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Dr Williams's Library |
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Manuscript CollectionsThe Library has an impressive collection of manuscripts, and whilst some are curiosities others are of great importance. Surprisingly, they include nine medieval manuscripts, including a Wycliffite New Testament, and a Psalter apparently made for Philippa of Hainault, consort of Edward III.The main collections relate principally to English Nonconformity. They include the original minutes of the Westminster Assembly (1643-1652); the historical collections made by Roger Morrice, including the late sixteenth century manuscript ‘The Second parte of a register’, of which a calendar was published by Dr. Albert Peel in 1916, and Morrice's own Entring Book, an invaluable political account covering the years 1677-1691 and the subject of a major international scholarly project; the lives of English and Continental divines compiled by John Quick; the list of Dissenting congregations in England and Wales, 1715-1729, compiled by John Evans; the similar lists compiled in the 1770s by Josiah Thompson; the early minute books of the Three Denominations; and the papers and correspondence of Richard Baxter. Other collections of letters include correspondence of Joseph Priestley (together with a large collection of his published works), Theophilus Lindsey, Francis Blackburne, Thomas Belsham, and others associated with them; of John Seddon (1725-1770); and of the Jennings family. Parts of the collection of Henry papers are here, and a collection from the Blackmore family with which came the minutes of the Fourth London Classis (1646-1659). From New College, London, has come the correspondence of Philip Doddridge and much material relating to that institution and its predecessors. The King's Weigh House Church and Lyndhurst Road Church, Hampstead, presented their archives when they closed. The manuscript of George Herbert's English and Latin poems, partly in his own hand, is the most important item in the miscellaneous collection of manuscripts bequeathed by the Rev. John Jones in 1770. Thomas Brand Hollis presented one of the manuscripts of Civil War colours made by Jonathan Turmile in 1803. Henry Crabb Robinson was both a trustee of Dr. Williams's Charity and a subscriber to the building of University Hall, its present home. His extensive archive came in 1877, his diary (1811-1867), reminiscences, correspondence and other papers, is of great literary significance, with the letters of his friends, amongst them Coleridge, Lamb and Wordsworth. The Library also holds a number of manuscripts on deposit. Chief amongst these are the records of the Presbyterian Fund, the Congregational Fund, the General Baptist Assembly, the Widows Fund, and the later minutes of the Three Denominations. [Top of page] |
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