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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. In the early 20th century, pre-Reformation manuscripts from across the library were brought together to form the Western Medieval Manuscripts collection, under the shelfmark "MS".

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 334 Collections and/or Records:

17th century notebook (Heylin / Van Helmont / Gregory)

 Fonds — Folder Coll-1968 (Dk.3.32)
Identifier: Coll-1968
Scope and Contents

Notebook in multiple hands, including "Observations out off Heylin's Cosmographie", "Religio Medici Van Helmont", "Catlogus Lib. Math consulente Gregario". Also, list of seeds, 1690.


Includes a reference to "Jo Wedderburn Eq. a R.C.i et D. Ebor med. Et Ep dun. Amic.", possibly John Wedderburn of Gosford (1599-1678).

Dates: 17th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

250th Anniversary of Benjamin Franklin

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-652
Scope and Contents

The material is composed of: copies of 24 articles by the United States Information Service (USIS) on Benjamin Franklin, his life and work; 8 off-prints and articles on Franklin produced by The Franklin Institute; and 37 accompanying photographs (attached to USIS material) with captions.

Dates: 1956
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

A Law: notes from lectures on Chemistry by Joseph Black

 Fonds — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-1374
Scope and Contents

The lectures on chemistry by Joseph Black consist of:


  1. 3 volumes of lecture notes (1775)
Dates: 1775
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

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

Abstract of Journal of William Henry Playfair

 Fonds — Volume Dc.3.73
Identifier: Coll-1677
Scope and Contents The volume is concerned mainly with affairs connected with the building of the University of Edinburgh, 1817-1822. It also lists details of income and expenditure during the period and, refers to other projects, clients etc.Playfair's opening paragraph describes this as an abstract of a journal of "the principal transactions and events of my life, chiefly in order to prevent doubt and confusion in matters of business."The volume mentions Playfair taking occupancy of...
Dates: 1817-1822
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

Album of press cuttings relating to Eve Blantyre Simpson's biographies of Sir J. Y. Simpson and R. L. Stevenson

 Fonds — Volume Dk.7.41
Identifier: Coll-2224
Scope and Contents

Volume of press-cuttings of reviews of Eve Blantyre Simpson's biographies of her father Sir James Young Simpson entitled Sir James Y. Simpson (1896) (Famous Scots Series), and of Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson entitled Robert Louis Stevenson's Edinburgh Days (1898). Clippings dated 1896 to 1899.

Dates: 1896-1899
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections