The chief books on the Bodleian Library are:—
Macray, W. D., Annals of the Bodleian, 2nd edition, 1890 (the standard work on its history to 1880). 25s.
Reliquiæ Bodleianæ ... containing his Life ... and a Collection of Letters to Dr. James, etc. (edited by Thomas Hearne, London, 1703). Unfortunately the letters, being not fully dated, are in almost haphazard order.
Nicholson, E. W. B., the Bodleian Library in 1882-7, a Report, 1888, and thereafter Annual Reports issued as parts of the Oxford University Gazette.
Pietas Oxoniensis, 1902 (chiefly written by E. W. B. Nicholson; not sold), contains a Life of Bodley, Account of the early Library, full list of the Catalogues, and the like.
Clark, Andrew, A Bodleian Guide for Visitors, 1906. 1s. 6d.
Gibson, S., Some Oxford Libraries, 1914. 2s. 6d.
The Bodleian Quarterly Record from 1914: issued quarterly at 6d. This contains a statistical survey of the Library (No. 9), Annals 1880-1919 (Nos. 15, 19, 20, 21), Lists of Early MSS., Essays on the early Catalogues, etc., etc.
A Manual for Readers, contains information for readers on admission, Lists of the Bodleian Catalogues, etc. the Rules for Cataloguing and Lists of the Manuscripts and Printed Collections, and of their Catalogues, can be obtained on application.
FOOTNOTES
[1] The classical Latin titles for “Librarian” found in inscriptions are:—Procurator bibliothecarum (perhaps a wider term than Librarian), Magister a bibliotheca, Bibliothecarius (used by Marcus Aurelius). Librarius was a minor library official: Librarius a manu, a secretary in the library.
[2] His arms were:—Quarterly, 1st and 4th argent five martlets in saltire, with a crescent gules for difference, on a chief azure three ducal crowns or (for Bodley), 2nd and 3rd argent, two bars wavy between three hone-stones sable two and one (for Hone). Motto, Quarta perennis (a reference to the three crowns, which were taken from the University Arms, presumably in 1604, when Bodley was knighted).
[3] Bibliotheca Bodleiana is found in 1605: Bodleiana in 1654; Bodley’s Library in 1666; Bodleian Library in 1695; Bodley in 1706; Bodleian in 1749. The term “Bodley” is now some times used for the old part of the Library, as compared with the “Camera.”
[4] New College: matr., 1592; Fellow; D.D., 1614; died, 1629; Librarian, 1602-1620.
[5] The Letters are well worth republishing, with notes, for Hearne’s edition in 1703 (Reliquiæ Bodleianæ) exhibit them in a hopelessly haphazard order, devoid of all chronological sequence.
[6] Bodley, however, reserved a life interest in this endowment, and the only independent income of the Librarian and Sub-Librarian as such was 8d. payable to the former and 4d. to the latter from every newly admitted reader—a provision made in the Statutes of 1610.
[7] This grant was hastily made, but actually passed under the Privy Seal, though its execution was for intelligible reasons stopped.
[8] John Rouse or Russe, matr. from Balliol 1596, Fellow of Oriel, 1600-52, M.A., 1604: Librarian, 1620-52.
[9] Exactly the same incident occurred with the Protector, Cromwell, when a MS. was ordered by him. Barlow induced him also to forgo his wish. This was in April, 1654, the year in which Cromwell presented twenty-four MSS.
[10] Thomas Barlow, matr. from Queen’s, 1625; Fellow, 1633-57; Provost, 1657-75; D.D., 1660; Bp. of Lincoln, 1675-91; Librarian, 1652-60.
[11] Thomas Lockey, matr. from Ch. Ch., 1621; D.D., 1660; d. 1679; Librarian, 1660-65.
[12] Thomas Hyde, matr. from Queen’s, 1654; D.D., 1682; Prof. of Arabic, 1691-7; Prof. of Hebrew, 1697-1703; d. 1703; Librarian, 1665-1701.
[13] John Hudson, matr. from Queen’s, 1677; Fellow of Univ. Coll., 1686-1711; D.D., 1701; Principal of St. Mary Hall, 1712-19; Librarian, 1701-19.
[14] Joseph Bowles, matr. from Hart Hall, 1713; then of St. Mary Hall; Fellow of Oriel; d. 1729; Librarian, 1719-29.
[15] Robert Fysher, matr. from Ch. Ch., 1715; M.A., 1724; Fellow of Oriel, 1726-47; Librarian, 1729-47.
[16] Humphrey Owen, matr. from Jesus, 1718; D.D., 1763; Principal of Jesus, 1763-68; d. 1768; Librarian, 1747-68.
[17] John Price, matr. from Jesus, 1754; M.A., 1760; d. 1813; Librarian, 1768-1813. Jesus College men ruled the Library from 1747 to 1813.
[18] It is told in the Bodleian Quarterly Record, vol. ii, No. 15 (1917), with plans.
[19] The writer cannot forget an occasion when Professor Henry Nettleship was about to write a paper for the Oxford Philological Society on the Alapa Manumissionis. When looking up some references in the General Catalogue he suddenly lighted on a title “De Alapa Manumissionis.” On ordering it, he found a dissertation of a youthful German student of the eighteenth century, who provided many references known to the Professor, and added more.
[20] Bulkeley Bandinel, matr. from New College, 1800; D.D., 1823; d. 1861; Librarian, 1813-60.
[21] Henry Octavius Coxe, matr. from Worcester, 1829; M.A., 1836; d. 1881. Sub-Librarian, 1838-60; Librarian, 1860-81.
[22] Edward Williams Byron Nicholson, matr. from Trinity; M.A.; d. 1912; Librarian, 1882-1912.
[23] Falconer Madan, matr. from Brasenose, 1870; M.A., 1877; Fellow, 1876-80 and 1889-1902; Hon. Fellow from 1912. Sub-Librarian, 1880-1912; Librarian, 1912-19.
[24] Two members fell in action, R. A. Abrams, M.A., a Senior Assistant, and H. G. Dunn, a member of the Extra Staff, both lieutenants.
[25] Arthur Ernest Cowley, matr. from Trinity, 1879; D.Litt., 1908; Fellow of Magdalen from 1902. Assistant Sub-Librarian, 1896-9; Sub-Librarian, 1900-19; Librarian from 1919.
[26] Full details of all the Catalogues are in the Manual for Readers, mentioned above.
[27] All these are enumerated in R. G. C. Proctor’s Index to the Early Printed Books in the British Museum, 1898-1900. The Caxtons are fully described in De Ricci’s Census of Caxtons, 19.
[28] The latest works on the subject are Professor A. C. Clark’s Descent of MSS. (1919) and (with a wider scope) F. W. Hall’s Companion to Classical Texts (1913).