Manuscript Collections

The manuscript collections of the British Library form part of the national repository of manuscripts, private papers and archives. They contain material of outstanding research importance for all periods, countries and disciplines.

Group of seated figures, two holding books, engaging in discussion.

Collections by Curatorial Area

The Department of Manuscripts is divided into the following areas:

Medieval and Earlier Manuscripts (circa 300 BC to 1603)
Modern Historical Collections (1603 to the Present)
Literary and Theatrical Collections

Named Collections

The manuscripts held by the British Library comprise of a series of named collections that have been acquired over the history of the British Museum and the Library, from the Foundation Collections (Cotton, Harley and Sloane) to the series of Additional Manuscripts. The latter comprise the largest collection of manuscripts.

Manuscripts are rarely arranged thematically, as most recent acquisitions are simply added to the continuing 'Additional' series, and 'closed' collections, assembled by collectors before being acquired by the British Library, naturally encompass a wide variety of material.

Foundation Collections	'Closed' Collections	Ongoing Collections	Open Access Collections
Cotton	Arundel	Additional	Facsimiles
Harley	Ashley	Egerton	Pamphlets
Sloane	Burney	Charters & Rolls	Photographic Index
	Hargrave	Seals	Reference Books
	Kings	Plays
	Lansdowne	Papyri
	Royal	Ostraca
	Stowe	Loans
	Yates Thompson	Facsimiles (inc. digital)
	Zweig	Microform
		Exported Manuscripts