Special Collections and Rare Book Department: Medieval and Early Modern Collections
Medieval Studies at WMU
Illuminated thirteenth century missal leaf, France (WMU MS 108)
Medieval and Early Modern Collections: Introduction
Medieval
The Special Collections and Rare Book Department has substantial holdings for Medieval Studies. These include medieval manuscripts (both codices and documents), facsimiles of manuscripts (of various types) and secondary works (including reference works, monographs and working papers of medievalists). The original manuscripts and facsimiles are primarily focused on medieval Europe and cover a wide range of topics. All of these materials are included in the on-line catalog, but some additional resources have been developed for teaching and research.
Facsimile of a mid-fifteenth century handbook for health produced in the Rhineland. A Latin text translated from an Arabic treatise by eleventh century physician, Ibn Butlan of Baghdad (BnF MS Lat. Ms. Lat. 9333, Paris)
We strive to provide our manuscript collection in digitized form and the collection in progress is available at Digitized Medieval Manuscripts. This resource includes both manuscripts owned by WMU and some materials which were on loan here, but are now held at Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist, KY.
The department also holds a large body of sources for the study of the Early Modern Period of European history: manuscripts, incunabula, Hand Press Period books, facsimiles and secondary sources. Subjects include (but are not limited to) religious commentaries and sermons, theology, philosophy, poetry, fiction, travel accounts, natural science, medicine, law, studies of dress/costume. Records for all of these materials are searchable in the online catalog.
Volvelle in Della Fabrica et Uso di Diversi Stromenti di Astronomia et Cosmografia... Venice, printed by Ruberto Meietti, 1598, held in WMU Special Collections.
- WMU Medieval ManuscriptsThis catalog of descriptions of WMU-owned manuscripts and fragments includes a full numerical listing of the collection, but descriptions are only provided for Mss. 102, 104-159. Mss. 160 and beyond do not yet have full descriptions, but what information is available can be accessed on request.
- William John Cameron CollectionWilliam John Cameron (1878-1955) was a journalist and public relations representative at Ford Motor Company in the early twentieth century. He collected numerous books covering a wide variety of subjects over his lifetime. The collection of his books at WMU Libraries Special Collections was acquired via purchase and donation through the Baggerman family of Kalamazoo in 2015. It is primarily comprised of books printed in the United Kingdom between the sixteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Subjects include (but are not limited to) theology, biblical commentaries, law, philosophy, heraldry, British monarchy, natural science, politics, literature, as well as Anglican and non-conformist religious thought. (*the majority of this collection is in the process of being cataloged. As they become available, materials in this collection will be searchable in WMU Libraries online catalog.)
- John Tedeschi Rare Italian Reformation CollectionJohn Tedeschi is a distinguished academic librarian emeritus (former Curator of Special Collections at University of Wisconsin, Madison) and an Italian Renaissance scholar. In 1982, he donated a collection of rare books relating to the Italian Reformation to WMU's Medieval Institute. The books are now housed in Special Collections and are searchable via WMU Libraries online catalog.
Scholarly Papers, Correspondence and other Archival Collections
The scholarly papers of medievalists can provide insight into their work and methods as well as allow scholars to find out about unpublished research which will further current projects. WMU Special Collections has several small sets of working papers of medievalists: some are listed below and some are associated with our Cistercian Collections. Some collections remain uncataloged and will be added as they become available for consultation.
- R. H. C. Davis Collection, 1773-1990R.H.C. Davis (1918-1991) began his teaching career in 1947 and eventually became the head of the History Department at the University of Birmingham, where he remained until 1984. The collection consists of personal papers, primarily notebooks containing architectural notes and sketches of medieval and other structures in Great Britain, Europe and the Middle East.
- Edward B. Irving, Jr. Old English Collection, 1930-2001The Edward B. Irving, Jr. collection was donated jointly to Special Collections and the Medieval Institute by Professor Irving's wife, Dr. Judith Moffett, after his death. Edward Irving (1923-1998) was a professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in medieval literature.
- The Aelfric Archive, 1886-1998The Aelfric Archive was a gift from Professor Luke Reinsma of Seattle Pacific University, author of Aelfric: An Annotated Bibliography. This bibliography is the basis for this collection. The collection consists of offprints, photocopies, and drafts of articles that appear in the bibliography.
- Bryce Lyon Correspondence Collection (1949-2007)Correspondence between medieval historian Bryce Lyon (1920-2007) and other scholars in the United States, United Kingdom and Belgium. The topics of the correspondence mostly relate to Lyon’s research on aspects of the social and economic histories of the Low Countries and England during the medieval period, but include personal exchanges, as well.
- Facsimile Leaves Collection, 1996-2013Facsimile leaf samples distributed by vendors. Reproductions of leaves of various medieval and Early Modern texts. In some cases correspondence and descriptions of full facsimile products are included.