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Manuscript Leaves Collection

An inventory of the collection at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 5 Jun 2023



Biographical History

The word manuscript comes, from the Latin manu 'by hand' + scriptus 'written' (past participle of scribere, to write). Paper is said to have been invented c. 105 CE in China by a court official named Cai Lun. While paper became widely used in the Middle East and East Asia, it did not reach Europe until the mid-12th century, when it was brought to the Muslim parts of Spain by Arab conquerors. Prior to the late 1400s, when paper-making became widespread across most of Europe, parchment (animal skin scraped clean and treated to be smooth and suitable for writing with ink) had been the most commonly used writing surface. Text was usually lettered in black ink, often with embellishments in red, blue or other colors. Capital letters were often highly decorative, wth rich colors, detailed images, and gold accents. Manuscripts decorated with gold are called illuminated manuscripts from the Latin illuminare (to light up).


Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Manuscript Leaves Collection contains 27 individual manuscript pages in a range of sizes, from only a few inches to 26"x36". Each would originally have been part of a codex, or bound volume. Most of the leaves likely date from 1300-1600. Some contain choral music in square notation, which would have been displayed on a stand for use by a group of singers. Some are from illuminated books of hours or prayer books, with varying levels of decoration and detail. Two leaves are verses from the Qur’an, in Persian.


Arrangement of the Collection

Items are in no particular order, although like items are grouped together.


Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

Each leaf is mounted on a larger sheet for protection and must not be separated/removed from this larger mounting sheet. Researchers wishing to see the verso of leaves, or the inside of folded leaves, will need to consult with staff regarding handling.

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advance notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.


Related Material

Special Collections Research Center holds a number of complete illuminated volumes; please refer toLibraries Search to locate these items. Parts of these volumes have been digitized; see our our Digital Collections page..


Subject Headings

Associated Titles

Qur'an.

Subjects

Books of hours -- Specimens.
Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Europe.
Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Middle East.
Illumination of books and manuscripts -- Specimens.
Manuscripts, Medieval -- Specimens.
Musical notation -- History -- To 1500.
Neumes -- Specimens.

Genres and Forms

Detached leaves.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Manuscript Leaves Collection,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Various.


Table of Contents

Manuscript leaves


Inventory