friends of the old library newsletter 2011

1

It’sbeenanotherbusyyearfortheOldLibrary.ThankstotheFriends,theconservationprogrammehascontinuedtoimproveaccesstothecollections.Thecataloguingprojectisalsoongoing,improvingawarenessofChrist’srichholdings.Youcanread

aboutthehighlightsofbothprojectsonpages3and4.

Twopopularexhibitionsofthecollectionsthisyearhavebeenon“TheMeasureoftheHeavensandtheEarth:MathematicalSciencesintheEarlyModernPeriod”and“Christ’satWar:theCollegeanditsMembersduringtheFirstWorldWar”.ThelatteristhefocusoftheAutumnFriendseventonSaturday24Septemberandyoucanfindoutmoreaboutitonpage5.Librarystaffhaveworkedhardtoensurethatawidevarietyofaudienceshaveaccesstotheseexhibitions.Thearticleonpage6discussesthebenefits.

TherewillbenewfacestomeetattheFriendsoftheOldLibraryeventsthisyear.AmelieRoperwillbejoiningusasChrist’sCollegeLibrarian,fromtheRoyalCollegeofMusic.ThisisfollowingthedepartureofNazlinBhimaniwhomanyofyoumetatlastyear’sevents.NazlinistakingupapositionattheInstituteofEducationinLondon.TheLibraryhasalsorecruitedanewGraduateTrainee,ThomasGuest,anEnglishLiteratureGraduatefromYorkUniversity.OurGraduateTrainee2010-11,CharlotteByrneisremainingatChrist’stotakeupthepostofLibraryAssistant.

Ilookforwardtowelcomingyoutoeventsin2011-12and,asalways,IencourageFriendsnottohesitatetovisittheOldLibraryonotheroccasionstoo.PleasedolettheLibraryteamknowifyouwouldliketovisitorhaveanyqueriesorsuggestionsabouttheFriendsoftheOldLibraryscheme.MayIextendthanksonbehalfoftheOldLibraryandallthosewhobenefitfromitforyourcontinuedsupportinconservingitsworld-classcollections.

Dates For Your Diary

Saturday 24 September 2011‘Amessagefromthetrenches’– Christ’s At War

AnexhibitionandtalkbasedaroundusingarchivestodiscoverthestoriesofindividualsandinstitutionsduringtheFirstandSecondWorldWars.

Saturday 10 March 2012‘RevolutionaryCollege’–The Thomas Hollis Collection in context

AtalkgivenbyProfessorAllenReddickoftheUniversityofZurichandaccompanyingexhibitionabouttheremarkablepoliticalpropagandist,ThomasHollis(1720–1774).ThomasHollisreprintedandsentworksofliteraturefromtheseventeenth-centuryrepublicancanontolibrariesacrossBritain,Europeand,latterly,America,inordertokeepthecauseofparliamentaryreformaliveduringadifficultperiod.Christ’sCollegewasamongthebeneficiariesofHollis’generosity,inspiredbytheCollege’slinkwithMilton.ProfessorReddickiscurrentlyworkingonadescriptivebibliographyandanalysisofHollis’giftsthroughouttheworld.

Welcome to the Friends of the Old Library Newsletter 2011

From Dr Gavin Alexander, Fellow Librarian

2

Derek Birch

1924 - 2011

How Barbara met Derek

Many of you will have enjoyed meeting Barbara and Derek Birch at Friends of the Old Library events. Sadly, Derek recently passed away. He will be missed at future events. His wife Barbara kindly took the time to tell Naomi about how they met. It was a romance set in Christ’s College Library...

BarbaraandDerekBirchmetbackinthedaywhentheCollegeLibrarywasjoinedtotheBursary.DerekwasstudyingHistoryattheCollege.BarbaraworkedintheLibraryandtheBursary.ForDerek,itwasloveatfirstsight.WhenhesawBarbara,helatertoldher,hethought,“That’sthegirlforme”.AfterthathewasoftenintheLibrarychattingtoherandatChristmasheevenbroughtoversomecake.

BarbaratoldmeabouthowtheLibraryinthe1940swasdifferenttothebuildingIworkinnow.ArthurPeckwastheLibrarian.EventhentheLibraryofferedself-servicebutinsteadofsigningbooksoutonthecomputerastheydonow,studentswouldsignoutthebookonapaperslipandstickitonaspike.ThenstaffwouldtransfertheinformationintotheLibrary’spapersystem.

