The Return of the Notebooks

Thu 13 October 2022

Cambridge University Library

In March 2022, after mysteriously disappearing over two decades ago, Charles Darwin’s famous Tree of Life notebooks were anonymously returned to Cambridge University Library in a bright pink gift bag. They are now one of the major exhibits in Darwin in Conversation, an exhibition celebrating the endlessly curious life and letters of Darwin.

Join University Librarian, Dr Jessica Gardner, in conversation with Master of Selwyn College, Roger Mosey, where they will discuss the search for the notebooks, their unexpected but welcomed return to the library, and lessons learnt from their disappearance. Following this, there will be time for questions from the audience.

Dr Jessica Gardner is University Librarian and Director of Library Services at the University of Cambridge. Previously she was University Librarian at the University of Bristol and Head of Library and Culture Services at the University of Exeter. Her early career and doctoral studies were based on literary archives and manuscripts at the University of Leeds. Jessica is Chair of Research Libraries UK and a Fellow of Selwyn College.

Roger Mosey is the Master of Selwyn College. Previously, he spent most of his career at the BBC including being Editor of Today on BBC Radio 4; Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live; Head of BBC Television News; Director of Sport and the BBC Director of London 2012. He is the author of two books, and writes regularly for newspapers and magazines.

Cost: Free