Skip to main content

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 247 Collections and/or Records:

Papers of William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics

 Fonds — Bundle Dk.3.40
Identifier: Coll-2177
Scope and Contents

Mathematical notebook containing a system of spherical trigonometry, geometrical problem, etc. by Professor William Wallace. 1790s-1800s. Accompanied by a red, thin volume, containing Wallace's own notes, and letters. Paper watermark 1819. In the volume are loosely inserted, a paper on the separation of the symbols of quantity and operation, and a letter of Prof. Wallace to engineer Thomas Drummond, 30 May 1830.

Dates: 1790s-1830

Papers relating to Edinburgh Social Union

 Fonds — Volume Dk.5.4
Identifier: Coll-2187
Scope and Contents

Helen Louisa Kerr. Illuminated address from Edinburgh Social Union. 1932. Includes newspaper cuttings about Kerr. Contains signatures of Edinburgh Social Union members in 1932.

Dates: 1932

Papers relating to Edmund Waller

 Fonds — Box Dk.2.19
Identifier: Coll-2152
Scope and Contents

Drury (G. Thorn). Parcel of material, manuscript and printed, used by G. Thorn Drury in the preparation of his edition of Edmund Waller's poems. Also notes and memoranda for editions of his other publications.

Dates: 19th century

Papers relating to William Wordsworth

 Fonds — Box Dk.2.23
Identifier: Coll-2156
Scope and Contents

Collection of newspaper cuttings, postcards, etc. relating to poet William Woodsworth. In folder, mounted on loose sheets. The postcards consist mainly of illustrations of places associated with Wordsworth.

Dates: early 19th century

Partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito, between 1267 and 1399

 Item
Identifier: MS 201
Contents MS 201 is a partial copy of Expositiones vocabulorum biblie, also known as Summa Britonis, by William Brito. On f. 1r, the manuscript begins with A. littera secundum Ysidorum in omnibus hujus est prior. The text is incomplete, and ends (on f. 128v) with Virago dicitur quod a viro acta et est sumptum non a viri nomine. ...
Dates: between 1267 and 1399

Poem "The Minstrel, or, The Progress of Genius" by James Beattie

 Fonds — Volume Dk.5.28
Identifier: Coll-2204
Scope and Contents

Poem entitled "The minstrel, or, the progress of genius" by James Beattie. Also 3 anonymous poems entitled "Arthur and Edith", "The Spectre", "Owen of Barron". Watermark 1803, 83 ff.

Dates: c 1803

Portfolio of Arthur Logan Turner mostly relating to the 350th Anniversary of the University of Edinburgh

 Fonds — Folder Dk.1.43
Identifier: Coll-2136
Scope and Contents

This is a portfolio compiled by Arthur Logan Turner. It contains photographs, pamphlets, invites, program of events, newspaper clippings, and captioned photographs relating to the 350th anniversary of Edinburgh University in 1933. It also includes reviews of his books, and a arge envelope containing miscellaneous correspondence of A. Logan Turner.

Dates: 1933-1939

Practica cum antidotario, by Johannes Serapion, 13th-14th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 170
Contents MS 170 is the Practica sive breviarium, a Latin translation from the 12th century by Gerard of Cremona. Gerard translated one of the two medical texts by 9th-century Christian physician, Johannes Serapion (also known as Yahya ibn Sarafyun, and Serapion the Elder). Little is known about Serapion, other than that he lived during the second half of the 9th century, and wrote medical treatises in Syriac. Through Gerard's Latin translation, which made the text...
Dates: 13th-14th century

Prayer Book, 16th century

 Item
Identifier: MS 66
Contents Prayer book from the 16th century of Flemish or Northern French origin. It contains both French and Latin prayers, and since many of the prayers have feminine forms, it was likely written for a woman.Sequence, Gospel of Saint John (in Latin): starts f.1. It begins, "In principio..."Passion (in Latin): starts f.2. It begins, "Egressus est..."Fifteen Odes of Saint Bridget (in Latin,...
Dates: 16th century

Probate of the Will of William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh

 Fonds — Folder Dk.3.36
Identifier: Coll-2173
Scope and Contents

Creator: Wallace, William, 1768-1843 (Scottish mathematician, astronomer)

Probate of the will of William Wallace, Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, 31 May 1843.

Dates: 1843