BarbaralivedoutinLintonsoshehadtogetthebusearlytogettoworkontime.ShewasalwaysthefirstoneintheBursary,comingstraightinthroughthesidegateintoFirstCourt.ShedidnothavetimetohavebreakfastinthemorningbutaladycalledRosie,whoworkedinthekitchen,usedtobringherapieceofbutteredtoast.BarbaraandDerekfinally‘gottogether’atadanceatTheDorothyBallroomonValentine’sDay1947.LivingoutinLinton,Barbarahadtofindothergirlswithwhomtosharetheexpenseofataxitogettothedance.ShehadnottoldDerekshewasplanningtogosohewasverysurprisedtoseeher.Herusheduptoherandsaid,“Youdidn’ttellmeyouweregoingtobehere!”.Afterthatdancetheysaweachothernearlyeveryday.

FindingloveinChrist’sCollegeLibrarywasnotsucharareoccurrence.MurielSadler,workingintheLibrary/BursarymetandmarriedChrist’sstudent,JohnBenson.TheBursarcomplainedthatallhisgirlsgotmarriedwhentheystartedtoworkatChrist’s.ButBarbaraandDerekmightneverhavefoundloveintheLibraryifithadnotbeenforaHistoryMasteratDerek’sschoolinLeicestershirewhotookhistalentedpupilsonholidaytotheBroadsandencouragedDerek,aged11,toaimforCambridge.

BarbaraandDerekgotmarriedintheCatholicChurchonHillsRoadonSeptember201950.Theycelebrated60yearsofmarriagelastyear.I’dliketothankBarbarafortellingmethisstory.It’smademelookattheLibraryinanewlight.

3

A love of conservation

Since the last newsletter, the Cambridge Conservation Consortium have continued their sterling work, facilitating access to many items in the collection that would otherwise have deteriorated badly when used. Among the many successfully conserved items this year, one stands out as a jewel in Christ’s collections – now that we can open it.

Thepoet,Keshavadāsa(1555-1617)wrotethelongwork,Rasikapriyāforhispatron’sson,Indrajit.HeseemedalsotohavehadinmindtheentertainmentofreadersofamorousverseasRasikapriyāisdevotedtothevariousaspects,conditionsandpossibilitiesoflove.Thepictures(left and right)showanillustrationfromahandwrittenversionofthispoeminChrist’sspecialcollections.

ThemanuscriptinChrist’sCollegeisrecordedinBrowne’scatalogueas:

1397. Rashk-i-Pariyán (the “Envy of the Fairies”), “a Gentoo tale in the Hindustani language adorned with paintings,” and dated 15 Safar, 1077 / Aug. 17, 1666. Ff. 79 of 27 x 18.6 c. Presented by John Hutton.

IfthedateiscorrectthenitwascreatedwithinacenturyofKeshavadāsa’soriginal.Themanuscriptisafineexampleofdelicatecalligraphyandvibrant,detailedilluminations.

Unfortunately,whenanacademicenquiredtoseethevolume,wefoundthatearlier,unsympatheticrepairworkmadeitdifficulttoopen.Thebookwasalsoinafragilestate;thesewingofthebindingwasbrokenandthepageswerefallingout.Thepictureontherightshowshowthemanuscriptopenedbeforeconservation.

Theconservatorstookthebindingoffandremovedtheearlierpaperrepairsbygentlyhumidifyingthem.Forthenewrepairs,JapanesepaperwastonedtomatchthecolouroftheoriginalpagesandattachedusingpurifiedJapanesewheat-starchpaste.

ThepictureontheleftshowsapieceoftonedJapanesepaperreadytobepastedintopositiononadamagedcornerofoneofthepages.Thebindingwasrepairedandresewnandaboxwasmadetogivethemanuscriptfurtherprotection.

ThankstotheChrist’smembershipoftheCambridgeConservationConsortium,thesplendourofthisearlyIndiantextcanbestudiedandenjoyedwithoutfearofdamagingitspages.

4

References:Bahadur,K.P.Rasikapriyā of Keshavadāsa.MotilalBanarsidass:1972.Browne,E.G.Supplementary hand-list of the Muhammadan manuscripts [...] preserved in the libraries of the University and colleges of Cambridge.CambridgeUniversityPress:1922.

The Old Library Cataloguing Project

HavingfinishedtheLesinghamSmithCollection,JaneGregoryhasmovedontothenextpartoftheproject.Shedescribesafewofthetreasuresshehascatalogued.

AtpresentIamworkingontheOldLibrary’slargecollectionofBiblesandBiblecommentaries.AninterestingvolumewhichIhavejustcataloguedisafirsteditionoftheBookofRevelationinSyriac,printedinLeidenin1627.Itsornatetitlepageisprintedinredandblack,andthetextisinparallelcolumnsofSyriacandHebrew,withaLatintranslationandtheGreektextbelow.

