Our Collections bring together artworks and artefacts that reflect the creative and teaching heritage of RGU - and the people behind it. You’ll find Art & Design and Architecture collections (from student work to teaching materials), alongside objects and supporting material connected to science and society, including teaching equipment and photographs. Whether you’re visiting for inspiration, study or research, the collection offers a window into RGU’s academic and creative achievements and a chance to explore ideas through real objects. To find items, browse the sections on this page or use the online search tool to search and discover related material. You can also book an appointment to view or study items in person, or contact collections@rgu.ac.uk with enquiries and visit requests.
Art & Architecture
Architecture
The Architecture Collection contains student drawings, teaching equipment such as lantern slides and ephemera relating to the history of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment.
We also hold landscape architecture and art books in our Antiquarian Collection which includes items pre-dating the founding of Gray's School of Art in 1885.
Certain volumes were awarded as national prizes as a result of medals won by Aberdeen art students from the Science and Art Department at South Kensington. Many volumes have been donated over the years by the school alumni, including prominent Aberdeen architects. Around 140 volumes were donated by the late John Maclennan, having belonged to himself or his father, Harbourne Maclennan, both partners in the long established firm of Jenkins and Marr.
In 2007, the university initiated annual purchase awards for project work by exceptional students from the annual Degree Show. These contemporary additions complement the existing 1920s to 1970s collection of student drawings.
Art & Design
The Art Collection from Gray's School of Art consists of approximately 2,000 artworks in a variety of media representing Drawing and Painting, Contemporary Art Practice, Communication Design, Three Dimensional Design and Fashion and Textiles. Many art works held in the collection are by respected members of the Royal Scottish Academy and successful working professional artists and designers.
We collect works which are donated and retain material which reflects the history of Gray’s School of Art.
RGU Art & Heritage purchase awards are presented annually to successful Gray's School of Art students, and their award winning works are retained in the collection.
Science & Society
Science & Engineering
The Pharmacy collection largely consists of teaching equipment and photographs relevant to the first School of Pharmacy in the UK.
Of particular interest is a copy of Landseer's portrait of James Bell, a founding member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. The painting, believed to be by one of Landseer's students, was donated to the University in recognition of the pioneering teaching work carried out by the Aberdeen Society of Chemists and Druggists, which pre-dated the RPS.
The School of Engineering and Chemistry was originally established in 1910, following the creation of Robert Gordon's Technical College. Engineering is represented by a variety of objects and supporting material intended as teaching aids, including many electrical measuring devices.
Notebooks, samples of dressmaking, catering and laundry equipment are retained from the School of Domestic Science.
Needlework Development Scheme
As featured in the excellent BBC4 documentary: The Town that Thread Built.
Over 100 needlework objects are held in our collection. The Needlework Development Scheme was a collaboration between art & design and also education & industry. The Scheme encouraged needlework and therefore also the sale of thread manufactured by J&P Coats of Paisley. The company would become an international concern and in turn they supported the concept of a collection of historical and modern embroideries collected from around the world, with examples being purchased by, or donated to, the Scheme.
In turn, the collection was exhibited and loaned to schools in order to help teach and promote embroidery as an art form and was featured in the Festival of Britain in 1951. In 1961, J&P Coats Ltd withdrew funding for the Scheme and the collection of over 3,500 textile items was disseminated between various universities, colleges and museums around the UK.
Purchase Awards
Each year Robert Gordon University awards a series of purchase awards to successful students who study courses offered by both Gray’s School of Art and the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and the Built Environment.
Works retained by the University are collected for future study and display and the resulting body of work provides a fascinating visual record of the creative output of the university and the North East of Scotland.
Purchase Awardees
