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Collections guide
The Collections guide is an A-Z listing with links to more detailed catalogue records for a range of printed books and archives in Special Collections. Our Archival handlists are included in the guide.
You can restrict the list of collections to a particular subject area by selecting from the dropdown list:
This A-Z is not exhaustive and researchers are advised to explore other search options or get in touch if items do not appear here.
1710-1719 collection
Printed books
Miscellaneous books published in England in the second decade of the 18th century. Includes subjects on Great British history, kings and rulers, politics and government, church and state and foreign relations. Also religion, sermons, literature and poetry.
1890s collection (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Literary works published in the final decade of the 19th century. The collection also contains a small number of more recent works surveying the literary and artistic movements and ideas of the closing years of the century. Subjects include English literature, fiction, short stories and verse.
A
Abercrombie, Lascelles
Archival
Literary and other manuscripts. [BC MS 20c Abercrombie (2)]
Ackroyd, William, Ltd, worsted spinners, Otley Mills
Archival
Business records, 1815-1963
Airedale Mill Co Ltd, commission scribblers and spinners, Rodley, Leeds
Archival
Business records, 1860-1931
All Souls Science
Printed books
Books and journals, originating principally from the 17th century, covering many different aspects of science. Subjects include astronomy, botany, geometry, mathematics, medicine, chemistry and physiology. Also includes early works on types of medical therapy, such as hydrotherapy and wine therapy, and works on poisons, anatomy, and communication for the deaf.
All Souls Theology
Printed books
Works from the late 16th century to the late 20th century, covering religious subjects, old and new testament Bible commentaries and criticisms, theology, Jesus Christ, apologetics and Judaism. Also includes some Socinian literature.
Ambler, Jeremiah and Sons Ltd, combers, spinners and weavers of all kinds of wool and hair, Bradford
Archival
Business records, 1828-1933
Ancient history
Printed books
Works published from 1613 to the present day, with well over two-thirds of the collection dating from the 19th and 20th centuries. Subjects include antiquities, tombs, vases, architecture, art, excavations, mural painting and decoration, mythology, sculpture, social life and customs of Greece and Rome, and temples.
Andreev, Leonid (Leeds Russian Archive)
Archival
Andrews, Sir Linton, (1886-1972)
Archival
Letters and papers
Anglo-French
Printed books
Works printed before 1830 (with a few later exceptions) which illustrate the influence of Great Britain on France. All the works are translations into French from English or, occasionally, from British authors writing in Latin on subjects of literature, criticism, political science, philosophy and economics. The collection also includes accounts of Scotland, Anne Boleyn, Mary Queen of Scots and the execution of Charles I. Amongst the authors are Locke, Swift, Defoe, Pope, Milton, Fielding and Shakespeare. There are also translations of medical, scientific and travel works.
Anglo-German
Printed books
Books in German and English published from 1654 to 1971, although the bulk of the collection dates from the 18th and 19th centuries. It consists mainly of translations into German of works in English on literature, philosophy and travel in Great Britain, and illustrates the influence of Great Britain on Germany. Authors particularly strongly represented in the collection include William Shakespeare, Henry Fielding, William Hogarth, Alexander Pope, Samuel Richardson, Jonathan Swift, Edward Young, James Macpherson, Walter Scott, and Charles Dickens.
Anthropology
Printed books
Small collection of books. Dates of publication range from 1851 to 1926 covering subjects of American Indians, ethnology, mythology and Maoris
Arabic (Details being prepared)
Printed books
The Department of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies has deposited its collection of Arabic, Persian, and other Oriental manuscripts in Special Collections. There are over 370 Arabic manuscripts covering language, literature, history, law and religion.
Archaeology
Printed books
Works span the years 1755 to 1977, although the majority were published in the 19th and 20th centuries. Subjects include monuments, Stonehenge, palaeontology and antiquities. The collection also contains issues of the journal of the Society of Antiquaries of London from 1770 onwards.
Architecture
Printed books
Books published between 1611 and the last decade. British architecture is the subject of the majority of the books, but French and Italian architecture are also covered; some 100 of the books are in Italian, French or German. The collection contains an early (1767-1777) Vitruvius Britannicus by Colin Campbell, and the 10-volume Dictionnaire raisonné de l'architecture française, by E E Viollet-le-Duc.
Arnold Family
Archival
Correspondence, diaries, notebooks and other papers relating to the Arnold family
Art
Printed books
Includes books published between 1608 and 1998, although most of the works date from the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes biographies and works of criticism and interpretation of individual artists and artistic schools and movements, as well as museum and gallery collection and exhibition catalogues. Some of the other main subjects covered are sculpture, art history, painters and painting in Great Britain, France and Italy, modern art, renaissance art, embroidery and needlework, furniture and manuscript illumination.
Art (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Miscellaneous collection relating to art, chiefly published in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with a few of earlier date. Amongst the more notable groups of works are books illustrated by Thomas Rowlandson, by George Cruikshank (including two volumes with original drawings and other material inserted) and by Thomas Bewick.
Association For Science Education
Archival
The Association for Science Education was an amalgamation of the Association of Public School Science Masters, the Association of Women Science Teachers, the Science Association and the Association of Science Teachers. Its archive of meeting agenda, minutes and reports reflects its complicated development.
Association of Education Committees
Archival
Papers relating to the Burnham and other committees, 1919-1975
Association of Heads of Secondary Technical Schools
Archival
Minute books, reports and papers
Astbury, William Thomas (1898-1961)
Archival
Papers of William Astbury
B
Baines, and other families
Archival
Miscellaneous papers relating to the families
Bancroft, John and Co Ltd, worsted spinners, Oxenhope, Keighley
Archival
Business records, 1885-1938
Banks, Cyril, (1901-1969)
Archival
Miscellaneous letters, photographs and papers
Barbier collection
Printed books
Originally the working library of Paul Barbier, Professor of French at the University of Leeds, 1903-1938. It consists of lexicographical works, mostly in French, although other European languages such as German, Italian and Spanish are also represented. The oldest book in the collection was published in 1603, but the bulk of the works date from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. Subjects include French language and dialects, foreign words and phrases, slang, proverbs, Spanish, German and Italian language and dialects, English language and provincialisms, Walloon dialect, dictionaries, glossaries, and vocabularies, etymology and grammar.
Baron, Alec, (1913-1991)
Archival
Film and theatre archive
Bathurst, Earl
Archival
Jacobite documents deposited by Earl Bathurst
Beardsley, Aubrey (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
Beckwith, Frank, (1904-1977)
Archival
Sometime librarian of the Leeds Library: index of writers of letters to Beckwith
Berry, T (Bradford) Ltd, wool, nails and waste dealers, Bradford
Archival
Business records, 1906-1922
Betjeman, John (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
Bibliography
Printed books
Books on bibliography. Dates of publication range from 1669 to 1997, with the majority of works dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Contains works on such subjects as libraries, Roxburghe Club, manuscript catalogues, rare books, book collecting, incunabula bibliography, English literature bibliography, manuscript illumination, penguin books, palaeography, type and typefounding, the paper industry, and classification systems.
Bibliography (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
The subject matter is not confined to Great Britain but also covers the bibliography of other European countries to some extent, especially France and Germany. The collection contains major reference works, including bibliographies of European printed books (especially of the 15th and 16th centuries), catalogues of national, university and other libraries in Great Britain and Europe, bibliographies of individual authors, and many works relating to the history of the book.
Biology, general
Printed books
The books in this small collection were originally in the Library's lending collections, and consist mainly of publications in the series by the Ray Society for the Publication of Works on Natural History. They span the 19th and early 20th centuries. These volumes complement other, later volumes in the series which are to be found in the Library's lending collections.
Birkbeck Library
Printed books
Originally formed by Maurice Birkbeck (1734-1816), and was deposited by the Yorkshire General Meeting in 1981. It consists of over 4,500 books both by and about the Quakers, most of the materials dating from around 1650 to the mid-18th century. Subjects include Society of Friends history, apologetic works, doctrinal and controvertial works, and Quakers biography. The Birkbeck Library is one of two important collections assembled by Yorkshire Quakers and housed by the Brotherton Library, the other being the Leeds Friends' Old Library.
Bithell, Jethro (1878-1962)
Archival
Letters and postcards to Jethro Bithell, mainly from German writers, with other material on modern German literature.
Blake collection
Printed books
Books and periodicals relating to William Blake, the English Romantic poet, painter and engraver, including those collected by the poetical critic. The texts themselves date from between 1791 and 1995, and contain both editions of Blake's poetry and engravings, and critical works. Subjects include Henry Fuseli, painter, and Samuel Palmer, painter. In addition to this named collection concerned with William Blake, the Spcial Collections English Collection also contains many works by and about this author, and letters and papers of Ruthven Todd relating to his studies on William Blake.
