E.D. Clarke Manuscripts

Manuscripts collected by Clarke on his travels, including manuscripts relating to theology, the Bible, and Latin and Greek literature. The collection also includes some Oriental manuscripts.

Edward Daniel Clarke was born on 5 June 1769 and educated at Jesus College, Cambridge (BA 1790, Fellow and Bursar of his college before 1798, LLD 1803, Professor of Mineralogy 1808, University Librarian 1817). He was an active traveller, through Italy in 1792 and 1794, and through the North of Europe, Asia Minor, Palestine and Greece in 1799-1802. In 1805 he was ordained, and thenceforward, though not severing his connection with Cambridge, he held two country livings, until his death on 9 March 1822. Further details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.

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 the subject of negotiations between the owner and the University of Oxford in 1808, and were finally purchased for 1000 in the following year. The original number thus bought is stated to have been thirty-two only, and one or two of small value were never received, but Clarke voluntarily added several others as well as some scarce printed books.

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

Falconer Madan, et al., A summary catalogue of western manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford which have not hitherto been catalogued in the Quarto series (7 vols. in 8 [vol. II in 2 parts], Oxford, 1895-1953; reprinted, with corrections in vols. I and VII, Munich, 1980), vol. IV, nos. 18363-18453.