Story topic
Cataloguing the Charles Hare manuscript collection
From handwritten manuscripts and letters to photographs and sketches, discover how this intriguing collection has been catalogued by the Library and Archive team
Blog post
A universal map in a dead language
This blog takes a look at an almost five-hundred-year-old geographical text in the Caird Library and Archive.
Story topic
Captain James Cook timeline
Follow the key events in Captain Cook's life of adventure from a simple start to global fame and a grisly death
Story topic
The ship's biscuit
The ship's biscuit was an important part of the sailor's sea diet before the introduction of canned foods.
Story topic
Alan Villiers
Alan Villiers was a distinguished sailor, author and photographer. His work vividly records the period of early 20th century maritime history.
Story topic
Naval distinction lace
The gold lace on naval officers' uniforms has traditionally be used to indicate rank. But what are its origins?
Story topic
Port and starboard
Where 'left' and 'right' could lead to confusion, 'port' and 'starboard' are perfectly clear and unambiguous to a seafarer.
Story topic
The sailor's hornpipe dance
The hornpipe dance hasn't always been associated with sailors and dancing on deck.
Story topic
Ship launching ceremonies
Launching ceremonies of times past were often more barbarous than the champagne tradition of today.
Story topic
Sailors' cap ribbons
The silk ribbons on a sailor’s cap came to be through both custom and regulation