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Thomas Read Commonplace Book

A description of the item at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Read, Thomas (fl. 1624)
Title: Thomas Read Commonplace Book
Inclusive Dates: 1624
Quantity: 1 volume (SC)
Abstract: Compiled ca. 1624 by Thomas Read, a student at Oxford University's Magdalen College. Entitled "a not-booke of divinity and honor military and civill." The author may have been that Thomas Read (1606-1669) who was Latin secretary to the crown for King Charles II.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Thomas Read was a student at Oxford University's Magdalen College in 1624. He may have been that Thomas Read (1606-1669) who was appointed Latin secretary to the crown in 1620; he was later (1649) ordained a Catholic priest and allowed to return to London following the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660. However, this cannot be established for certain.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

Compiled ca. 1624 by a young Oxford student at Magdalen College, the Thomas Read Commonplace Book bears the characterization, "a not-booke of divinity and honor military and civill." Among other selections, the notebook contains 37 poems by Jesuit priest Robert Southwell (1561-1595), martyred during the reign of Queen Elizabeth and later (1970) elevated to sainthood. Read's notebook includes three Southwell poems which apparently had not been published before donors George and Lena Arents incorporated them into their 1949 holiday greeting card.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Single volume, 186 leaves.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced 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.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Read, Thomas (fl. 1624)
Southwell, Robert, Saint, 1561?-1595.

Subjects

English poetry -- Early modern, 1500-1700.
Honor -- Quotations, maxims, etc.
Religion -- Quotations, maxims, etc.

Genres and Forms

Commonplace books.
Scrapbooks.

Occupations

Scholars -- England.
Students -- England.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Thomas Read Commonplace Book,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of George and Lena Arents.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: KM
Date: Jan 1997
Revision history:

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Inventory

Memorabilia
SC 149 Commonplace book ca. 1624

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