Note all old English Mss are very valuable: scrutinizing the Middle English manuscripts in the John Rylands Library

To celebrate the near completion of the project and the launch of the Manchester Middle English Digital Library, the JRUL hosted a major academic conference on 17-18 September 2009. The Manchester Middle English Manuscripts Conference considered the Rylands collection within the wider context of other corpora of ME manuscripts, and explore the potential of digitisation to enable novel methods and new avenues of scholarly enquiry.

Keynote speaker Professor Julia Boffey of Queen Mary University, London, opened the conference with a public lecture on the evening of Thursday 17th September, ‘”Note all old English Mss are very valuable” : scrutinizing the Middle English manuscripts in the John Rylands Library.’

Prof. Julia Boffey opens the conference with a public lecture, 'Note all English Mss are very Valuble'

Latest update

English MS 1, Lydgate’s beautifully illustrated ‘Siege of Troy’ is now fully catalogued and will be available very soon in The Rylands Medieval Collection.

Digitisation Progress

The completion of the digitisation aspect of the project is drawing ever closer, with only 3 manuscripts left to complete. The latest manuscript to be completed, is the tiny 15th century Wycliffe Parablis of Solomon. Measuring only 10cm (4in) it is by far the smallest manuscript digitised. Cataloging is currently under way, and this will be available on line very soon.

MS 83 - Wycliffe Parablis of Solomon

Conference and Public Lecture

It’s not too late to book for the Manchester Middle English Manuscripts Conference on Friday 18th September 2009.  See Conference page for details of speakers.

There will also be a public lecture on Thursday 17th September at 1800 in the Historic Reading Room of the John Rylands Library, Deansgate.  Professor Julia Boffey (Queen Mary University, London) will be speaking about the Rylands’ Middle English manuscripts. Entrance for the public lecture is free but you will need to reserve a place.

For further details contact danielle.shields@manchester.ac.uk.