Booth, Henry and Sons Ltd, woollen cloth manufacturers, Gildersome
Archival
Ledger and a letter, 1859-1867, 1949
Botany
Printed books
Botanical works dating from the late 18th century to the middle of the 20th century. Although the emphasis is on works which deal with British botany, French and German botany are also covered in the collection. Cultivated plants, algae and ferns are covered and there are works on other types of plants, such as the rose, and parasitic plants.
Bowling, John and Co Ltd, Leeds
Archival
Wage books and ledgers, 1878-1954
Boyd, Thomas, dyers and finishers, Wortley
Archival
Business records, 1889-1932
Boyle, Edward Charles Gurney (Baron Boyle of Handsworth)
Archival
Correspondence and papers
Bridgen, John William
Archival
Literary archive of Humphrey Moore (1913-1968) and associated materials of 20th-century poetry, assembled by Bridgen
Briggs, Katherine, Mary, (1898-1980)
Archival
Letters and papers
Brontë (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
First and other early editions of works by the Brontë sisters, their father Patrick and their brother Branwell, together with critical and biographical studies of them, mostly dating from the 1930s and earlier. The rarest item is a copy of the Aylott and Jones first edition of the Brontë sisters' poems. The printed books accompany the collection of manuscripts and correspondence of the Brontës.
Brontë Family
Archival
Correspondence and literary manuscripts of, or relating to, members of the Brontë family
Brontëana, [BC MS 19c Brontë]
Archival
Letters, press cuttings and scrapbooks about and by the Brontës
Brotherton Collection Manuscript Verse (17th/ 18th Century)
Archival
The Leeds Verse Database (BCMSV) contains detailed information about individual items of English poetry contained in the 17th- and 18th-century manuscripts from the Brotherton Collection.
Brown, James
Archival
Musical works
Brown, Maurice (Details being prepared)
Archival
Scores, books, correspondence and miscellaneous papers relating to his work on Franz Schubert
Buckmaster collection
Printed books
Formerly in the library of Charles A Buckmaster and purchased for Leeds University Library in 1950. The collection brings together French books, the great majority published in the 18th century, which were printed outside France, or printed in France with fictitious non-French imprints. The subjects are very wide-ranging. Many of the works are translations from English and other languages. The collection is of value for the study of the book trade, censorship, and French influence outside France.
Bunin Collection (Leeds Russian Archive)
Archival
See Catalogue of Bunin, Bunina, Zurov and Lopatina Collection by Anthony J Heywood, 2000.
Burmantofts, Leeds
Archival
Deeds and plans referring to property in Burmantofts and Mabgate, Leeds, 1604-1833
Byron, Lord
Archival
Correspondence and literary manuscripts
C
Calverley, Walter, Sir
Archival
Petitions, letters and other documents from Sir Walter Calverley, and others, concerning the Broadcloth Acts of 1725, 1733, 1741 and 1765
Cameron, Norman, (1905-1953)
Archival
Letters by or about Norman Cameron, with photocopies of drafts of four of his poems
Carlton Hill Archive (Society of Friends/Quaker)
Archival
Inventory of the records of Brighouse, Knaresborough, Leeds and Settle Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends, formerly preserved at the Friends' Meeting House, Carlton Hill, Leeds.
Celtic
Printed books
Covers aspects of Celtic language and culture. It includes books dating from the late 17th century, with an example of the Book of Common Prayer, in Welsh, dating from 1679, but the majority of books in this collection date from the late 18th century to the early 19th century. Welsh dictionaries, books on grammar and theology feature. Folklore and superstition in Scotland and Bretton language are included. Some of the later works also cover Irish language and grammar, examples of Welsh hymns, and Welsh laws.
Channel Islands collection
Printed books
Personal collection of works relating to the Channel Islands of John Le Patourel, Professor of Medieval History at Leeds University from 1945 to 1970. It includes works on many aspects of the history of the Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Jethou), including their topography, flora and fauna, as well as their political, economic and administrative history. There are numerous guidebooks and publications of the Islands' local historical societies. Professor Le Patourel's academic papers and correspondence are also held by the Library.
Charters, (1280-1363)
Archival
Medieval charters and deeds from the Brotherton Collection
Chaston Chapman Brewing
Printed books
Mr Chaston Chapman collected works for two libraries; his working library, based at his laboratory in London, and a private, historical collection. Subjects include brewing and the brewing industry, wine and winemaking, beer, distillation and distilling industry, drinking customs, liquors, ciders and whiskey, and legal issues surrounding alcohol. The brewing section represents part of Mr Chaston Chapman's library, along with the Chaston Chapman Royal Society collection, which concerns books of a more scientific nature. The collection contains works on brewing and alcohol which date from 1578, with A Perfite platforme of a Hoppe Garden, to 1986.
Chaston Chapman Royal Society
Printed books
Consists mainly of sets of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London for the improving of natural knowledge from the founding of the Society in the 1660s onwards, along with some later histories and memoirs of the Society. There are also early texts on alchemy such as Roger Bacon's The Mirror of Alchimy, 1597, and Dutch and German works on chemical lore, hermetic philosophy, astrology and religion.
Chemistry
Printed books
Books and periodicals dating from the 19th century. The entire range of subjects covered is wide ranging but includes biochemistry, chemical dictionaries, agricultural chemistry, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry and electricity. There are examples of educational works, such as chemistry for children, and textbooks detailing a variety of chemical experiments. Some specific aspects of chemistry are also covered, such as individual works dealing with nitrous oxide, and atomic theory. Finally there are some works which cover the application of chemistry, such as wine-making.
Chinese
Printed books
Books and periodicals including works which date from 1677 through to the present day. The collection covers many aspects of Chinese language and culture, and the works are principally in Chinese. The earlier books deal with such subjects as Chinese philosophy and ethics. There is also a 19th century work dealing with Chinese characters.
Civil war and commonwealth collection (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Collection of political tracts published between the years 1639 and 1660. Places of publication include both London and the regions; several were printed in York and Hull. The tracts include petitions to Parliament and to the King, petitions by Parliament to the King, Parliamentary and Royal decrees, speeches by Cromwell, anonymous tracts by individuals in support or refutation of arguments or accusations, petitions on behalf of the army, and other topics.
Clarkson, W and J Ltd, woollen cloth manufacturers, Pudsey
Archival
Ledger, 1855-1862
Classics, general
Printed books
Many are texts of ancient classical literature; there are also some medieval religious texts. Most of the books are in Latin, but some of the Latin texts are translated from the Greek. Publication dates range from 1606 to 1988, and there are a good number of earlier works printed before 1700. The collection includes some two dozen facsimilies of Latin and Greek manuscripts in the series Codices graeci et latini photographice depicti, and a 10-volume set of the works of the Greek Fathers in Latin translation, dated 1677. Subjects include works of reference in classical antiquities, texts of classical authors and early religious authors, and Greek and Latin facsimilie mauscripts.
Clay, J T, and Sons Ltd, woollen and worsted manufacturers, Crowtrees, Rastrick:
Archival
Business records, 1812-1928
Clifford Street Archive (Society of Friends/Quaker)
Archival
Inventory of the records of Yorkshire General Meeting (Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting, 1665-1966) and York and Thirsk Monthly Meetings of the Society of Friends, formerly preserved at the Friends' Meeting House, Clifford Street, York.
Clough, Robert (Keighley) Ltd, worsted spinners, Keighley
Archival
Business records, 1806-1925
Cockcroft, Samuel, and Co Ltd, worsted spinners, Bradford
Archival
Business records, 1881-1897
Cookery
Printed books
Principally made up from two separate collections. Blanche Legat Leigh, Lady Mayoress of Leeds, made a gift in 1939 of cookery books which included not only historical works published in Britain but also a large number of foreign, particularly Italian and French, works on cookery. John F Preston made another major gift in 1962. Among many other smaller gifts and bequests is that of over 100 Chinese cookery books, presented by Frank and Margaret Leeming. This collection contains works which date from the late 15th century until the present day on a variety of subjects, including gastronomy, home economics, medicine, confectionery, recipes, menus, and vegetarianism.
