Henry Minn Collection

The principal part of the collection consists of photographs (and original negatives) taken by Minn. This section contains photographs of Oxford City and University, with copies of prints and drawings, and maps and plans; Oxfordshire; and other counties.

The collection also includes photographs taken by Sarah Angelina Acland, mainly consisting of portraits of the Acland family, their friends and acquaintances, but also including views of Oxford, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Devon and North Africa; photographs by Henry Taunt, mainly consisting of local views; and a group of photographs belonging to C.F. Bell (possibly Charles Francis Bell), consisting of local views.

Henry Minn (1870-1961) was an Oxford watch maker, antiquary and, from 1935, a member of the Bodleian Library's extra staff. Sarah Angelina ('Angie') Acland (1849-1930) was the daughter of Sir Henry Acland, Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford. Henry Taunt (1842-1922) was a celebrated local professional photographer. Charles Francis Bell (1871-1966) was Keeper of Fine Art, Ashmolean Museum Oxford, 1909-31.

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/specialcollections).

The collection was bequeathed to the Library by Minn in 1963.

Collection level description created by Emily Tarrant, Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts.

A full catalogue (without an index) is available in the Library.

A duplicate set of modern prints (from the original negatives) of Oxford and Oxfordshire views was given to Oxford Central Library, Local History Collections (now Centre for Oxfordshire Studies) 1984-7, and has been merged into their existing holdings of photographs.

It would appear that Minn purchased some of the plates directly from Taunt. Miss Acland gave her collection to Minn in 1920.

The main collection of Taunt photographs is held by the Centre for Oxfordshire Studies (prints) and the National Monuments Record, Swindon (plates).

For Minn's papers see Papers of Henry Minn (MSS. Top. Oxon. b. 290, c. 763-6, d. 944-67, e. 618-26, f. 97-8, g. 21).

See also Topographical Collections of Henry Minn (MSS. Top. Oxon. d. 489-509, d. 512-13, e. 384), which includes some Minn photographs in albums containing notes for a history of Cassington (MSS. Top. Oxon. d. 512-13). Some Minn photographs can also be found in albums containing accounts of 'Going the Franchise' (MS. Top. Oxon. d. 309).

A selection of Minn photographs has been reproduced in C.W. Judge's Oxford Past and Present (Oxford, 1970).