Balliol, Christ Church, Corpus Christi, Magdalen, Merton and New College.

Section I: Biblical Studies

The Biblical Manuscripts reflect the working life of a university. Students were required to lecture on one of the books of the Bible and there are a large number of glossed books of the Bible as well as many one-volume University Bibles. Amongst the 14th and 15th century manuscripts are many by contemporary Oxford scholars.

140 reels
Reference: MMO

Section II: Illuminated Manuscripts On Colour Microfilm

The Illuminated Manuscripts at these Oxford Colleges fall mainly into two categories: the Psalters, Books of Hours and University Bibles of the 13th century onwards, produced by English and French workshops for private lay devotions, and 15th century luxury humanist and law texts richly decorated with magnificent calligraphy and pen work.

Balliol

Balliol holds William Gray’s “Fons Memorabilium” and a fine 15th century Book of Hours etc.

5 colour reels
Reference: MMI

Christ Church & Merton

Christ Church & Merton have a number of fine illuminated manuscripts, including two by William de Brailes and a striking 15th century Book of Hours by Maitre Francois.

6 colour reels
Reference: MMD

Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi has the Chronicle of Florence of Worcester circa 1140, John Gower’s Confessio Amantis etc.

10 colour reels
Reference: MML

New College

New College holds William de Brailes’ Thomas Chaundler’s circa 1463, etc.

7 colour reels
Reference: MMJ

Section III: Theology – General & Patristics

Patristic writings formed the basis of medieval theological study, and the microfilm is a remarkable collection of all the major manuscripts in this area. Works by Bede, Thomas Aquinas, Duns Scotus, Augustine, John Chrysostom, Gregor the Great and Jerome are eminent among them.

Balliol

56 reels
Reference: MMH

Christ Church & Merton

77 reels
Reference: MME

Corpus Christi

26 reels
Reference: MQA

New College

24 reels
Reference: MMK

Section IV: Law

The legal manuscripts at Oxford are wide-ranging and crucial to students of early developments in law. The Decretals of Gregory IX and of Gratian, Justinian’s Works, as well as the works of many Popes (Innocent IV, Boniface VIII etc.) are prominent.

Christ Church & Merton

4 reels
Reference: MMF

New College

11 reels
Reference: MMM

Section V: Medica & Natural Sciences

The Medica and Natural Science manuscripts in the Christ Church collection include the Lectio Astronomica (1703) and a 17th century Euclid’s Elementum. Those at New College include works by Hippocrates, Pliny, Ptolemy, Aristos, Galen, Averroes and Roger Bacon.

Christ Church

4 reels
Reference: MMG

New College

10 reels
Reference: MMN

Section VI: The Classics, Historical & General

Balliol

This latest series of manuscripts from Balliol contains a range of manuscripts covering, amongst other topics, the Humanities, Rhetoric, Music and Literature. Of particular interest is manuscript 317, which has been in the possession of the college longer than any other book, a twelfth-century copy of Boethius De Musica. Also among these manuscripts are Aristotle’s Liber primus de Historiis Animalium (14th century) and Euclides’ Primus liber institucionis artis geometrice (12th century), together with works by Walter Burley, Thomas Aquinas, and John Lydgate etc. A detailed contents list is available free on request.

15 reels
Reference: MQB

Christ Church

This new collection of manuscripts from Christ Church dates from the 12th century. It includes works on the Classics, Literature, Logic and Business. Philosophical work is contained in Boethius de Consolatione Philosophiae (15th century). There is an important manuscript of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales (15th Century) and also John Gower’s Confessio Amantis (15th century). Other manuscripts include work by John Hargrave, John Lydgate and George Dalgarno. A detailed contents list is available free on request.

13 reels
Reference: MQC

Corpus Christi

This new collection of manuscripts from Corpus Christi covers the period from the 10th to the 17th century. It includes works on the Classics, Literature, the Bible, English History, Genealogy, Medicine, Logic and Business. The earliest manuscript is the 10th century Rules of St Benedict. Other works of interest include Quintus Curtius on Alexander the Great (15th century), Boethius De Consolatione Philosophiae (11th century), Herbert of Bosehams Life of Thomas Becket and Works by the Venerable Bede. A detailed contents list is available free on request.

31 reels
Reference: MQD