Cottingley Fairies
Archival
Photographs and papers
Cox, Sir Ernest Gordon: (1906-1996)
Archival
Papers and correspondence
Crockatt Family
Archival
Family papers
Crossley-Holland, Kevin
Archival
Literary papers with some related correspondence and publications
Crowther, W and E, Ltd
Archival
Woollen manufacturers, Slaithwaite: business records, 1872-1977
D
Danish
Printed books
Books, pamphlets and periodicals chiefly relating to Danish language, literature, history and culture. They form part of the important Scandinavian collections, wholly housed within Special Collections. Publication dates within the Danish Collection range from 1762 to 2001. Over half of the collection was published between 1900 and 1950, and a further quarter between 1850 and 1900. Subject coverage is extensive, including literature translated into Danish, Danish bibliography, religion, philosophy and sociology, education, law and politics.
Davison, J A, (1906-1966), Professor of Greek Language and Literature, 1951-1966
Archival
Papers and correspondence, mainly on Homeric topics
Dictionaries, early
Printed books
Publication dates range from the 1606 of Thresor de la langue française, by Aimar de Ranconnet, to the 1901 of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie française. A dozen or so of the dictionaries were published before 1650, some 70 between 1700 and 1750, and nearly all the rest between 1750 and 1850. About 150 were published in France and another 100 in Great Britain, and there are also some Italian, German, Spanish and Dutch volumes. Some 30 are in Latin. There are single-language dictionaries, bilingual dictionaries, and also specialist dictionaries covering terms in commerce, shipping, fishing, philosophy, mathematics, architecture, comedy and satire, etc. Among the more esoteric items are an Italian-Turkish dictionary published in Rome in 1641, and a Latin-Armenian dictionary of Scripture and Armenian Divine Office books published in 1695 by the Vatican.
Dobrée, Bonamy, (1891-1974), Professor of English Literature, 1935-1966
Archival
Correspondence and literary papers including a large number of letters from T S Eliot. Also, the Brotherton Collection contains a printed book collection.
Douglas, Keith (1920-1944)
Archival
Literary papers and correspondence of, with related material, including his paintings and drawings, and Douglas family photographs.
Drummond-Wolff, Henry Maxence Cavendish, (1899-1982)
Archival
Correspondence and papers
Dyeing
Printed books
Small collection of books on dyeing dating from 1789 to 1884. Includes subjects of bleaching, materials, chlorine and printing onto material.
E
Economics
Printed books
Most of the titles date from the second half of the 18th century onwards. It contains numerous editions of Adam Smith's An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations, works on economic theory and economic history by 19th century authors such as Robert Owen, Karl Marx, and J R McCulloch, and 20th-century economists such as Beveridge, Keynes and the Webbs. The collection includes works on aspects of economics such as wages, prices, taxation, banking, commerce and trade, and on specific industries and sectors of the British economy, including the surveys of agriculture in (mainly) English counties produced in the late 18th/early 19th century for the Board of Agriculture & Internal Improvement.
Education
Printed books
The dates of publication span the years 1650 to 1993, although the majority of the collection dates from the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the works are concerned with educational philosophy and methods. The collection also contains the writings and biographies of prominent educationalists, histories of schools and other educational bodies, and a large number of annual reports and prospectuses published by a wide variety of educational organisations. Most of the 20th-century works in the collection are examples of children's literature.
Education, early
Archival
Books and periodicals date from between the years 1625 and 1988. The bulk of the collection (around three-quarters) was published in the 19th- and late 18th-century. The collection consists mainly of school textbooks and works on teaching methods and the philosophy of education. Latin and English language grammars feature strongly. There are also many examples of readers (collections of prose and poetry); textbooks on mathematics, scripture, history, geography, natural history, science and other subjects; and works on the conduct of life, especially for young women (or ladies). Many of the later 19th-century and 20th-century books are examples of children's fiction.
Encyclopaedias
Printed books
Multilingual collection, mainly spanning the years 1750-1950. It consists of some two dozen titles, all but a few of which represent many volumes. The largest is the mighty Encyclopédie méthodique (the enlarged version of Diderot's Encyclopedia), published 1782-1832, which consists of 200 volumes. Over 250 volumes of the collection belong to half a dozen Russian titles, which include two editions of the large Bolshaia sovetskaia entsiklopediia. German is represented by the Allgemeine deutsche Real-Encyclopädie fär die gebildeten Stande, 1843-45, Hungarian by the Révai nagy lexikona: az ismeretek enciklopédiája, 1911-35. The English-language encyclopaedias, of which there are some dozen, include a 1797 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica. The books are also of interest for their many illustrations.
English
Printed books
The English Collection forms the largest subject section within Special Collections and contains many old and rare materials dating from the mid-17th century onwards. Its classification follows that of the English loan collection which it complements. Authors whose works are particularly strongly represented in the collection include Shakespeare; Ben Jonson; Milton; Pope; Swift; Samuel Johnson; the Romantic poets such as Wordsworth, Coleridge, Byron, Keats and Shelley; Scott; Dickens; Thackeray; Yeats; Stevenson; Shaw; and Wodehouse. 20th century poetry is also a strength of the collection, from Eliot, Auden and Belloc through to the present day. The collection also features many works written in, or about, Yorkshire dialect; a section of American literature; and a wide range of literary journals containing both creative work and criticism.
Eon de Beaumont, Charles Chevalier d' (Details being prepared)
Archival
Papers of Chevalier d' Eon
Eshton Hall Estate
Archival
Estate papers
F
Feminist Archive North
Archival
Material relating to the women's liberation movement (WLM) from 1969 to the present
Finnish
Printed books
Books, mainly in Finnish and English, covering many different aspects of Finnish language and culture. The works date from the late 19th century to the late 20th century. The collection includes 19th century works on Finnish politics, particularly foreign relations with Russia; Finnish military history; and modern works on Finnish dialects.
Ford, Emily Susan, (1850-1930)
Archival
Drawings and photographs of works, mostly on religious themes, by Emily Susan Ford
Ford, John Rawlinson and family of Leeds
Archival
Family papers
Foreign (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
The Foreign section of the Brotherton Collection, consisting of books in European languages other than English, is divided into three categories: the 16th century section, the earliest title (French) of which is dated 1501, has a preponderance of Latin texts: these cover religious subjects (Bibles, works of Augustine, Bede and others) and Classical literature. Italian is represented by 31 titles, and there are a few others in French and German. The 17th and 18th century section, of which the earliest title is dated 1620, contains many French (mainly literary) works. There are a good number of Latin titles in this section also, 77 Italian and 36 Spanish, and some 20 German and 6 Greek. The subjects range widely, with emphasis on literature but also covering history, topography, natural history and religion. The 55 books printed in Great Britain are mostly French literature, though there is some history also.
Fox, E, and Sons Ltd, shoddy and mungo merchants, Dewsbury
Archival
Business records, 1896-1913
Fraser, Angus, (1928-2001)
Archival
papers relating to gypsies and other travellers, collected by Sir Angus Fraser
Freemantle/Religion (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Theological works collected by WT Freemantle. The majority of the works dates from the 17th century and many works have associations with Sheffield. Works by Robert Sanderson and Richard Baxter are strongly represented. Subjects include sermons, Christian life, conscience, biography, works on the Bible, Church history and Sheffield (England).
French
Printed books
The earliest book in the collection is dated 1654, the latest 1957. The subject matter covers all literary periods from the Medieval onwards, but the collection is particularly rich in works relating to the period 1715-1789. Included in the collection, but not yet catalogued, are some 750 French grammars and readers, mostly published in the early 20th century, donated by Dr T V Benn.
French (Brotherton Collection Countries)
Printed books
Small collection of books, in French and (chiefly) about France and French subjects, is part of a larger section, much still uncatalogued, of material in the Brotherton Collection relating to European countries. The earliest of the French books is dated 1611, the latest 1934, and the great majority are dated 1850 onwards. The subject-matter is mainly French literature, but there are also some books on travel and on history. Some of the books are of interest for their fine bindings and/or illustrations (eg Verlaine's Fêtes galantes, with illustrations by A Gerardin). Of interest also are three substantial (uncatalogued) volumes lettered on the spines Napoleonana and containing many cuttings and periodical articles (dating from the end of the 19th to the early 20th centuries) relating to the life and times of Napoleon.
French, early
Printed books
Works in French published between 1567 and 1899, the great majority falling between the dates 1650-1800. They were mainly purchased from special grants made to Paul Barbier, Professor of French at the University of Leeds 1903-1938, for his distinguished lexicographical work. The subjects are very wide-ranging and include travel and topography, French language and literature, European history, philosophy, politics, economics, education, natural history, horticulture and science. Most of the works in the collection are by French authors, but there are some translations, and also some foreign imprints.
