Largely in your hands: making and shaping a university

“To the students I say that the honour and dignity of this university are largely in your hands, and I look to you to initiate and hand down worthy traditions to your successors.”

Spoken by King Edward VII at the formal opening of England’s first civic university, these words preceded 125 years of creativity, discovery, action and ideas at the University of Birmingham. 

Through film, art and objects, this exhibition delves into the stories of the people behind the institution, exploring the ‘worthy traditions’ that have been passed on and reinvented. 

From civic foundations to transformation in times of crisis, to student life past and present, explore over a century of history with University Collections.