Islington Literary and Scientific Society: Contributions book

'Contributions. Manuscripts consisting of original compositions in prose and verse; copies of rare documents; literary curiosities; &c.', circa 100 manuscript pages. There is a contents page at the start of the volume, and a page of members' signatures, headed by 'John Nicholl, Chairman', at the end. The volume also includes a few heraldic drawings and diagrams. Each composition is in the hand of its author and is signed by them at the end. The principal contributor is the antiquary John Nicholl, whose pieces include 'Arms and inscriptions in Old Islington Church', 'Extracts from the vestry minutes of St Mary, Islington, 1662', and an article on the poet Francis Quarles. The first item in the volume is 'Stanzas read at the first literary meeting held in the new building of the Islington Literary & Scientific Society' by Henry Austen Driver, who contributes other writings.

Unless restrictions apply, the collection is open for consultation by researchers using the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library. For further details on conditions governing access please contact mss@lib.cam.ac.uk. Information about opening hours and obtaining a Cambridge University Library reader's ticket is available from the Library's website (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Purchased from Henry Bristow, 1983.

A catalogue of the collection can be found on ArchiveSearch.