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University of Edinburgh Library -- Legacy shelfmark sequence: Da-Dp

 Subject

Staff Only
Subject Source: Local sources
Scope Note: This shelfmark (or press mark) sequence originated within the Strong Room Library in 'Old College', likely beginning around 1909 (the first Strong Room having been constructed 1905-1909). Each two-letter prefix referred to a block of shelving, which roughly mapped to a category or grouping of items. The first number then referred to the shelf and the final number to the item itself. As collections expanded and were moved, this precise correlation broke down but most of the items retained their shelfmarks.

Da
University Archives. Originally upper floor, north wall of the Strong Room. This later evolved into a crude classification scheme before being abandoned in favour of regular archival arrangement. Items bearing these legacy shelfmarks can still be identified, particularly early Library records which occupied Da.1 and Da.2.

Db
Originally used for mediaeval manuscripts but these were subsequently relocated, most to the MS sequence

Dc
Manuscripts. Mostly bound. Originally on upper floor, front of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is largely intact, with these shelfmarks now being retained as identifiers of physical location. The items themselves have all been given regular archival reference codes.

Dd
Printed, including Clement Litill. Originally on upper floor, front, south wall of Strong Room.

De
Printed, including the Drummond of Hawthornden collection (largely printed but with some manuscript enclosures from the latter). Originally on the upper floor, back, west wall of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Df
Printed. Originally on the upper floor, back, east wall of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Dh
Printed, including Lutheran tracts. Originally on the upper floor, back of the Strong Room. This part of the sequence is intact.

Dk
Manuscript. Originally in the centre case of the Strong Room, opposite Dh. This part of the sequence is largely intact, with these shelfmarks now being retained as identifiers of physical location. The items themselves have all been given regular archival reference codes.

Dm
Music. Originally in the centre cases of the Strong Room.

Dn
Bindings. Originally in the centre cases of the Strong Room.

Found in 90 Collections and/or Records:

A List of Contributors to a Fund to Commemorate Professor Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson

 Fonds — Box Dk.3.35
Identifier: Coll-2172
Scope and Contents

A List of contributors to a fund to commemorate the retirement in 1935 and 70th birthday in 1936 of Professor Sir Herbert John Clifford Grierson. 1935-1936. With an undated greetings telegram to Professor Grierson from "Darrie", despatched from Guildford, probably on one of the above occasions.

Dates: 1935-1936
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Abstracts and transcripts of Scottish state documents covering the period 1578-1617

 Fonds — Volume Dk.1.18
Identifier: Coll-2131
Scope and Contents

Abstracts and transcripts from official and private documents connected with the affairs of Scotland, 1578-1617. Date of abstracts and transcripts: early 18th century.

Dates: Early 18th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Account book of a Scottish Banker

 Fonds — Volume Dk.4.32
Identifier: Coll-2184
Scope and Contents Account book of a Scottish banker, containing a record of bonds and payments, 1769 - 1790. Marked outside: "Vol. 2d Credit Book January 1769."Names include: Col. James Mure Campbell of Rowallan f.iii/v, Dr. Alexander Webster f.1/v, Daniel Campbell of Shawfield f.2/v, Sir Alexander Don of Newton f.3/, Robert Oliphant of Rossie and John Campbell of Stonefield f.4/v, Sir A. Fergusson of Kilkerran f.5/v, Dr William McFarlen f.7/v, Patrick Kerr of Abbotrule W.S.8/v, Alex Kincaid H.M....
Dates: c 1765-1788
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Acts of the Smith Trade of Lanark

 Fonds — Box Dk.3.9
Identifier: Coll-2168
Scope and Contents

Acts of the Smith trade of Lanark, 1653-1845. Several inks.

Dates: 1653-1845
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Album of periodical cuttings, mainly of reviews of James Sime's Lessing, his life, and writings

 Fonds — Volume Dk.2.2
Identifier: Coll-2137
Scope and Contents

Sime (James). Cuttings of reviews of his book Lessing. Printed materials from 1877-1888.

Dates: Late 19th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Autobiographical Fragments of James Eadie Todd

 Fonds — Volume Dk.2.17
Identifier: Coll-2150
Scope and Contents

Todd, James Eadie. Autobiographical fragments in typescript.

Dates: c 1910-1949
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Autobiography of Richard James Arthur Berry

 Fonds — Volume Dk.2.36
Identifier: Coll-2157
Scope and Contents

Berry, Richard James Arthur. 'Chance and Circumstance. An autobiography. Typescript. There is a tide in the affairs of men which taken at the flood leads in to fortune. A true story of what befell a man who took it, told by R.J.A. Berry, M.D. F.R.C.S., F.R.S.E.'

Dates: 20th century (before 1962)
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Commonplace Book of Brian Fairfax

 Fonds — Volume Dk.5.25
Identifier: Coll-2201
Scope and Contents

Fairfax (B.) Commonplace book of Brian Fairfax, containing his "Iter Boreale" etc.


  1. "Iter Boreale", an account of his mission to George Monck in 1659. Ff.9-29.
  2. A letter of Ferdinando, 2nd Baron Fairfax to his son, Thomas, about portraits by a servant of Sir Anthony Van Dyck. F.2.
  3. Extracts from anti-papistical literature. 82 ff.
Dates: c 1646
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Correspondence and Papers of James Brown Johnston

 Fonds — Box Dk.2.16
Identifier: Coll-2149
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and papers of the Rev. James Brown Johnston. Included are a list of the place names of Roxburghshire, and a notebook containing press cuttings of a series of notes on The Celtic etymology of the Campsie Fells by Neil Thomson.

Dates: 1938-1939
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Correspondence and Papers of Principal William Carstares

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2249
Scope and Contents

Correspondence and Papers of Principal William Carstares.

Dates: 1637-1715
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections