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 340 Collections and/or Records:
Receipt for a Bible for the Church of Weem
Fonds — Box Dk.7.54-64
Identifier: Coll-2237
Scope and Contents
Craigie, William. Receipt for £5 to buy a bible for the church of Weem. 27 June 1575.
Dates:
1575
Record of Experiments on Frog's Heart by Professor Sir Thomas Richard Fraser
Fonds — Volume Dk.7.13
Identifier: Coll-2217
Scope and Contents
Fraser, Sir Thomas Richard. Record of experiments on frog's heart with bodies of digitalin group. Materia Medica Laboratory, Edinburgh, 1886.
Dates:
1886
Records of lead mines and lead hills and Tyndrum, by the Scots Mining Company
Fonds — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-2280
Scope and Contents
Scots Mining Company. Records of lead mines and lead hills and Tyndrum. 7 vols.Journals of the lead mine workings from 2 July 1775 to 31 December 1779 (1 volume) and from 30 March 1783 to 29 January 1787 (2 volumes). With copy of entries from 1 January 1771 to 27 January 1787 (2 volumes), sent at intervals from Tyndrum to Leadhills or Garden. Also 'Bargain Books' (2 volumes) recording agreements with miners about work to the done and payments made to them, 23 September 1768-1772,...
Dates:
1768-1791
Records of the House of Lords
Fonds — Multiple Containers
Identifier: Coll-369
Scope and Contents
The records consist of: calendar of the journals of the House of Lords, 1509-1642, and 1660-1741, with a collection of all the protestations entered in the journals of the House of Lords, 1641-1740.
Dates:
1509-1741
Records of the Hunterian Medical Society
Fonds
Identifier: Coll-2251
Scope and Contents
Papers of the Hunterian Medical Society dating from 1830s to late 19th century, including minutes, loose papers, printed and manuscript material, and notebooks.
Dates:
19th century
Records of the Wernerian Natural History Society
Fonds
Identifier: Coll-206
Scope and Contents
The records of the Wernerian Natural History Society consist of:
- 2 volumes of Minute Books (January 1808-April 1858)
Dates:
1808-1858
Records relating to the Mechanics' Library and University Hall, Riddle's Court
Item — Volume Dk.1.4
Identifier: Coll-1841
Scope and Contents
A single volume in two parts. The first part relates to the buildings use as the Mechanics Library, the second relates to its period as University Hall. In the front is bound an architectural plan and two engravings of the buildings.Section I begins with a Preface based on extracts from Daniel Wilson, 'Edinburgh in Olden Time'. Bound in before the Preface is a two-sided illustration, one side titled "M'Morran Superintends his bigging". Thererafter follows a table of contents...
Dates:
1850s, 1890s
Register of Writs, England
Fonds — Volume Dk.7.34
Identifier: Coll-2223
Scope and Contents
England. Register of writs. 16th-17th century.
Dates:
16th-17th century
Register of Writs [incomplete], 14th century
Item
Identifier: MS 158
Scope and Contents
In medieval England, common law descended from writs issued by the royal chancery. These writs were compiled in a volume referred to as the Registrum Brevium (Register of Writs), the earliest surviving manuscript of which exists from 1227. These texts of writs was continually modified and updated, and the Registrum Brevium came to be one of the most common kind of legal manuscript in Medieval England. MS 158 is a pocket-sized...
Dates:
14th century
Research reports on the Papers of Charles Steuart, by John M. Hemphill
Fonds — Volume Dk.2.43
Identifier: Coll-2162
Scope and Contents
Bound reports by John M. Hemphill II, researcher on the history of Virginia, on the Papers of Charles Steuart, Virginia merchant and British Customs official, dated between 1747 and 1797. Typescript containing four reports that Hemphill has made on the manuscripts he examined in 1954-55.
Dates:
1954-1955