AnotherpolyglottextisaversionofHoseaprintedin1621,alsoinLeiden.TheHebrewtextisaccompaniedbytheLatinversionofSanctesPagnini;theAramaicparaphraseisprintedfromthe6thBibliaRabbinica(revisedbyJ.BuxtorfandprintedatBaslein1608-10),withtheLatinversionofthistakenfromtheAntwerpPolyglot.ItalsoincludestheRabbiniccommentariesofRashi,IbnEzraandKimhi,withaLatintranslationbyJohannesMercerus.TheMasorahparvawithaLatinversion(fromR.Stephanus’edition)completestheselection.

5

Christ’s at War: The College and its members during the First World War

Charlotte Byrne

DuringmygraduatetraineeyearIwasluckyenoughtobegiventheopportunitytocurateanexhibitionintheBodleylibraryusingsomeofitsspecialcollections.TheideacametometoputupanexhibitionaboutChrist’sduringtheFirstWorldWarwhilstIwascataloguingthecorrespondenceofW.H.D.Rouse,aChrist’sFellow.WhilsthewasheadmasteratthePerseSchool,RousereceivedmanylettersfromoldboyswhowereservingattheFront.TheseletterswerebothfascinatingandmovingandIwantedtofindoutmoreabouttheirauthors.IthenstartedtowonderabouthowChrist’sCollegewasaffectedbytheWar.

MyquestforinformationbeganbygoingthroughtheCollegemagazinesforthisperiod.TheygavedetailsaboutthenumberofstudentspastandpresentwhowerefightingonthefrontaswellinformationaboutCollegelifeingeneral.TrawlingthroughthearchivesIfoundphotographs,lettersandartefactsthathelpillustratethehistoryoftheCollegeatthistime.IhopepeoplewillfindthisforgottenperiodoftheCollege’shistoryasfascinatingasIdo.

DuringtheMichaelmastermof1914halfofChrist’spromisingyoungmenhadenlistedinthearmyandtheCollege’snumberscontinuedtodiminishasthewarwenton.TheCollegedidn’tremainemptyforlongthoughasitsoonstartedaccommodatingcompaniesoftrainingofficers.Buglecallat7:15

becameapartofdailyCollegelifeandtherewasabanonoutsidelightsintheCollege.OnlyafewelectriclightswereusedinHallandtheHighTablewaslitbycandles.

TheCollegemadeaspecialcontributiontotheWareffortbyfundingaY.M.C.A.HutinYpres.ArthurShipley,MasterofChrist’satthetime,raised£700forthebuildingwhichprovidedrespiteforsoldierscomingoffthefrontline.

TheexhibitionalsofeaturesthestoryoftheChrist’sundergraduatewhowastheinspirationforthemuch-lovedWarMemorialthatstandsonHillsRoadinCambridge,andletterswrittenfromthefrontlinetoW.H.D.Rouse(m.1881)byhisoldpupilsatthePerseSchool.

Visitorstotheexhibitionhavesaid:

Very interesting – Congratulations on a lot of work (ProfessorDavidReynolds)Thanks for this fascinating exhibit on the cost of this terrible war (NewYork)Wonderful exhibition; a well-chosen, varied collection, brilliantly displayed – it’s hard to beat the hut!(Cambridge)

Anonlineversionoftheexhibitioncanbeviewedat:http://christsatwar.wordpress.com

Charlotte is staying with Christ’s College Library in the post of Library Assistant. At the same time, she plans to study for a Master’s degree in Library and Information Studies.

Above Left: Front cover of a commemorative magazine made by officers stationed at Christ’s in 1917Right: An honest Tommy, (Mark Fearn, Christ’s College Buildings Superintendent) relaxes in the replica Y.M.C.A. Hut

6

Teaching old books new tricks: getting the most out of our collections

Cambridge College libraries, including Christ’s, have amazing collections but for whom do we keep them? Christ’s special collections are used for a wide variety of academic research on a regular basis; this year the Bodley Library received visiting readers looking at topics as diverse as Renaissance ideas on the souls of animals, the readership of Montaigne in early modern England, and G. F. Bodley’s library architecture. But potentially there are even wider applications and audiences. The rare items held by the College should work to its benefit. This seems to be an obvious statement but what are the benefits and how are they gained?

Theaccumulationofearlyscholarlytexts,Fellows’workingpapersandgentlemencollectors’librariesareanessentialpartoftheCollege’sacademicidentityandstandtestamenttotheCollege’shistoryasaplaceofthoughtandstudyasmuchasdoesthefabricoftheCollege’sancientbuildings.Theygivecurrentscholarsandstudentsarichinheritancetodrawupon.

