Rylands BlogJohn Rylands Library

by John Gandy July 31, 2025 0

Introducing the Early European Print collection

John Gandy, Incunabula Cataloguer at the John Rylands Library, talks about the newly published early printing collection on Manchester Digital Collections

by Janette Martin July 11, 2025 3

Collections correspondence Guest post Manchester Guardian Research

“One of the Busiest Men in Manchester”: William Edward Armytage Axon (1846-1913)

Guest author Lucy Evans explains how the Axon Papers collection at the John Rylands Library proved instrumental for writing her new book on the life of the prolific librarian, antiquary and journalist William Axon

by Tereza Ward July 4, 2025 1

Collections Guest post Long read

Missionary Helps Postcards, 1907-1921

By Prof Jean DeBernardi (Professor Emerita of Anthropology at the University of Alberta)

by James Peters June 27, 2025 3

Collections Frankland Family Archive Research Series Short read

Frankland Family Archive catalogued

Archivist James Peters introduces the newly catalogued Frankland family archive and introduces its fascinating main cast of characters

by Tino Oudesluijs June 13, 2025 1

Collections Guest post Manuscripts Research

Far from Being in the ‘Most Useless’ Place: Linking John Rylands Coptic Manuscripts with the Coptic Community

Dr Sarah Parkhouse and Professor Peter Oakes write about their pilot project exploring the treasure trove of Coptic manuscripts at the John Rylands Library.

by Anne Anderton June 6, 2025 1

Collections Long read Manuscripts Research

Duchess, Queen, Witch – Joan of Navarre and Rylands Latin MS 22

Curator Anne Anderton writes about Joan of Navarre and her Psalter (Latin MS 22), which was recently reunited with its long-lost leaf

by Jessica Smith May 30, 2025 0

Behind the scenes Collections Short read

Showcasing the Elizabeth Gaskell Collection

Dr Imogen Durant presents the new Elizabeth Gaskell Collection at the John Rylands Library, guiding users to the wealth of material available.

Crop of a page of German MS 3 A crowned figure, standing in a cosmic balance between the celestial bodies of the Sun and Moon. Bipartite limbs representing planetary influences. The right leg stands on a golden Sun, the calf is grey representing Saturn and thigh in yellow representing the Sun, signifying the solar principle. The symbol for Saturn is on the foot. The left leg stands on a crescent moon and is blue (Jupiter) with the thigh white (Moon) symbolizing lunar forces. The symbol for Jupiter on the foot. The right arm, coloured grey, holding an orb represents Mars The left arm, coloured green, represents Venus, holding a sphere with the Venusian vigil, associated with harmony and material beauty. The head is red, likely denoting the final stage of the alchemical process, the Rubedo or Red stage. Two distinct vapours emerge from the mouth: Left vapour is white with the symbol for salt above, representing purity, crystallization, and stability. Right vapour is red with the symbol for Sulphur, associated with volatility, energy, and the fiery principle. The golden crown signifies the completion of the Great Work (Magnum Opus), the transmutation of base matter into the Philosopher’s Stone. The figures navel bears the Mercury symbol, linking the figure to the trinity of Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, the three fundamental principles in alchemy.

by jwrobinson May 23, 2025 0

Behind the scenes Collections Research

Decoding & Encoding German MS 3 – Alchemy, Imagery, and Metadata

Manager of the Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab and part-time MA Library and archives student Jamie Robinson introduces his placement creating enhanced metadata for an 18th-century mysterious alchemical manuscript in the Rylands Collections.

by Janette Martin May 5, 2025 0

Collections Guest post Manchester Guardian

Death by Hunger: Malcolm Muggeridge and the Ukrainian Famine 1932-1933

By Rose Burke (MA student, Library and Archive Studies at the University of Manchester)

by Kelly Jones May 2, 2025 0

Collections Research

‘A Man of Temper and Humanity’? The Character of the Ordinary of Newgate in the Spencer Collection

Dr Imogen Knox explores the reputation of the Newgate prison minister and public attitudes surrounding the treatment of criminals condemned to die.