Dr Williams's Library
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Dr Williams's Library is a small research library located in Gordon Square in Bloomsbury, London.
It was founded using the estate of Dr Daniel Williams (1643–1716) as a theological library, intended for the use of ministers of religion, students and others studying theology, religion and ecclesiastical history. The library opened in 1729. [1]
The library also contains collections of philosophy, history, literature, and related subjects. There is also a large collection of works on Byzantine history and culture bequeathed by Professor Norman H. Baynes (1877–1961).
The library is also known to researchers of history and genealogy for its holdings of pre-19th century material relating to Protestant Nonconformity in England, including papers by Dissenting minister Joshua Toulmin, D.D.
The library also holds the manuscript of a 17th century diary, Roger Morrice's Entring Book, written by Roger Morrice, which covers the years 1677 to 1691 and is being prepared for publication.
On 13 July 2006 the library offered for sale at Sotheby's its copy of Shakespeare's First Folio. The book sold for a hammer price of £2.5 million.[2] The library's director, Dr David Wykes, commented: "The library has been proud to own this remarkable copy of Shakespeare's First Folio, but its sale will secure the finances of the library and safeguard our important historic collections of manuscripts and printed books for future generations."
[edit] See also
- St Deiniol's Library, Hawarden
- The Evangelical Library, London
- Dr Williams' School, Dolgellau, Wales, named after the same benefactor[3] (closed 1975, now Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor)
[edit] References
- ^ The London Encyclopaedia, Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, Macmillan, 1995, ISBN 0-333-57688-8
- ^ Antiques Trade Gazette, 22 July 2006.
- ^ Meirionnedd Archives
