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Tom Brown's Schooldays

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Once a month, we are going to choose a book from our library and share it with everyone. Expect some classics, some strange books, and some that are wacky. We have 7,000 books, so this could take awhile. Our first post will focus on the book that was written by our founder Thomas Hughes. Thomas Hughes was a very busy person, but he was most well known for his writing when he founded Rugby in 1880. In 1857, his most famous work "Tom Brown's Schooldays" wa s published and was an immediate hit. It sold 28,000 copies in four years and would become the first million seller for MacMillan, who printed the book for fifty years. This book was the first book for kids that was written for fun and had characters that they could relate to. Tom Brown was a normal boy who struggles and triumphs at the English Rugby school (where we got our name.) Without this book, it would not have been possible to have Huckleberry Finn, Nancy Drew, or Harry Potter. "Tom Brown's School...
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Sandwich Box

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We have decided to begin featuring the stories behind items in the Historic Rugby collection that might be regular features on the tour or are housed in our archives. The first post is about our Victorian sandwich box which is found in the home of our founder. This interesting little gadget is a sandwich box that fits inside of the leather case. Thomas Hughes, the founder of Rugby, would use this sandwich box when he was visiting the colony. He could pack a sandwich in the box, place it inside the leather case on his belt, and hike to the Gentlemen’s Swimming Hole, which is a hike that visitors in Rugby can still do today.
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Boot Jack

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This cast iron critter is a boot jack. Men wore high boots throughout the 19th to mid 20th centuries so a boot jack was a mainstay in many homes, although they were not usually as ornate as this beetle. The long grippers are spread out enough so they grip around the outside of the heel and allow the wearer to slip the boot off.
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Fourth of July

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This time of year, we often receive inquiries such as "Was Independence Day celebrated among the English at Rugby?" Yes it was. In 1881, "The Rugbeian” newspaper had this to say before detailing what festivities would be going on in town, "Every American knows what Independence Day means, the day on which our country finally burst the chains with which the then despotic Government of England sought to fetter her liberty. Here, in Rugby, on the Anniversary of this day we see young Englishmen vieing with their American brethren in making preparations to mark the day as one of pleasure and rejoicing." Take time to enjoy Independence Day with your family.
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