G
Gaskell, Elizabeth Cleghorn, (1810-1865)
Archival
Literary manuscripts
General
Printed books
Consists mostly of 18th, 19th and 20th century periodicals and multi-volume works, some of which are popular and topical (eg Punch) and others more learned and/or specialised (eg Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences). There are one or two curiosities - eg Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds' monthly magazine. Most are in English, but nearly a third are in French, and there are also one or two German, Italian and Spanish titles. Many are present in long runs, some in only one or two issues. There are many 19th-century titles.
General (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Works chiefly dating from the middle of the 18th century to the present day, with each century represented by a large number of works. It supplements other, more specialised sections of the Brotherton Collection which focus on the period 1600-1750. History is well represented, as is literature. Other works in the collection cover aspects of early science, travel, poetry, drama, British politics and government. Authors include Lord Byron, Walter Scott, William Blake and Shakespeare.
Geography
Printed books
Consists mainly of books on travel and topography. A wide range of countries is covered, notably the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Middle East, though this list is by no means exhaustive. Also present are a number of gazetteers and atlases. The majority of the works were published in the 19th century, but there are also a good number of earlier ones. The earliest books in the collection are two Latin travel books dated 1619.
German
Printed books
Books and periodicals relating to German language and literature. Dates of publication range from 1602 (Jean de Cartigny, Dess irrenden Ritters Raiss der Welt Eitelkeit, Munich: Adam Berg) to 1988. The collection is particularly strong in 18th and early 19th century works.
Glenesk-Bathurst
Archival
Papers mainly related to the runnning of the Morning Post
Gollings, Franklin
Archival
Papers and correspondence
Gosse family; Sir Edmund Gosse, writer and literary critic (1849-1928)
Archival
Gosse Collection of manuscripts and correspondence. [BC Gosse] A printed book collection can also be found within the Brotherton Collection
Gott Papers
Archival
Business records and family papers relating to the firm of Leeds woollen merchants
Great Britain printing, 16th-17th century (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Works printed in Great Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries, nearly all in English or Latin. The earliest is a law book, the Natura breuium, printed in 1518 - one of a number of law books in the collection. Law books, spiritual treatises of various kinds (including fulminations against Rome), and histories, make up the greater part of the subject matter. Among the rest, several works give a fascinating insight into questions of the time, such as duelling, or witchcraft. The catalogue records are in themselves interesting, since many of them include notes giving information about ownership inscriptions and marginalia.
Greek
Printed books
Language, literature, philosophy and history of ancient Greece. The earliest book in the collection is one of a number of grammars and is dated 1602. The 17th, 18th and 19th centuries are all well represented. Subjects include Greek language, especially dictionaries and grammar, Greek literature, poetry (especially Homer), drama (especially Aeschylus, Euripides, Sophocles and Aristophanes), historians (especially Xenophon), Alexandrian and Roman historians and philosophers and Byzantine authors.
H
Harrogate Londesboro' Working Men's Club
Archival
Minute books
Harvey family of Leeds
Archival
Family papers
Harvey, John Wilfred, (1889-1967), Professor of Philosophy, 1932-1954
Archival
Papers of John Harvey
Harvey, Thomas, (1812-1884), Leeds
Archival
Papers relating to Thomas Harvey and other members of the Harvey family
Hayter, Louis Henry
Archival
Political correspondence, 1884-1897
Health sciences historical collection - dental
Printed books
Mainly 19th century publications, An earlier work, however, is John Hunter's The natural history of the human teeth, published in 1771, and both this volume and the collection's three copies of Joseph Fox's The natural history and diseases of the human teeth (1803) boast fine sets of plates.
Health sciences historical collection - science
Printed books
Books printed between 1606 and c1950. A small number are dated before 1650, and a larger number between 1650 and 1700, but the majority are dated 1700-1800. Most are written in English, but a substantial number are in Latin and a few in French. The subject-matter ranges widely, covering anatomy and physiology, surgery, diseases, midwifery and health remedies. There is an early book of local interest, published in 1627 and written by Michael Stanhope: Newes out of York-shire, or, An account of a journey, in the true discovery of a soveraigne minerall, medicinall water.neere...Knaresborough.
Hey family of Leeds
Archival
Correspondence, including letters to/from William Hey
History State papers
Printed books
Several multi-volume series recording British parliamentary proceedings and debates from the mid-16th century to the mid-19th century. The bulk of the volumes are a record of the work of the House of Commons from c1660 to c1850; proceedings and debates of the House of Lords are also covered, but less comprehensively. The collection also contains volumes of public general statutes enacted by the Parliament of Great Britain during the 19th century.
Hodgson, John
Archival
Papers of John Hodgson, including papers relating to Rudolf Laban
Hodsman, Henry James, (1886-1951)
Archival
Miscellaneous papers of Henry Hodsman, in connection with his early studies in Leeds, Karlsruhe and Paris, 1903-1914
Holden Library
Printed books
Contains books from between 1546 and 1922, with the strength of the collection being in books from the earlier centuries. Books are still being acquired for the Holden Collection in the Brotherton Library, and it is anticipated that books will continue to be transferred into Special Collections from the Brotherton Library's Holden Library Collection as their age and condition requires. Subjects include Old and New Testaments, biographies, theological doctrine, devotional literature, pastoral theology, Church history, public worship, liturgy and sacraments, non-Christian religions and aspects of Yorkshire's religious history.
Holly Park Mills, woollen spinners, Calverley
Archival
Business records, 1827-1942
Howard de Walden (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Comprises books acquired by Lord Brotherton from the library of Thomas Evelyn Scott-Ellis, 8th Baron Howard de Walden (1880-1946). All items in the collection were bound in Rivière bindings (early in the 20th century), imitating much earlier binding styles. The works themselves were published between 1471 (including four incunabula) and 1889, although most date from the 16th and 17th centuries, including subjects of art, travel, British history, geography and poetry.
Hughes, John David Ivor, (1885-1969)
Archival
Papers of J Hughes
I
Icelandic
Printed books
The basis of the Icelandic Collection was acquired by the University in 1929, when Sir Edwin Airey, a former Lord Mayor of Leeds, provided the money for the purchase of the private library of the author and historian Bogi Thorarensen Melsteð (1860-1929). It is one of the best Icelandic collections outside Iceland and Scandinavia and includes works dating back to the 16th century. Subjects include dictionaries, folklore, Iceland travel, history, literature, language and Vikings. The collection is supported by collections of Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish and Danish literature, all of which continue to grow.
Illingworth, Henry
Archival
Papers relating to the French woollen textile industry, 1867-1877
Illingworth, William Norman, (1902-1980), schoolmaster, 1923-1929
Archival
letters and papers of William Illingworth
Incunabula (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
The incunabula (books printed before the end of the 15th century) include among the classical writers the works of Aristotle, Cicero, Horace, Livy, Ovid, Pliny, Seneca, Tacitus, Terence and Virgil, and among the fathers and saints of the Church the works of Anselm, Augustine, Bernard, Bonaventure, Jerome and Thomas Aquinas. One of the finest is the editio princeps of Plutarch's 'Lives' (c1470) in two large folio volumes, illustrated. There are editions of Dante (1484) and Petrarch (1490), whilst Bartholomaeus Anglicus 'De Proprietatibus Rerum' (1480), Breydenbach's 'Itinerarium' (1486) and Schedel's 'Liber Chronicarum' ('the Nuremberg Chronicle') (1493) are famous illustrated works. Lorenzo Guglielmo Traversagni's 'Epitome Margaritae Eloquentiae', printed by Caxton in c1480, is the only known surviving copy.
Italian
Printed books
Strong in works by literary authors dating from 1300-1800. The largest section covers the period 1600-1800. The collection is complemented by Italian works held in other Special Collections sections, for example the Brotherton Collection Foreign section, the Ripon Cathedral Library and the Strong Room Collection, which contain many early editions of major authors - Petrarch, Dante, Boccaccio and many others. The Brotherton Collection literature section also contains early English translations of many major Italian works. The Brotherton Collection Incunabula section contains more than 250 books printed in Italy.
J
Jackson, Frederick Keith
Archival
Material relating to flax growing and processing
Jacobs, Adolph, wool and oil merchants, Bradford
Archival
Business records 1926-1953
Jamesville and Washington, N C, railroad and lumber company, North Carolina
Archival
Business records, c1874-1881
Japanese
Printed books
A very small collection consisting of items which were formerly a part of the Library's lending collections. The collection will grow as older, rarer materials are transferred to the collection over time from the main Library.
