Cambridge University is famously associated with a certain spying scandal, politely referred to as the ‘Cambridge Five’. Perhaps in acknowledgment they’re having an intriguing-looking exhibition at the library of espionage related ephemera from the last 900 years.
“A library might seem a strange place for an exhibition of secret service, given its association with guns, fast cars, and high-tech gadgetry,” said intelligence historian Nicholas Hiley, who has lent rare material from his collections for the show.
“But the one thing that both espionage and counter-espionage have depended upon for centuries is paper — for agent reports, ciphers and codes; for maps and plans; for reports on suspects and advice to government; and for the hundreds of thousands of files on which secret service depends.”
They cover everything from a 12th century manuscript about King Alfred entering the Danish camp disguised as a harpist, to cold war surveillance of East Anglia.
Read more here
Under Covers: Documenting Spies(closed 2-5 April inclusive) Monday-Friday 09.00-18.00, Saturday 09.00-16.30, Sunday closed
Admission Free I-SPY badge by jovike on flickr Spy print by ocularinvasion on flickr Bonus spying link: an article in the guardian about archaeologist spies. Apparently it’s an excellent cover for doing suspicious things…
Tags: cambridge · cambridge university · ephemera · espionage · museums1 Comment
Hello there, I wondered if you’d be so kind as to let me use one of your photos. I’m the project coordinator for the fruit-full schools project which will plant community orchards in secondary schools. I’m looking for photos to inspire the children, and really like your shot of the espalier. Let me know what you think, thanks, Lewis