Ancient and Medieval Manuscript Leaves collection
Scope and Contents
The Ancient and Medieval Manuscript Leaves collection contains leaves from a variety of primarily religious texts in multiple languages. Most of the leaves are vellum; however, a few of the leaves are paper. The collection demonstrates a variety of medieval texts, languages, inks, and artistic styles. This particular collection is an excellent teaching tool for many classes in the humanities.
Dates
- Creation: 30 B.C.E. - 18th Century
Access Information
Collection is open for research.
Copyright and Use Information
Material in this collection is in the public domain. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.
Historical Information
Ancient and medieval manuscript leaves were typically once part of a larger text. The leaves in this collection come from a variety of regions, languages, and time periods.
Extent
0.50 Cubic Feet (15 folders)
Language of Materials
Latin
Egyptian (Ancient)
Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Persian
Arabic
Russian
Acquisition Information
Most of the leaves were likely purchased by Purdue Libraries in the 1950s. The Rosarium Decretorum leaf was donated by Peter M. Waser in 2022. The Qur'an and Russian leaves were donated by the Griffiths family in 2024; both leaves were part of the W. H. Winterrowd collection.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of materials are available for research use. See our digital collections database e-Archives: Medieval Manuscripts
Processing Information
All of the manuscript leaves have been housed in individual acid-free folders in an acid-free box. Original set of leaves organized in chronological order; later additions added to the end of the collection in the order they were acquired.
Collection moved to a new box on January 6, 2025; one leaf (Gregorian chant, item 12) moved to flat file storage.
- Title
- Ancient and Medieval Manuscript Leaves collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Kristin Leaman, Mindy Williams, and Adriana Harmeyer
- Date
- 2025-01-06
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Edition statement
- Third edition. Collection description was first completed 2013-11-06.
Revision Statements
- 2025-01-06: Two leaves from the W. H. Winterrowd collection (Russian leaf and Qur'an leaf) added to the collection, descriptions updated to reflect this change by Adriana Harmeyer.
- 2024-05-01: Addition and description of Rosarium Decretorum completed by Mindy Williams.
Repository Details
Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository
504 Mitch Daniels Boulevard
West Lafayette Indiana 47907 United States
765-494-2839
archives@purdue.edu