This guide provides information about pre-1600 manuscript collections at the University of Dayton and beyond, as well as research resources available to UD students, faculty, and staff.
Two digital consortia, Digital Scriptorium and The Peripheral Manuscripts Project, include manuscripts from University Archives and Special Collections and the Marian Library. While materials are still in the process of being made available online, digitized manuscripts can be found in eCommons' University Libraries / Rare Books collection.
Access medieval and Renaissance manuscripts held in American libraries, archives, and museums.
Digital Scriptorium is a comprehensive online database providing access to medieval and Renaissance manuscripts held in American libraries, archives, and museums. It serves as a national union catalog, offering detailed descriptions and select images of over 8,300 manuscripts from diverse global scribal traditions. The database covers materials from 500 CE to the 19th century, encompassing a wide range of subjects including theology, law, history, and literature. Users can search or browse manuscripts by location, language, date, origin, and format. The platform utilizes Linked Open Data technologies, enriching entries with connections to external authorities and vocabularies. While not hosting complete manuscript images, Digital Scriptorium links to member institutions' digital repositories for further exploration. This open-access resource is invaluable for scholars, students, and enthusiasts studying pre-modern manuscripts, offering insights into both famous illuminated works and lesser-known texts.
The Marian Library and the University Archives and Special Collections both hold medieval manuscripts and fragments, many of which have been digitized. They're available in eCommons, the University of Dayton's institutional repository, at the links below.