Elliott Manuscripts

The manuscripts fall into two groups: Elliott MSS 1-8: fragments of 8 liturgical manuscripts and books of hours, 13th-16th century (16 leaves in total):

• 1. Breviary, France, end 13th century.
• 2. Gradual, Italy, 14/15th century.
• 3. Breviary, England, ca. 1400.
• 4. Antiphoner, Italy, mid-15th century.
• 5. Book of hours, N. France, mid-15th century.
• 6. Book of hours, Low Countries, mid-15th century.
• 7. Gradual, Italy, 2nd half 15th century.
• 8. Antiphoner, Spain, 16th century.

George Ball Elliott (1918-1994) was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, and graduated in medicine from the University of Durham in 1940. A distinguished pathologist, he spent most of his career in Canada, first in Winnipeg, then as Director of Clinical Laboratories at Calgary General Hospital 1953-1964, Chief of Surgical Pathology at Vancouver General Hospital 1964-1973, and Clinical Pathology Research Associate at the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria BC, 1973-1985. A man of immense energy and wide interests, he was the author of almost ninety articles on medical topics, and also published a number of papers on the diverse researches on antiquities and historical topics which engaged his interest in retirement. He was an enthusiastic collector of books and manuscripts, with a particular interest in cryptography and ciphers.

Chronological within each group

Open for consultation

Deposited by Dr. Elliott, 1984.

Catalogue

Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material.

The manuscripts form part of the Elliott Collection, the remainder of which consists of printed books (ca. 80 works on cryptography, together with a small number of scientific works, 16th-20th century).