World War’.
Email: library@polishlibrary.co.uk
PUSHKIN HOUSE
5A Bloomsbury Square, London WC1A 2TA
Independent Russian cultural centre with active events programme. Its library has a ‘reference collection of rare Russian literature’.
Email: office@pushkinhouse.org.uk
Also home to the Russian Language Centre.
Email: info@russiancentre.co.uk
QUEEN MARY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
School of Languages, Linguistics & Film. Department of Modern Languages & Cultures. Russian. Undergraduate programmes and PhD opportunities in Russian studies, including literature, cinema, media and history.
https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/modern-languages-and-cultures/research/russian/
QMUL Library.
Mile End Library, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS
Current collecting concentrates on English-language material supporting the work of the department.
Email: library@qmul.ac.uk
https://www.library.qmul.ac.uk/
ROMANIAN CULTURAL CENTRE LONDON
18 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H 6EQ
Independent association, with programmes covering the arts, film, music, literature and academia. Also an ‘information centre’.
Email: mail@romanianculturalcentre.org.uk
www.romanianculturalcentre.org.uk/
ROMANIAN CULTURAL INSTITUTE
1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH
Officially supported institute with active cultural programme.
Library.
Email: office@icc-london.co.uk
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY
1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR
Library. The society’s Library, Map Room, Picture Library and Archive have nationally important holdings on all branches of geography and cartography, including coverage of Central and Eastern Europe and the whole area of the former USSR.
Email: enquiries@rgs.org
https://www.rgs.org/about/our-collections/
SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL & AFRICAN STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON (SOAS)
Centre of Contemporary Central Asia and the Caucasus (CCCAC). ‘The largest grouping [of scholars working on Central Asia and the Caucasus] in any single institution in the UK or Europe’. Interdisciplinary coordination and promotion of research on transformation in the former Soviet republics, and more widely on the history, society and languages of the area.
SOAS Library
Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
One of five National Research Libraries, in this case for the study of Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Extensive coverage of the nations and peoples of Central Asia and the Caucasus.
Email: libenquiry@soas.ac.uk
https://www.soas.ac.uk/library/
SOCIETY FOR CO-OPERATION IN RUSSIAN AND SOVIET STUDIES (SCRSS)
320 Brixton Road, London SW9 6AB
Independent library and cultural centre supporting study and research on Russia and the former USSR. Events include lectures, exhibitions, seminars and films. Its large Library has important and some rare holdings, in English and Russian, on the arts, humanities and social sciences relating to the area, especially for the period 1917-1991. Also has archives and a photographic library. One of the most interesting photographic collections is one of theatre photographs from the 1920s-1030s in the Huntly-Carter Collection. A lot of their photographic materials have been digitised.
Email: ruslibrary@scrss.org.uk
UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE
79 Holland Park, London W11 3SW
Active cultural and current affairs programmes. Ukrainian language courses. Affiliated to the Ukrainian Catholic University.
Email: info@ukrainianinstitute.org.uk
www.ukrainianinstitute.org/uk/about/
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON
UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES). ‘One of the UK’s largest institutions for research and teaching on Russia, the Baltics, and Central and Eastern Europe’. Four interrelated programmes: Economics and Business; History; Languages; and Culture, Politics and Sociology. Undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral programmes. Multiple research centres and seminar series. All Slavonic and other E European languages are taught.
UCL SSEES Library
16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW
‘Spectacular library’ with extensive coverage of all areas and subjects handled by the School, in all relevant languages. Numerous special collections.
For full Gogol’s Collection Descriptions, see:
UCL Libraries’ Resources on Gogol
Gogol’s SSEES Audio-visual collection
For archive collections see: http://www.ssees.ucl.ac.uk/archives/
Email: ssees-library@ucl.ac.uk
VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM
National Art Library.
Cromwell Road, London SW7 2RL
The national centre for the documentation art, craft and design, and one of the foremost art libraries in the world. Extensive collections on the arts of Russia, the USSR and Eastern Europe, especially in architecture, topography, archaeology and museum catalogues.
Email via: contact@vam.ac.uk
https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/national-art-library
WIENER LIBRARY
29 Russell Square, London WC1B 5DP
‘One of the world’s leading and most extensive archives on the Holocaust and Nazism’. Much material (documents, books, pamphlets, press cuttings, photos…) relating to Jews and antisemitism in Eastern Europe and the area of the former USSR.
Email: info@wienerlibrary.co.uk
https://www.wienerlibrary.co.uk
MANCHESTER
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER
School of Arts, Languages and Cultures. Modern Languages and Cultures. Russian and East European Studies. ‘One of the top five universities for Russian and East European studies in the UK’. Besides language studies, undergraduate courses offered include history, society, culture, media, film and politics in Russia, the former USSR, Poland and SE Europe. Masters’ and doctoral programmes in Russian Studies and Polish Studies.
https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/modern-languages/study/languages/russian-studies/
https://www.alc.manchester.ac.uk/modern-languages/research/russian-studies/
Russian and Eurasian Studies Network. For cross-disciplinary collaboration in research and postgraduate teaching across the university. (Former Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies.)
University of Manchester Library.
Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PP
One of the five National Research Libraries. Current selection and acquisition of monographs in REES is done by academic staff, but the Library is actively developing access to REES-related databases and journals. Special collections include the papers of the Russian revolutionary Alexis Aladin.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE
School of Arts and Cultures. Eastern European and Russian Research Group. To foster collaboration in REES research. [?only recently established].
https://research.ncl.ac.uk/sacs/
The Military, War and Security Research Group also has REES interests.
https://research.ncl.ac.uk/mwrsg/
NORWICH
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA
Faculty of Arts and Humanities. School of History. Research themes include modern Russian and Soviet history, revolutionary Russia, and ethnicity and genocide in the Balkans.
https://www.uea.ac.uk/history/research
University Library
Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ
Records strong holdings on Russian history.
Email: lib.helpdesk@uea.ac.uk
https://portal.uea.ac.uk/library
NOTTINGHAM
UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies. Department of Modern Languages and Area Studies. Russian and Slavonic Studies. Undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral programmes in Russian Studies. Serbian/Croatian can also be offered, and Slovene at postgraduate level, in conjunction with research and teaching on history, literature and visual culture of SE Europe. Academics in R&SS also participate in the activities of the Centre for the Study of Post Conflict Societies and the research cluster Memory Studies and the Politics of Memory.
Also strong interest in Russian themes in the Department of History.
University of Nottingham Libraries
Kings Meadow Campus, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2RD
Collecting in REES is based on course reading lists and academic recommendations. Special collections include a unique collection of Soviet war posters and the papers of Professor Janko Lavrin.
Email: collections@nottingham.ac.uk
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/library/
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies. Offers MSc and MPhil programmes in Russian and East European Studies, and DPhils in Area Studies (including REES). Also offers a Georgia
Programme. Has links with The Oxford Seminar for the Caucasus and Central Asia (TOSCCA).
Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages. Russian and Slavonic Sub-Faculty. Focus for research is on the language, literature and culture of Russia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. Undergraduate, masters’ and PhD programmes are offered.
https://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/people/russian
https://www.mod-langs.ox.ac.uk/russian
Bodleian Libraries
Broad Street, Oxford OX1 3BG
The Bodleian is a legal deposit library and one of five National Research Libraries. REES holdings are believed to be the largest in the UK outside London, with extensive coverage of the whole of Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and the entire area of the former USSR. Bodleian REES collections are distributed between the central Bodleian, the Taylor Institution Library, the Social Studies Library and other locations. For details, see the website pages below.
Email (general): reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
https://www.libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/russianandslavonicresources
https://www.libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/rees
https://www.libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/slavonicspecialcollections
St Antony’s College. Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre
Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6JF
Centre for research and postgraduate teaching on Russian and Soviet history, Russian politics and foreign policy, Russian literature and culture, and the economics of Russia, Ukraine and Central Asia, all at MSc/MPhil/DPhil level. Close links with TOSCCA(see above). The RESC Library has extensive holdings in REES, with special strengths in Russian and Soviet politics and history, predominantly in Russian.
https://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/research-centres/russian-and-eurasian-studies-centre
- ANDREWS
UNIVERSITY OF ST. ANDREWS
Centre for Russian, Soviet, Central and East European Studies (CRSCEES). Coordinates and promotes Russian, post-Soviet and E European studies. Postgraduate and doctoral opportunities. Members include academics from the Schools of Modern Languages; International Relations; History; Divinity; Art History; and Philosophical, Anthropological & Film Studies.
http://crscees.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk
School of Modern Languages. Department of Russian. Undergraduate (MA) programmes in Russian language, literature and culture. Postgraduate and doctoral opportunities.
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/modlangs/russian/
University Library
North Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9TR
Collecting in support of REES (including research as well as teaching) on recommendations from academic staff.
Email: library@st-andrews.ac.uk
https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/library/
SHEFFIELD
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD
School of Languages and Cultures. Russian and Slavonic Studies. Undergraduate, masters’ and doctoral programmes in Russian studies. Czech, Polish and Serbian also offered. Research focuses on (1) Russian literary and cultural studies and (2) Slavonic languages and linguistics.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/russian
The R&SS department is also the base for two research centres:
The Bakhtin Centre, for research on theories of culture in Russia and the USSR. The centre’s library collection was transferred to the main University Library in 2016 (see below).
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/bakhtin.
The Prokhorov Centre, for research on Central and East European cultural life. ‘The only research forum in the UK with an integrated focus on the intellectual and cultural histories of both Central and Eastern Europe’.
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/prokhorov-centre/index
University Library
Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN
Collecting in Russian and Slavonic studies is based on recommendations from the academic staff, as are acquisitions for the Bakhtin Collection (see above). Other special collections include the papers of Aylmer Maude (Tolstoy translator) and the Klugmann Collection (material on and from CPGB and Soviet affairs, 1930s—50s)
Email: library@sheffield.ac.uk
https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library
SHRIVENHAM (Swindon)
CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY
Barrington Library
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham SN6 8LA
Special collections include the Russian Military Studies Archive, amalgamated from several MoD collections dealing with military and defence subjects related to Russia, the USSR and the former Soviet Bloc. Much material in Russian and other East European languages. Books, report series, journals and maps. Much uncatalogued.
Email: rmsa@cranfield.ac.uk
https://www.barrington.cranfield.ac.uk/rmsa
SOUTHAMPTON
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
Hartley Library.
University Road, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ
The university library’s special collections include ‘one of the largest Jewish archives in Western Europe’, consisting of the Parkes Library on Jewish/non-Jewish relations and a number of other archives. They provide much material on the Holocaust and on the Jewish ghettos of Eastern Europe.
Email: archives@soton.ac.uk
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/archives
The Inaugural Dostoevsky Day UK 