ThespecialcollectionscanactasafocusformeetingsoftheCollege’sacademiccommunities-theBodleyLibraryhasrecentlyhostedtheEvelynDownsevent(anopportunityforProfessorialFellowsandPost-graduatestocometogether),MCRpre-dinnertalks(wherePost-graduatessocialiseandrelatetheirresearchtothecollections)andexhibitionopenings(invitingstaff,studentsandFellows).Atsucheventstheobjectsdisplayedsparkdiscussion.Recently,theMasterfoundhimselfengagedindiscussionoverthefirstprintingofFermat’slasttheoremeachtimehevisitedtheLibrary’sexhibitiononearlymathematicalbooks.ThecollectionsalsohavethepotentialtobeusedinteachingtheTripos.EarlybooksandmanuscriptsareprimarysourcesforsubjectssuchasHistory,Literature,Classics,andHPS(HistoryandPhilosophyofScience),andbringtolifethebackgroundtootherssuchasMathematicsandNaturalSciences.Givenappropriateinterpretation,accesstothecollectionsholdshugebenefitsfornon-academicaudiencesincludingschoolsandfurthereducationcolleges,adulteducationgroups,specialinterestclubs,communitysupportcentres,andthelocalpublic.Thepublic’sappreciationisevidentincommentsfromlastyear’sOpenCambridgeevent:

How wonderful that you’ve let the public look at these treasures(Cambridge)So glad we found this. A gem(Surrey)Fascinating, especially the hand-written journals(Luton)Interested to see the Previous examination on Paley’s Evidence, which my father had to take in 1912 (Seattle,USA)I wish to come back! Fantastic heritage!(Jiujiang/Chongqing,China)

TherewardsoffacilitatingwideraccesscomebacktotheCollege.Amongotheradvantages,theCollegegainsthegoodwillandunderstandingofthesurroundingcommunity.Workingwiththesedifferentandappreciativeaudiencesmotivatesstaffandadvancesknowledgeofthecollections.TheCollege’seducationalaimsarefurtheredanditsstatusisimprovedbythegoodpublicity.

So what is Christ’s Library currently doing to encourage access?

Thecurrentexhibition‘Christ’satWar’,whichyoucanreadmoreaboutonpage5,hasbeenusedasinspirationforschoolliaisonsessions.CharlotteByrne,whocuratedtheexhibition,workedwith20Year10studentsinterestedintheartsandhumanities.ShehelpedthemtointerpretlettersfromtheexhibitionwrittenbyPerseSchoololdboysduringWWI,andsharetheirfeelingsaboutthecontent.ThesessionwasfollowedbyatouroftheBodleyLibraryandexhibition.Charlottewrites:

The students seemed particularly impressed by the grandeur of the Library and made comparisons to the library in the Harry Potter films! All in all I think the session went very well, the students engaged

7

in the activity and seemed genuinely interested in the exhibition and the history of the College as a whole.

Wealsoopenedtheexhibitiontomembersofthepublicon9and10SeptemberaspartofOpenCambridge,aweekendeventdesignedtoopenupthetreasuresofCambridgetoitsresidents.Wehadatotalof418enthusiasticvisitorsoverthetwodays.ForthosewhowanttoknowmoreorcannotvisittheLibraryinperson,thecurrentexhibitionwithadditionshasbeenmountedonline(http://christsatwar.wordpress.com).And,ofcourse,weareexcitedaboutwelcomingtheFriendsoftheOldLibrarytoanotherenjoyableevent.

Before joining Christ’s College, Naomi worked with schools and community groups in St John’s College’s special collections. Her dissertation on community engagement in special collections in Cambridge University colleges is online at http://rarelysited.wordpress.com/paper/

Below: The College’s academic community gathered in the Bodley Library at Christmas 2010 to look at an exhibition of early printed books on mathematics and astronomy. The celebrations included mince pies, mulled wine and a festive performance by the Fellow Librarian

Primary Sources for Cambridge Platonism in Christ’s College Library

Marilyn Lewis has recently completed a PhD on the educational influence of Cambridge Platonism using Christ’s College as a model. She shares how the special collections helped her complete her study.