Jones, J H, (1881-1973), Professor of Economics, 1919-1946
Additional information and further additional information
Archival
Papers in connection with the Nuffield Social Reconstruction Survey; papers relating to the coal industry
K
Kendall, Percy Fry, (1856-1936), Professor of Geology, 1904-1922
Archival
Letters to Percy Kendall
Keown (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Containing two main elements, the personal library of the writer and physician Dr Philip Gosse (1879-1959) and a supplementary collection of works by 20th-century English poets. The former, reflecting Dr Gosse's interests in literature, pirates, cricket and many other topics, was presented to the library in memory of his wife, the novelist Anna Gordon Keown. A financial endowment from Dr Gosse has allowed development of the supplementary collection. Manuscripts and correspondence of Dr Gosse and his wife are also held.
Kimber Collection - Monarchy
Printed books
Works which are concerned with the monarchy of Great Britain. They are mostly modern works, with titles dating from between 1930 and 1996. The works themselves are principally concerned with individual members of the Royal Family of the 20th century. However some of the works deal with other aspects of the Monarchy, including the royal residences such as Clarence House, and the rites and ceremonies associated with royalty. This collection also contains a large number of newspaper and magazine special editions, to commemorate notable events for the Royal Family.
Kitson, Robert, (1873-1947)
Archival
Papers and sketchbooks
L
Lancashire Cotton Districts Relief Fund
Archival
Papers of the fund
Language (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
English language in the period 1600-1750. As well as many language dictionaries, it also contains some examples of law and medical dictionaries, dating from the 18th century, and an early example of a geographical dictionary. This collection also contains individual works which deal with other aspects of language, such as a work on wit, early works on fables, and an early work on aphorisms and apophthegms.
Languages, general
Printed books
The dates of publication span the late 17th century to the late 19th century. The works are principally in English and German. Subjects include language and language classification, study and teaching, philosophy, and literature. It also contains works on the Turkish language and Anglo-Saxon literature.
Latin
Printed books
Dating from the 17th century onwards, it focuses mainly on examples of reprinted Latin literature principally from authors Virgil, Horace, Cicero, Terence and Erasmus. It also contains some works of criticism and interpretation of classical authors. The works themselves cover a variety of topics including agriculture, astronomy, and early science. The works in this collection are predominantly in Latin.
Law
Printed books
The Law Collection dates from the middle of the 17th century onwards. Much of the collection consists of a large number of law reports, which date from the 17th century through to the 19th century. These law reports deal mostly with Great Britain, but Irish law reports are also represented. Other subjects include land tenure, Justices of the peace, Roman law, British conveyancing, equity, ecclesiastical law and bankruptcy. The collection also contains a small number of 19th century biographical works, on lawyers and judges, and some works on other aspects of Law, such as military law and maritime law.
Leak, Dorothy Mary, (1903-1989)
Archival
Miscellaneous letters and papers
Leeds Academic Assistance Committee
Archival
Correspondence, memoranda and other papers, 1933-1940
Leeds Archive of Vernacular Culture
Archival
Archives of the former Institute of Dialect and Folk Life Studies, part of the University of Leeds from October 1964 to September 1983, and dialect-related materials, which predate the establishment of the Institute.
Leeds Association of The National Union Of Teachers
Archival
Papers of the Leeds Association
Leeds Friends Old Library
Printed books
One of two important collections assembled by Yorkshire Quakers and housed by the Brotherton Library, the other being the Birkbeck Library. The collection had formed the meeting library for about 150 years from the early 18th century, and consists of upwards of 500 volumes containing about 1,000 separate items, dated mostly between 1651 and 1850. It includes subjects of the Society of Friends' history, apologetic works, doctrinal and controvertial works and Quaker biography.
Leeds General Cemetery
Archival
Registers and cemetery papers
Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society
Printed books
The book collection ranges widely over all the disciplines, especially scientific subjects, and does not confine itself to British research: there are, for example, many American and Canadian publications. A handful of works date from the 17th century, and some hundred from the 18th, the rest being spread fairly evenly over the decades between 1800 and 2000. A feature of the collection is its many long runs of journals and series. It is a useful resource for students of the history of science. The Zoology section includes a remarkable number of handbooks and catalogues of species. This sizeable collection complements the Library's holdings of LPLS manuscripts (the Society's minute-books, etc which date from its origins in the early 19th century).
Leeds Poetry 1950-1980
Archival
Relates to poets working at the University of Leeds between 1950 and 1980
Leeds Russian Archive
Archival and Printed Book
The Leeds Russian Archive (LRA) was established in 1982. It comprises some 500 collections of manuscripts, photographs and other archival material and a number of printed books, which document Russian history, literature and culture and Anglo-Russian contacts in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Leeds University Archive
Archival
Official institutional archive collection of the University and its predecessor body, the Yorkshire College.
Leeds University Library (Edward Boyle Library)
Archival
Material relating to the construction, topping out and opening of the South Library (now named the Edward Boyle Library), including Harold Macmillan's notes for his speech at the opening ceremony, and materials relating to the conferment on him of an honorary degree. Further records of the University can be found in the University Archive collection and the University of Leeds book and periodical collection
Leeds White Cloth Hall
Archival
Papers of, 1749-1897
Legge-Bourke, Sir Harry, (1914-1973), Member of Parliament for the Isle of Ely from 1945
Archival
Political papers
Leslie, May Sybil (nee Burr)
Archival
Papers on physical chemistry and dyestuffs
Letters Database
Archival
An informal finding-list that details Special Collections' substantial holdings of manuscript correspondence, from across all the collections
Liddle Collection
Archival and Printed Book
The Liddle Collection is an archive of First and Second World War material, which its founder, Peter Liddle, began to collect from veterans and their descendants in the early 1970s.
Linguistics
Printed books
Works dating from 1668 to 1848. Subjects include grammar, language and languages, elocution, ethnology and phonetics. Includes individual items on phonetics and spelling reform.
Literature (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
The core English literary section of the Brotherton Collection (based on the bequest of Lord Brotherton's personal library in 1936), with its emphasis on English poetry and drama from 1600 to 1750. The holdings of major works (such as the four 17th-century folios of Shakespeare), of major authors like Dryden, Pope and Swift, and of work by more obscure figures are all good. Literary criticism of the period and translations from European languages into English are also important interests.
Literature, general
Printed books
The chief feature of this collection is a body of some 580 texts of concrete poetry; purchasing and collecting in this area is a special priority. While the poetry is mainly in English, other languages are also included, especially German. Of the whole collection, about one-fifth of the texts are in languages other than English (mainly German, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian). The subject-matter of the collection is literature and literary movements and theories which do not belong exclusively to one language or culture.
Lomonossoff Collections (Leeds Russian Archive)
Finding aid no. F26
See Catalogue of Lomonossoff Collections by Hugh A Aplin, 1988.
London Magazine Editions
Archival
Correspondence and manuscripts relating to the magazine editions.
Longbottom, Edward, dyer, Batley
Archival
Business records, c1831-1885
M
Marrick Priory, Swaledale, North Yorkshire
Archival
Papers relating to the estate, mainly in the post-medieval period
Marshall, John and Co., flax spinners, Leeds
Archival
Business records, 1788-1886, with index, 1972.
Mathematics
Printed books
Works dating from between 1737 and 1947. Subjects include astrology, geometry, calculus, algebra, fluid mechanics and probabilities. The collection also includes the periodical Journal für die reine und angewandte Mathematik, dating from 1826 to 1902.
Mattison collection (Brotherton Collection) - political history
Printed books
Formerly the library of Alf Mattison (1868-1944), a Leeds socialist and local historian. It is an extensive collection concentrating on early socialism, particularly the history of the Labour Party and the Independent Labour Party. Important features of the collection are its extensive range of pamphlets and its runs of scarce socialist newspapers. Subjects include economic conditions in Britain, communism, socialism, the working class, Trade Unions and the Labour Party.
Maude, Aymler, (1858-1938)
Archival
Letters to George Herbert Perris, Charles F Cazenove and others, on literary matters
Medicine
Printed books
The earliest work is a 1608 edition of Avicenna's Medicorum principis. Most of the books were published between 1750 and 1850, though a handful are earlier. Subjects include disease and disorders; health and health remedies.
Miliband, Ralph, (1924-1994)
Archival
Correspondence and papers
Modern history
Printed books
Contains works dating from 1596 to the present day. Its classification follows that of the Modern History loan collection which it complements. Works on the modern history of the British Isles (mainly England, with smaller sections on Scotland, Wales and Ireland) form the largest single element of the collection, and the coverage of this subject includes works on British antiquities, the local history of counties, cities and towns, and constitutional history and historical sources. A second major part of the collection consists of works on the history of France. There are also smaller sections within the collection dealing with the history of Spain and Portugal, Italy, Germany and Austria, and other European (and non-European) countries, as well as general European history. Finally, works on ecclesiastical history form a third substantial part of the collection.
