Collections

Consists of the papers of Charles Willing Byrd. A member of the prominent Virginia family of that name, Byrd became deeply interested in the Shaker movement, and one of his sons, William Silonwe Byrd, joined the Shaker community at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. For the years 1826-1828, a considerable portion of the collection consists of letters from this son, dealing with the beliefs of the Shakers and the affairs of Pleasant Hill. The collection also includes letters to Charles Willing Byrd from members of his family, in regard to family matters. Letters from an aunt refer to the death of Washington and to conditions in Philadelphia during the War of 1812. Some light on medical practices of the day is given in letters, 1826-1828, to Byrd from his physicians, prescribing treatment for him.

The Calverley mss., 1359-18/19th cent., consist of Arabic manuscripts collected by Edwin Elliott Calverley, 1882-1971, professor of Arabic and Islamic studies, whose notes about the documents are occasionally found inscribed thereon.

The Cassani mss., 1776-1777, consist of a logbook kept by navigator Francisco Cassani of the Santo Cristo del Calvario on its journey from Spain to Uruguay and Brazil.

The Chesterfield mss., 1740-1777, consists of letters and papers of Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of Chesterfield, 1694-1773, statesman, and his godson, Philip Stanhope, 5th earl of Chesterfield, 1755-1815, master of the horse.

The Chesterfield mss., II, 1745-1770, consist primarily of the writings of statesman Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th earl of Chesterfield, 1694-1773.

The Cookery mss., circa 1660–circa 1918, consists of bound and individual writings, often on the topic of cookery, of persons involved with cooking by practice or trade.

The Crame mss., 1774-1819, consists of the papers of brigadier general in the Spanish corps of engineers Agustín Crame, -1780.

The Delany mss., 1728-1760, consists of an anthology, a volume of original drawings, and the manuscript of Marianna by Mary (Granville) Delany, 1700-1788, artist and writer.

The Draper mss., 1780-1854, consists of photostats of documents in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, assembled by historian Lyman Copeland Draper, 1815-1891.

The Dutilh mss., 1784-1811, consists of business letters in French to Dutilh and Wacksmuth, merchants of Philadelphia.

The Ege mss. II, 1240-1923, consists of Otto Ege's Original Leaves from Famous Books - Eight Centuries portfolio of leaves collected from books deemed historically significant.

The Ege mss. III, 12th-18th centuries, consists of Otto Ege's Original Oriental Manuscripts porfolio of leaves of non-European origin.

The Ellison mss., 1790-1949, consist of materials compiled by Robert Spurrier Ellison.

The English History mss. is a miscellaneous collection of manuscripts in English history.

The English legal documents, 1510-1858, consist of mortgages, deeds, indentures, wills, leases, marriage settlements and contracts and powers of attorney.

The English Legal Documents mss. II, 1621-1699, consist of seven documents concerning a shop and adjacent property on Holborn Hill near Holborn Bridge.

English Legal Documents III, 1279-1668, consist of samples of handwriting from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries.

English Legal Documents mss. IV, 1200-1898, consist of those manuscripts concerned with English legal matters which have been acquired as individual pieces.

Consists of individual items acquired separately either as a gift, purchase, transfer, or removal from a variety of sources, relating to English literature. Additions continue to be made.

​The Fernández Nodal mss., 16th cent.-1883, consists of the papers of José Fernández Nodal, a Peruvian scholar born in 1822.