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Historical Happenings

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Have you ever collected or saved something from an important event?

While many people collect mementos of personal significance, people also collect them from historical moments. These types of souvenirs are made to remember famous events and figures. Their value comes from the context of their creation or collection. Many of these souvenirs from the University of Aberdeen museum collections highlight historical events and periods prioritised by European collectors.

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Paper napkin celebrating the reopening of Marischal College in 1906. Border is of purple flowers with green stems. The royal seal is present at the top with a lion on the left and a unicorn on the right. An image of King Edward VII is visible on the left with an image of Queen Alexandria on the right. A schedule for the events surrounding the reopening of Marischal College comprise the rest of the napkin below in black text.

Napkin for a royal visit to Aberdeen

The napkin presents the official programme for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra’s visit to Aberdeen where they opened new additions to Marischal College in 1906. The University was celebrating its 400th anniversary, although this happened 11 years later than planned due to building delays. Napkins were easy to produce in large quantities, making them an appealing souvenir for commemorating important events. ABDUA:36649

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Souvenir spoon with the bowl made from a coin. The top of the handle depicts a male and female figures in traditional Egyptian style.

Souvenir spoon from Egypt

This spoon uses brass and an imitation coin to produce an inexpensive souvenir. The decorative motifs suggest it is from the early 20th century and reflect tourists’ expectations of Egyptian design. New archaeological discoveries in Egypt led to periods of interest among Europeans. Called ‘Egyptomania’, this fascination with Egypt’s ancient past fuelled Egyptian tourism and souvenir markets. This phenomenon continues today, with tourists purchasing souvenirs inspired by Egyptian artefacts. ABDUA:24390

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Medal depicting the bust of a woman wearing a dress. She has a lamp in her left hand and a branch in her right. 'SOCIEDAD SCIENTIFICA ARGENTINA - 1872' is visible around edge of medal.

Medal from Argentina

This medal commemorates both the 1910 American International Scientific Congress held in Buenos Aires and the hundred-year anniversary of Argentina’s 1810 May Revolution. Following the revolution and the end of colonial control, Argentina entered a period in which the state was unable to invest much in the sciences. This changed by 1910, and participants in this international forum were able to bring this souvenir home to remember both the Scientific Congress and ongoing centennial celebrations. ABDUA:13078

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White flower in glass with a wooden border.

Flower from Napoleon’s deathbed on St. Helena

This strawflower memorialises the passing of Napoleon Bonaparte. ‘From Napoleon’s Marble Bust at Longwood St. Helena’ is inscribed on the wood surrounding the bloom. Reportedly, the flower was taken from a memorial in the room where he died at Longwood House in 1821. Even after his exile to this South Atlantic island, Napoleon’s legacy and infamy continued to influence European collectors. ABDUA:39208

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Bread from the siege of Paris. Glass bottle filled with cotton fill with a small amount of dark material at the bottom. The printed label attached to the bottle reads 'Bread used during siege of Paris 1870.'

Bread from the siege of Paris

Nearly inedible bread containing straw or sawdust was rationed to starving Parisians during the Prussian siege in the winter of 1870-71. While wealthy citizens were able to stockpile supplies, the majority were unable to afford food. Some pieces were preserved as souvenirs and kept as a symbol of Parisian resiliency. Today, these eccentric souvenirs can still be found for sale and in museum collections both in France and abroad. ABDUA:63621

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Historical Happenings