Moore, Humphrey, (1913-1968)
Archival
Literary archive of Humphrey Moore
Music
Printed books
Most of the works date from the 19th century onwards. The vast majority of the works are musical scores, with only a relatively small part of the collection consisting of interpretative criticism of music or composers, such as Haydn, Mozart, Handel and Wagner. The works dating from earlier centuries focus more on theoretical aspects of the subject, with a 17th-century musical textbook, and two early works dedicated to the study of the violin. Subjects include opera scores, including vocal scores, songs, oratorio scores, folk music, choruses, cantatas and programmes. The collection also contains a number of periodicals, including a run of The Musical Times.
Music (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Contains many items from the library of W T Freemantle, from whom Lord Brotherton purchased numerous books. A special feature of the collection is the group of Mendelssohn manuscripts and letters which are described elsewhere. Among the printed works there are very many scores (mostly 19th century), representing a great many composers, and much song music. The composers are too numerous to list, but among those particularly well represented are Beethoven, Handel, Rossini, Mendelssohn and Dibdin. There are also biographies of composers, books on musical theory, and runs of a number of periodicals (eg Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung; The Harmonicon; Musical world). The earliest book shelved with this collection is John Playford's three-volume An introduction to the skill of musick..., 1697, but the Incunabula section of the Brotherton Collection boasts a copy of F Gaffori, Practica musicae, 1497.
N
New Statesman
Archival
Correspondence and literary papers, 1914-1919 and 1960-1983
Newspapers
Printed books
Newspapers and magazines from the 18th century to the present day. This collection is particularly strong on newspapers from the Yorkshire region, including Leeds Intelligencer, Leeds Mercury, Halifax Courier, Halifax Guardian, Yorkshire Post and Evening Post and the Yorkshire Factory Times. National and foreign newspapers include Les Temps Nouveaux, The Daily News, Private Eye, Illustrated London News, L'Illustration, the Gazette de Lettres, Gil Blas, Picture Post, Parliamentary Spy, and The Sketch
Norwegian
Printed books
Works, mostly in the Norwegian language, cover a wide area of subjects connected with Norway, including history, laws, geography and topography, folklore, literature, art and archaeology, language and biography. The collection contains works that deal with Norwegian architecture, Norwegian numismatics and Norwegian politics. Authors include Henrik Ibsen, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Knut Hamsum. While the works span the period from 1778 to the present day, the majority date from the late 19th century.
Novello-Cowden Clarke (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Principally from the library of Mary Cowden Clarke (1809-1898), daughter of the music publisher Joseph Novello. They reflect her scholarly interest in Shakespeare and her friendship with Dickens, Leigh Hunt and many other contemporary English literary authors. The associated manuscript collections have strong musical as well as literary interest.
Numismatics
Printed books
A large proportion of the works date from the early 20th century, and the late 18th century. The works cover many aspects of numismatics, but the majority of them focus on the classical era. Coins of Great Britain, Egypt, France and Rome are included.
O
Oakley, Cyril Leslie, (1907-1975)
Archival
letters and papers of C Oakley
Occultism
Printed books
Books, pamphlets and periodicals published between 1672 and 1992, with a large proportion of the works dating from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The majority of the books are in French. Most of this section consists of works collected by Adar Mitrecey, and presented to the Library through Sir James Baillie. Additions have been made to the collection through bequests and gifts. Subjects include witchcraft, prophecy, science, aesthetics, religions, philosophy, astronomy and astrology, hypnotism, numerology, graphology, freemasonry, spiritualism, demonology.
Official publications
Printed books
Official Publications. Most of the titles date from the second half of the 18th century or first half of the 19th century. Of particular interest are the multi-volume reports of the Commissioners for Parliamentary Boundaries (1832) and Municipal Corporations (1837), with their large fold-out maps of towns and cities, and the Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council concerning the Trade in Slaves (1789), with accompanying minutes of evidence taken before the Committee, and further papers subsequently submitted to it.
Orage, Alfred R (1873-1934)
Archival
Papers and correspondence
P
Pearson family, of Yorkshire and Mountcross, County Cork
Additional information and further additional information
Archival
Letters and papers of the Pearson family
Pease, Thomas Benson, (1782-1846)
Archival
Plans and related materials from the Sheepscar estate, Leeds, of Thomas Benson Pease
Peers, Edgar Allison, (1891-1952)
Archival
Letters and papers of Edgar Peers, relating to Hispanic studies
Philosophy
Printed books
Works published between 1602 and 1953. Subjects include Aristotle, political science, ethics, aesthetics, logic, John Locke, philosophy, psychology and Immanuel Kant. The collection also contains works on women, love, emotions, contentment, Epicurus and earthquakes. The collection is strong in such subjects as politics and the philosophy of science.
Physics
Printed books
The majority of books and periodicals were published between 1800 and 1850, though the earliest title is dated 1775 - Joseph Priestley's The history and present state of electricity. 10 periodicals are represented in the collection, some being present in long runs. Subjects include general treatises, heat, light and vision, electricity and mechanics.
Poetry, 20th century (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Minor poetry written around the time of the First World War. The great majority of the poems were published during the actual war years, though not all the poetry has a war theme. The earliest work is dated 1907, the latest 1935. The collection was compiled by Lord Brotherton and is no longer added to; it is complemented by other Special Collections poetry holdings.
Politics
Printed books
Although published between 1775 and 1998, the bulk of the collection dates from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The older works focus on issues such as forms of government. Subjects include socialism, representative government, anarchism, poor laws (England) and works on contemporary political figures. The modern works also deal with, amongst other themes, the United Nations, the British Civil Service, and the European Community. This collection also contains a small selection of Labour Party Bulletins, dating from the middle of the 20th century.
Politics (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Most of the items were published between the early-to-mid-17th century and the middle of the 18th century. As well as covering political philosophy and the political and constitutional issues and events of the period, the collection also contains many works on questions of trade, commercial policy and economic theory, and on political aspects of religious controversies.
Portuguese
Printed books
The books are mainly in the Portuguese language, and the dates of publication span the period from 1645 to 1982. The collection contains many works of Portuguese literature, as well as literature translated into Portuguese.
Printing collection
Printed books
Works dating from the late 18th century to the present which are distinguished by their fine printing. They are classified according to their publisher. The subjects covered in this collection are incidental, but range from modern editions of the Book of Common Prayer, to literature and history. The vast majority of the collection dates from the 20th century. The collection contains publications from around one hundred presses, including Fanfrolico Press, Fleece Press, High House Press, Mandrake Press and Quince Tree Press.
Psychology
Printed books
The earliest book is dated 1845, Louis F Calmeil's De la folie..., and the latest 1960, R D Laing's The divided self.... Subjects include madness and human feelings.
Purvis, J S, canon, (1890-1968)
Archival
Papers of Canon Purvis
Pybus, Rodney
Archival
Literary papers and correspondence.
Q
Quaker Archives
Archival
Quakers (more formally, the Society of Friends) have always been careful to preserve records of their activities. Special Collections in Leeds University Library is the main repository for Yorkshire Quaker archives. It holds in particular two substantial collections of original documents stretching from the 17th to the 20th century. These are known respectively as the Carlton Hill Collection (which broadly covers the Leeds, Bradford, Settle and Knaresborough areas) and the Clifford Street collection (which covers mainly the York and Thirsk areas, but also includes records for Yorkshire as a whole). Also, 'Digest' (ie summary) registers of Quaker births, marriages, and burials for the whole of Yorkshire up to 1837, together with various other microfilmed and photocopied sets of registers, are held.
Queen Square and Park Square Galleries, Leeds
Archival
Archives of the galleries
Quin, Malcolm
Archival
Letters to A J Grant, 1892-1927
R
Ransome, Arthur, (1884-1967)
Archival
Papers and correspondence of Ransome
Raven, Dame Kathleen, nursing officer
Archival
Papers of Dame Raven
Read, Herbert Collection (1893-1968)
Printed books
Personal library of Sir Herbert Read (1893-1968), reflecting his career as art critic, theorist, advocate and administrator, poet, novelist and publisher, and much else. The contents range from the rare and unique - such as a proof copy of Finnegans Wake, presentation copies of T S Eliot's works, scarce volumes by Marcel Duchamp - to relatively commonplace books annotated by Read himself. Read's own works are well represented and his collection of art exhibition catalogues is extensive. A large collection of Read's professional and personal papers is also held.