Duringthesecondhalfoftheseventeenthcentury,Christ’sCollegewasavibrantcentreofthephilosophical-theologicalmovementnowknownasCambridgePlatonism.TurningawayfrombothPuritanorthodoxCalvinism–withitsemphasisondoublepredestination–andLaudianHighChurchmanship–withitsemphasisonepiscopacyandformalliturgy–theCambridgePlatonistsadvocatedthepursuitofdeiformity(Godlikeness)whichwouldpreparehumanbeingsfortheeternaldivinefellowshipofheaven.AsPlatonists,theystressedtheimmortalityofthesoul;asChristianstheyrequiredonlythesmallestessentialdoctrinalbeliefasafoundationforpersonalholiness.Twomajorthinkersandwritersofthemovement–HenryMorewhobecameafellowin1641andRalphCudworthwhobecamemasterin1654–createdastrongCambridgePlatonistethoswithinthecollege,whichoutlastedtheirdeathsin1687and1688,respectively.

Earlierthisyear,IcompletedaUniversityofLondonPhDthesis,underthesupervisionofProfessorMichaelHunterofBirkbeckCollege,entitled‘TheEducationalInfluenceofCambridgePlatonism:TutorialRelationshipsandStudentNetworksatChrist’sCollege,Cambridge,1641-1688’.Mythesisis

8

nowavailableintheChrist’sCollegelibrary.UsingtheveryfullmaterialassembledbyJohnPeileinhisBiographical Register of Christ’s College,1505-1905,Iwasabletoconstructagroupbiographyofthirty-oneChrist’sstudentsandtheirtutors,withtheaimofdeterminingtheextenttowhichtheyaccepted,modified,rejectedorignoredCambridgePlatonistideasintheirpublishedwritings.QuiteafewofmysubjectsdemonstratedsomedegreeofsympathywithCambridgePlatonism,andmypost-doctoralresearchisnowfocusedonthosewhoemergedasminor,butneglected,membersofthemovement.IamcurrentlyfinishingjournalarticlesonthephysicianHenryAthertonandtheDissentingministerThomasWadsworth.MymajorprojectoverthenextfewyearswillbeabiographyofHenryHallywell,whichwillfeaturethesixmanuscriptlettersfromHallywelltoHenryMoreheldintheOldLibraryanddrawonthewidercorrespondenceofMoreandhiscircleinChrist’sCollegeMS21.

OnmylatestvisittotheOldLibrary,IconsultedA Sermon Preached at the Funeral of the Lady Lumley at Great Bardfield in the County of Essex, April the 20th 1704[shelfmarkI.15.4(3)]byHenryCooke,whowaseducatedatChrist’sbetween1694and1701andheldacollegefellowshipfrom1701to1704.MyinterestinCookelayinthefactthathewastutortoThomasAtherton(thesonofHenryAtherton),afellowoftheChrist’sfrom1710to1733andanadministrativeassistanttoJohnCovel,whosucceededCudworthasmasterin1688.Employingthemodelfor‘educationalinfluence’developedinmythesis,InoticedthatCookewas‘descended’fromthetutorialgroupofRalphWiddrington,abitteropponentofCudworthandMore.WiddringtonwastutortoDanielDuckfield,whowentuptoChrist’sfromtheimportantCambridgePlatonistfeederschoolatBishop’sStortford.Duckfield,inturn,wastutortoCooke,whoseschoolmasterPosthumousWhartonatSedberghSchool,Yorkshire,wasagraduateofStJohn’sbutleftnorecordofhisideas.Despitehissomewhatmixedtutorial‘descent’andthesixteenyearswhichseparatedhissermonfromMoreandCudworth’sdeaths,CookeemployssomeofthefavouritethemesofCambridgePlatonistdiscourse.

ForCooke,to‘dieintheLord’requiresarightknowledgeofGod’spure,goodandholynature.Bypractisingobedienceinthislife,weprepareourselvesforfreedomfrom‘theheavyIncumbrancesofFleshandBlood’,sothatafterdeathourfreedintellectscan‘haveaclearerView,distincterApprehension,andquickerPerceptionofallChrist’sExcellenciesandPerfections,andshallcontemplateHimwithinfiniteandunspeakableDelightandSatisfaction’.Our‘enlargedUnderstanding’willthenbeentirelyagreeabletothe‘DictatesofRightReason’.CookecelebratesaPlatonicvisionofintellectualblisswithintheChristiancontextofthehopeofheaven.AlthoughHenryAthertonhadbeendeadfortwoyearswhenhissonThomaswentuptoChrist’s,hewouldsurelyhaveapprovedofthecontinuingPlatonistbentofhisson’stutorHenryCooke.

OLD LIBRARY OPENING TIMES

Friends of the Old Library are welcome to visit outside of events. To arrange for a visit please contact the College Librarian.

Please Contact:

library@christs.cam.ac.uk

01223 334 905