Research papers of George John Warren Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866), relating to 14th-century Italian writers Dante and Giovanni Boccaccio, c.1830-1845

The collection comprises:

• Manuscripts relating to the life and works of Dante and particularly to the 'Divina Commedia' about which there are extensive notes (MS 105/1).
• Manuscripts relating to the life and works of Giovanni Boccaccio and particularly to 'La Teseide' of which there are transcripts from the original codex (MS 105/2).
• Manuscripts relating to other aspects of life and literature of Italy including items bearing the titles: 'Cours de Chiromancie' ('Palmistry coursebook'), 'Descrizione Topografica della Citta di Firenze' ('Topographical Description of Florence'), 'Storia Dell Arme dei Medici' ('History of the arms of the Medici'), 'Storia Di Appollonio di Tira Copiata di Mano del Vincenzio Follini Bibliotecario della Libreria Magliabechina dell Cod. 68 [s]alch. II di detta Libreria' ('History of Appollinio of Tira copied by the hand of Vincenzio Follini, librarian of the Magaliabechina Library'), 'Storia di Verona di Gisolamo' ('History of Gisolamo of Verona'), and 'Lettra di Frate Slavio' ('letter of Friar Salvio') (MS 105/3).

It is likely that the documents in this collection are contemporaneous with Vernon's life: the items that are dated were created in the 1830s and 1840s. It is not known if any of the manuscripts are written in Vernon's own hand but they certainly bear the handwriting of several different authors.

George John Warren Vernon, 5th Baron Vernon (1803-1866), the only son of George Charles Vernon (1779-1835) of Sudbury, Derbyshire and Frances Maria, only daughter of Admiral Sir John Boralse-Warren, was born at Stapleford Hall, Nottinghamshire on 22 June 1803. George John Warren entered public life in 1831 as Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. After the passing of the Reform Bill of which he was a supporter, the county was divided into two divisions and he became member for the southern part. He continued in the House of Commons until 1835 when he moved to the House of Lords on the death of his father. In 1837, he changed his ancestral name from Venables-Vernon to Warren in compliance with the will of Viscountess Bulkeley.

George John Warren visited Italy in his youth, sparking a life long passion with the country. He later lived in Florence for extended periods, where he studied Italian language and history, and devoted his life to the study of Dante to whom he erected a literary monument. In collaboration with many members of the Italian intelligentsia of the time, Vernon printed Le prime quattro edizioni della Divina Commedia lettralmente ristampate (London, 1958), a careful reprint of the first editions of the poem edited by Sir Anthony Panizzi with a learned preface. This was followed by L'inferno di Dante Alighieri dispoto in irdine grammaticale e corredato di brevi dichiarazioni di G.G. Warren, Lord Vernon, 1858-1865, an extensive compilation of grammatical, topographical and encyclopaedic note's about Dante's Inferno.

Vernon printed a number of other works on Dante and was created Cavaliere di San Maurizio e Lazzaro in May 1865 in recognition of his work on the poet. Vernon married twice, to Isabella Caroline Ellison in October 1824, and to Frances Emma Maria Boothby in 1859. Vernon died at Sudbury Hall in 1866 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Augustus Henry Vernon, 6th Baron Vernon (1829-1883).

The collection has been divided by subject into three main groups.

ACCESS: Accessible to all registered readers but advance notice is essential.

REPROGRAPHIC: Reprographic copies can be supplied for educational use and private study purposes only, depending on access status and the condition of the documents.

NOTE: Copyright on all Finding Aids belongs to the University of Nottingham.

This description is the only finding aid available for the collection.

Other collections relating to the Barons Vernon are recorded on the National Register of Archives.

COPYRIGHT: Permission to make published use of any material from this collection must be sought in advance in writing from the Keeper of the Department of Manuscripts and Special Collections (email mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk). The Department will try to assist in identifying copyright owners but this can be difficult and the responsibility for copyright clearance before publication ultimately rests with the person wishing to publish.

LANGUAGE: Mostly Italian, some French and English.

The collection was given to University College Nottingham's library by Lord Vernon in July 1945.