Read, Piers Paul, (1941-)
Archival
Literary papers and correspondence of Piers Paul Read
Reid, Margaret Grant, (1912-1974)
Archival
Letters and papers of Margaret Reid, mainly relating to the retreat from Oslo in 1940 and family life in wartime Britain
Review, The
Archival
Correspondence and articles and poems submitted to The Review
Ripon Cathedral archive of the Dean and Chapter
Archival
The archives of the Dean and Chapter of Ripon Cathedral cover all aspects of the history of the church at Ripon from the late Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Ripon Cathedral library
Printed books
The library of Ripon Cathedral contains many rare and valuable early printed books including a number of incunabula. The books naturally focus on religious matters and include liturgies, Bibles, service books, doctrinal texts, discussions of the Old and New Testaments and religious philosophy.
Rolfe, Frederick (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
Romance
Printed books
The books, published between 1774 and 1847, are primarily in French, and are examples of Romance literature. Subjects include troubadours, Provence and Provencal poetry
Romany Collection (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
One of the outstanding resources in the United Kingdom for the study of Gypsies and Travellers. Originally assembled by Lord Brotherton's niece-in-law, Dorothy Una Ratcliffe (Mrs McGrigor Phillips), and presented to the Library in 1950, the Collection is still actively developed. Its major strength is in the classic British and other European works of Romany scholarship of the 19th and early 20th centuries, although more recent works in many languages are comprehensively collected. These are complemented by less specialised accounts of Gypsy life, biographies of Gypsies, travel works with Gypsy reference and literary works dealing with Gypsy subjects, such as the works of George Borrow, dating from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Rare items include texts in Russian and Moravian Romany. A varied collection of music, letters, manuscripts, play-bills, pictures, engravings and other objects relating to the Gypsy culture supports the printed material.
Roth, Cecil (1899-1970) Collection
Printed books
Printed books and pamphlets, published from the 16th century to the 20th century, which were acquired from Dr Cecil Roth. Half of these works are written in Hebrew. They include Hebrew Bibles, liturgies, and works of literature. The other half are written in English, or other European languages, and concern Jewish history. Other works from Roth's library are in the main lending collections. Manuscripts, letters and papers relating to the Jewish community at Salonika at the end of the Second World War are also held.
Ruskin, John (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
S
Sadler, Sir Michael Ernest, (1861-1943)
Archival
Papers, publications, correspondence, and other material
Scandinavian
Printed books
Works which date from the early 18th century up to the present day, dealing with many different aspects of Scandinavian language, literature, and culture. Some of the countries represented in this collection include Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland. This spread of countries is reflected in the variety of languages in the collection, most of the works being in either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German. Subjects include Norse mythology, German language dictionries, folklore, works on individual Scandanavian authors, particulary Hans Christian Andersen, Runes and runic inscription, Scandanavian antiquities, Danish language dictionaries, Scandanavian history and philology. This collection also contains a small number of works on subjects such as Scandinavian agriculture, Danish law, and more modern works on aspects of Scandinavian history such as the Vikings. This collection contains periodicals, such as the Scandinavian Review, and Aländsk Odling.
Schubert Collection
Printed books
Includes musical scores of Franz Schubert and a wide range of works about him dating from the mid-19th century to the present. It has been generously assembled for the Library by the Schubert Institute (UK) and is founded on the personal library of the Schubert scholar Maurice Brown. Brown's Schubert-related correspondence and other manuscripts are also present.
Science (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Works from the period 1600 to 1750, covering a wide variety of early scientific subjects, including zoology, astronomy, medicine, religion and science, physics, mathematics, chemistry, natural history and Isaac Newton. This collection also contains early works on magnetism, monsters, and melancholy. The collection contains works on notable scientific figures, such as Galen, and the philosopher René Descartes.
Science fiction
Printed books
Works of science fiction, published from 1899 onwards. The collection, which illustrates the history and development of the science fiction genre, is particularly notable for its science fiction magazines. Authors include Brian Aldiss, Isaac Asimov, James Blish, Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Arthur C Clarke, Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey and Michael Moorcock.
Science, early
Printed books
Books and journals dating from the 16th century onwards, covering many different aspects of the sciences. The subjects covered range from general works on the major types of science, such as chemistry, physics, and botany, to works which deal with much more specific subjects such as occultism, inventions, works on civilisations, beer, and horses. The periodicals held within this collection include copies of Memoirs of Science and the Arts, Scientific Memoirs, and Communications to the Board of Agriculture, all dating from the late 18th century.
Science, general
Printed books
19th-century volumes relating to various aspects of science, most notably natural history and philosophy. It features several multi-volume works - Humboldt's Cosmos, John Playfair's Works, Polehampton's Gallery of nature and art and d'Orbigny's Dictionnaire universel d'histoire naturelle.
Science, later (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Later science books complement the Brotherton Collection's section of Early science books: it covers the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, though the majority of the books were published in the 19th century. A number of subjects are represented, but only natural history is covered in any substantial way. There are, in particular, editions of works by Darwin, Buffon and Waterton, and there is a particular emphasis on ornithology.
Semitic
Printed books
Books and periodicals, dates of publication ranging from 1613 (an Arabic lexicon) to 1996 (a facsimile edition of the Hebrew Leningrad Codex). The majority of the books were published between 1800 and 1950; some 20 were published before 1700. Various subjects are covered, Hebraica and Judaica featuring most prominently.
Shorter, Clement
Archival
Correspondence
Shorthand
Printed books
Works on shorthand and the practice of shorthand which date from between 1696 and 1957. The texts are principally in English, though there are also some examples of the practice of French shorthand.
Simpson, Esther, (1903-1996)
Archival
Papers of Esther Simpson
Slavonic
Printed books
Works cover a variety of subjects connected with Russia. The printed works date from 1736 up until 1995, but the majority of the books date from the early 20th century. The earlier works mostly cover aspects of Russian language. The collection contains early examples of polyglot dictionaries, English to Russian dictionaries, and a Russian to German phrasebook. The later works, dating from the late 19th century and 20th century, focus more on Russia's political situation, and on Russian literature, particularly the writings of Tolstoy.
Smithells, Arthur, (1860-1939)
Archival
Letters and papers of Arthur Smithells
Social policy
Printed books
Works relating to British social policy from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The collection focuses particularly on the conditions of the British working class during the 19th century. Other works in the collection deal more generally with the British economic condition, including health surveys, cemeteries and sanitation.
Society for the Study of Theology
Archival
Papers of the society, 1952-
Sociology
Printed books
Works dating mainly from the early 19th century, though the overall span of dates ranges from 1753 through to modern times. Subjects include poverty, population, prisons, the working class, crime and vital statistics. In addition, some political and religious subjects are covered.
Spanish
Printed books
Works of literature published from the 17th to the 19th centuries. 19th century works are particularly well represented, and include some minor novels not readily available elsewhere. Among the 17th and 18th century works are very early editions of works by Lope de Vega, Góngora, Quevedo, Calderón, Tirso de Molina and many others. There is an interesting selection of editions of Don Quijote, including a Dutch translation of 1657 and some 19th century English translations by Jarvis with fine coloured illustrations. The earliest work in the collection is the 1541, very rare, first edition of the Crónica de España edited by Florián de Ocampo (other early editions of the Chronicle are in the Brotherton Collection). The collection is complemented by Spanish works in other sections of Special Collections: the Brotherton Collection Foreign section, 16th-18th centuries, includes some early editions of Spanish literary texts, and the literature section of the Brotherton Collection has a good number of early translations of well-known Spanish literary works (a dozen 17th and 18th century translations of Quevedo, for example). The Brotherton Collection incunabula section includes seven works printed in Spain.
Spence, Robert, sometime lecturer in physical chemistry at the University of Leeds
Archival
Catalogue of papers and correspondence to Robert Spence
Sport
Printed books
Books date from the middle of the 18th century up to 1972. The journals in this collection include several issues of The Sporting Calendar and various editions of a journal listing horse races in England and Wales, both of these titles dating from the middle of the 18th century. Subjects include sport dictionaries, fishing, cricket and card games.
Squire, Hilda M, (1898-1991)
Archival
Family letters and papers
Stevenson, Elizabeth
Archival
Certificates, photographs and other documents in connection with postgraduate study by Elisabeth F Stevenson at the University of Göttingen, under Professor R A Zsigmondy, 1910-1912
Stoner, Edmund Clifton, (1899-1968), physicist
Archival
Papers of Edmund Stoner
Strong Room books
Printed books
The Strong Room books collection takes its name from the secure room where these early, often rare and valuable, books were originally kept. The collection is divided into two parts, one for books printed in England, the other (about three-quarters of the total) for books printed abroad. The earliest book in the collection is dated 1474, the latest 1885. There are 18 incunabula, and well over half the books were printed before 1600. There is range both of subjects and languages. Theology and spirituality feature strongly, and there are 49 Bibles including several polyglot ones. History, literature, natural history, geography and travel, and dictionaries are also well represented. About half the books are in Latin, some 260 in English, some 130 in Italian and some 84 in French, while fewer are in Ancient Greek, Hebrew, Spanish and German.
Sturge, Joseph
Archival
Papers relating to the Peace Committee of the Society of Friends and other peace movements
Swedish
Printed books
The great majority of the books are in Swedish and were published after 1900. The earliest book in the collection dates from 1755, and some 36 were published between 1800 and 1850. Included are some 130 academic dissertations in Swedish, covering various subjects, especially Swedish language. The collection continues to be developed, including language, literature, history and bibliography.
Swinburne, Algernon Charles
Archival
Literary manuscripts and transcriptions of A Swinburne
T
Tallant, Jill Judith, a pupil at Ackworth School, Yorkshire
Archival
Letters to her parents, 1945-1951
Tempest, S, and Co, manufacturers of gym frocks, gym blouses and ladies' overalls, Bradford
Archival
Business records, 1906-1936
Textiles
Printed books
19th century publications whose subject matter is chiefly the manufacture of cotton and wool.
Theatre
Printed books
Dating from between 1759 and 1996, with the majority of the works dating from the early 20th century. Subjects include actors, theatrical producers and directors, drama technique, French theatre and theatre management. While the collection principally deals with theatre, it also contains some works on film and motion pictures.
Theology
Printed books
The earliest item in the collection was published in 1670, but the majority of the works date from the early 18th century onwards. Subjects include English sermons, Bible criticism and interpretation, apologetics, Catholicism and Unitarianism. There are works on Buddhism, mysticism, and gnosticism.
Thomas Hield and Sons Ltd, yarn merchants and exporters, Dewsbury
Archival
Business records, 1906-1916
Thompson, Herbert, (1856-1945)
Archival
Opera and concert programmes, collected by Herbert Thompson. Includes papers and index to correspondence
Thompson, Thomas Perronet, (1783-1869) and members of his family
Archival
An inventory of their correspondence
Thompson, W. B. Collection
Printed books
Educational works used in the teaching of classics in the 19th and 20th centuries. Although most of the works themselves in either Latin or Ancient Greek, the collections also contains some translations and critical works in English. Subjects include classicial literature, Greek drama, Latin poetry, ancient philosophy, Greek and Roman history. These books form the collection of W B Thompson, who worked in the University of Leeds Department of Education.
Times Literary Supplement
Archival
Poems submitted to the Times Literary Supplement
Tinsley, John Ernest
Archival
Papers of John Tinsley
Todd, Ruthven
Archival and printed books
Letters and papers relating to his studies of William Blake
Travel (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
Works on European and Mediterranean travel in the period 1600 to 1750. Many of the works are descriptions of individual countries (including Russia, Europe, Middle East, Turkey, Italy and Spain), by English travellers. Other works deal with aspects of the history of certain countries (there are, for example, a number of works on slavery) or with specific cities, such as Paris or Rome.
U
University of Leeds
Printed books
Contains printed material published by the University of Leeds and many of its constituent departments, services and other related bodies. It includes Annual Reports and Calendars of the University, and of its predecessor, the Yorkshire College; publications of staff and student societies; Court, Council and Senate minutes; departmental journals, bulletins and newsletters; prospectuses; examination question papers; publications and other material relating to Leeds University students' union; a large Personalia section, containing news cuttings about individual members of staff and books written by them; and much else besides. The Collection complements the archival material held in the Leeds University Archive.
V
Vatican Council, Second
Archival
Unpublished papers
W
Waddington, J C, and Sons Ltd, woollen and worsted dyers, Leeds
Archival
Business records, 1816-1947
Walker, William and Sons, of Otley, West Yorkshire, printers: The Printerdom Papers (Details being prepared)
Archival
Compiled by John Smurthwaite
Walsh, James, (1930-2008), Emeritus Registrar
Archival
Papers of James Walsh
War books
Printed books
Printed books and pamphlets mostly published immediately before and during the Second World War, along with some works published during the First World War. Many of the works deal with specific military campaigns of the Second World War naval operations and propaganda.
Waugh, Evelyn (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
Wentworth-Woolley Hall
Archival
Papers of the Wentworth family of Woolley Hall, Yorkshire
West Yorkshire Coal Owners' Association
Archival
Business records, 1890-1955
West Yorkshire Playhouse, (formerly Leeds Playhouse)
Archival
Archives of the Leeds Playhouse, afterwards West Yorkshire Playhouse, 1964-2001
West Yorkshire and Lindsey Regional Examining Board: for the Certificate of Secondary Education (Airedale / Claro / Ripon / Wharedale area)
Archival
Papers of the examining board
Whiddington, Richard, (1885-1970), Cavendish Professor of Physics, University of Leeds, 1919-1951, and Pro-Vice-Chancellor, 1949-1951
Archival
Papers of Richard Whiddington
Whitaker Collection
Printed books
A collection of English county atlases and maps published between 1579 and 1901, formed by Dr Harold Whitaker, who presented it to the Library in 1939. Road books are a strong feature of the collection, which also includes a number of European and world atlases and maps.
Whitfield Family, bakers, Idle, near Bradford
Archival
Notebooks and other material
Wilde, Oscar (Fay and Geoffrey Elliott Collection)
Archival
Part of the expansive collection of rare books and manuscripts donated by the Elliotts
William Hanson, cotton spinners, doublers and warp manufacturers, Halifax
Archival
Business records, 1924-1954
William Lupton and Co Ltd, woollen and worsted manufacturers, Leeds
Archival
Business records, 1694-1919
Williams, John Lloyd, (1885-1940)
Archival
Letters and papers of John Williams, mainly relating to his service with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War and his business connections with Harry Ferguson Ltd., 1914-1975
Wilson, John, of Broomhead, (1719-83)
Archival
Manuscripts collected by John Wilson
Y
Yearbooks
Printed books
Consists of assorted calendars, court and city registers, almanacs, atlases, diaries, and army lists, mostly published between the mid-18th and mid-19th centuries, with a few earlier and later works. It also includes various Post Office county directories, mostly published in the 1870s-1880s, but in the case of the London directories extending into the early 20th century.
Yorkshire
Printed books
One of two large Special Collections sections covering many aspects of Yorkshire history, topography, scientific and natural history, and society. The classification scheme of the collection is as follows: Section A covers Yorkshire as a whole, and sections B, C and D cover the North, East and West Ridings as a whole, with a few sub-divisions for the different districts. Section H covers particular towns, among which Leeds and York feature most prominently (nearly a third of the whole Collection is devoted to Leeds), though by no means exclusively. Among the handful of pre-17th century works is Scarborough-spaw by Robert Wittie, dated 1667; the later works span the years 1750 to the present decade. The collection includes a good number of periodicals and series, among which are publications of the Thoresby Society.
Yorkshire (Brotherton Collection)
Printed books
One of two large Special Collections sections covering all aspects of Yorkshire history, topography, natural history and society. Though the publication dates are fairly wide-ranging (1684 to 1971), the great majority of the books were published between 1800 and 1950. The classification scheme for the collection is as follows: Section A covers Yorkshire as a whole, and sections B, C and D cover the North, East and West Ridings as a whole, with a few sub-divisions for the different districts. Section H, which comprises the vast majority of the books, is devoted to specific towns, and is especially rich in material on Bradford, Doncaster, Leeds, Rotherham, Sheffield, Wakefield and York. This list is by no means exhaustive, however, and a great many other towns are represented also. A little non-Yorkshire subject matter is included, though this consists of works which are nevertheless printed in Yorkshire.
Yorkshire Association of Students of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Archival
Official correspondence to and from John Eric Sturton Bodger whilst honorary secretary of the Yorkshire Association of Students of the Institution of Civil Engineers, together with some related documents, 1914-1915
Yorkshire Schools Exploring Society
Archival
Papers of the society
Z
Zion Sunday School, New Wortley, Leeds
Archival
List of documents concerning the school
Zoology
Printed books
Works dating from the 19th century to the early 20th century. Subjects include insects, moths and butterflies, shells and shellfish, birds, anatomy and physiology. A periodical also contained within this collection is the Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society (1808-1837). The collection also contains 40 volumes of Sir William Jardine's 19th century The Naturalist's Library, which is divided into four main sections: Ornithology, Mammalia, Entomology and Ichthyology.
Zurov Collection (Leeds Russian Archive)
Archival
See Catalogue of Bunin, Bunina, Zurov and Lopatina Collection by Anthony J Heywood, 2000
