Description of Special Collection

Collection Level Description: Microfilms of Durham Priory Manuscripts

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Collection name: Microfilms of Durham Priory Manuscripts

Collection code: GB 033 DPM

Date range: ca. 1980-1999

Extent: 68 reels

Language: Latin

Created by: Durham University Library (collector)

Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections

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Contents:
Positive microfilms of medieval manuscripts from Durham Cathedral Priory which are now located in libraries and repositories outside Durham.
About the creator:
Many more of the manuscript and printed books formerly owned by Durham Cathedral Priory have survived than those of any other medieval English institution. Over 300 manuscripts remain in the Cathedral Library, and 12 more are in Durham University Library, but many others have passed to libraries elsewhere - over 170 have so far been identified. This collection of microfilms has been formed by Durham University Library with the objective of bringing together, for study purposes in Durham, films of all known Durham Priory manuscripts which are now located outside Durham, other than those which are available in published facsimiles. The collection now lacks films of only about four of the known manuscripts.
Arrangement:
In order of reel number.
Provenance:
Largely by purchase from the institutions where the manuscripts are located.
Location of originals:
Institutions owning the manuscripts, or libraries in which they are deposited.
Access:
Available for consultation. Further copies should not be made without permission from the libraries owning the manuscripts.
Usage:
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.
Accruals:
Additions are made from time to time, when manuscripts not previously recognised as having a Durham Priory provenance are identified.
Catalogues:
Most of the manuscripts are briefly described in Medieval libraries of Great Britain, edited by N.R. Ker: supplement to the second edition, ed. A.G. Watson (London,1987), 18-34. The collection, however, includes some manuscripts not listed by Ker and Watson, the Durham provenance of which has been identified more recently.
Catalogued on the Library catalogue, with shelmark XM/Film Durham Priory, http://library.dur.ac.uk/search/c?SEARCH=XM%2FFilm+Durham+Priory&SUBMIT=Search.
Related collections held at Durham:
Muniments of the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral.
Bibliography:
Greenslade, S.L., "The contents of the library of Durham Cathedral Priory", Transactions of the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, 11 (1965), 347-69
Piper, A.J., "The libraries of the monks of Durham" in Medieval scribes, manuscripts and libraries: essays presented to N.R. Ker (London, 1978), 213-49.

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Index terms

Durham Priory.
Photographs.
Medieval manuscripts.
Manuscripts, Medieval.
Manuscripts on microfilm.

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Date last modified: 16 November 2008