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

 Subject
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 15 Collections and/or Records:

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

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

Bank of Scotland receipt for £21 paid for the Town of Montrose's Subscription to the "New College of Edinburgh"

 Item — Box Dk.2.20
Identifier: Coll-2927
Scope and Contents

This is a receipt from the Bank of Scotland for £21 paid by Adam Glegg "for the Town of Montrose's Subscription to the New College of Edin." Bank Office, Edinburgh, 10 July 1792. In this context, "New College of Edin[burgh]" refers to Old College, whose construction started in 1789.

Dates: 10 July 1792

Diaries of Dr. S. W. Carruthers

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-1134
Scope and Contents The collection is composed of notes and news cuttings at Dc.2.76/17, a dissertation at Gen. 1931, and three manuscript diaries at E2008.14.The material at Dc.2.76/17 consists of a notebook (circa 17 pages) with notes accompanying several newspaper cuttings on various University activities. The front cover is noted 'Edinburgh University / Various Student Activities / 1887-1888'. It contains clippings relating to: the Rectorial Elections 1887 and 1888 and from the ...
Dates: 1885-1888

James Johnson: notes from lectures on chemistry by Joseph Black

 Fonds — Volume Dc.10.1
Identifier: Coll-1375
Scope and Contents

The lectures on chemistry by Joseph Black consist of:


  1. 1 volume of lecture notes (1770-1775)
Dates: 1770-1775

Lecture Notes of John Robison

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-204
Scope and Contents

Lecture notes from the time when Robison was Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. The notes embrace the sciences of mechanics, hydrodynamics, astronomy and optics, together with electricity and magnetism.

It is assumed that these are Robison's own notes but this has not been verified.

Dates: c1779-c1801

Lecture notes on Midwifery (Professor Thomas Young, 1726-1783), taken down by James Johnson

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-1254
Scope and Contents

The material consists of "Young's Lectures" - spine title - being lectures on Midwifery given by Professor Thomas Young. It is dated July 1775. The introductory page notes the content as "Lectures on Midwifery by Thos. Young. Professor of Midwifery in Edinburgh." The volume contains 526 pp. numbered and a contents list.

Dates: 1774-1775

Lecture notes on Midwifery (Professor Thomas Young, 1726-1783), taken down by person unknown

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-1253
Scope and Contents

The material consists of "Young's Midwifery" - spine title - being lectures on Midwifery given by Professor Thomas Young. There is no identifiable date. The introductory page notes the content as "Lectures on Midwifery by Thos. Young M.D. Professor of Midwifery in the University of Edinburgh". There is no indication of the name of the note-taking student.

Dates: 1756-1783

Letters and material relating to Thomas Campbell (1777-1844), the Poet

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-1176
Scope and Contents

Items relating to the poet, Thomas Campbell, include:


  1. - letter, 22 February 1834, to Francis Jeffrey, the Lord Advocate, writing that he is thinking about competing for the position of chair of Rhetoric and Belles Lettres at Edinburgh University, at shelfmark E2009.18
  2. - letter, undated fragment, at shelfmark Dc.3.99/13, f.7
Dates: 1834

Papers of David Gregory

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-33
Scope and Contents The papers of David Gregory consist of: bound manuscripts of mathematical and personal papers by both David Gregory and James Gregory bound manuscripts Lectiones Mechanicae Sive Geometria de Motu parts 1-4 (1689-1690) bound manuscripts of treatises on mathematics and astronomy (1683-1694) bound manuscripts ...
Dates: 1652-1706