Its celebrated cartoons and gently satirical humour made Punch something of a national institution, and it became a regular feature of coffee tables, and of dentists’ and doctors’ waiting rooms, across the country. Until recently, however, it was largely neglected by academics.
This pioneering exhibition draws on the work of Clare Horrocks, senior lecturer in media, culture and communication, who secured a Liverpool John Moores early career fellowship (in partnership with the British Library) to work on Punch and other periodicals. Liverpool John Moores owns a complete run of the magazine from 1841, the year of its inception, to 1936.
Dr Horrocks said that the exhibition’s four cases of artefacts, 12 large posters of sample pages and copies of 19th-century magazines from the archives should offer “an alternative way for students to approach studying the Victorian periodical press”.
The exhibition runs from 22 October to 20 December, and may be viewed by appointment. An online version of the exhibition will present digitised versions of every image on display.
Send suggestions for this series on the treasures, oddities and curiosities owned by universities across the world to matthew.reisz@tsleducation.com