HMC goes Digital

One of the Library’s key ambitions is to make our rich and unique collections more accessible to new and broader audiences.  One sure-fire way of achieving this is to make what was available only in physical form accessible online.  We are delighted to be able to launch our initial selection of digitised items via the Digital Bodleian.  The material we have chosen speaks not only of the richness of the College’s collections but also illuminates its dissenting and Unitarian heritage and history. 

The earliest of the volumes available are two notebooks in the hand of Sarah Savage (1664-1752), the noted diarist and dissenter who writings span the late 17th and early 18th century. Her writings provide an important insight into the religious beliefs, networks and daily life of an early dissenting female.  The physical volumes are in a delicate and fragile condition and so the digitisation of these volumes not only opens them up to new audiences but also protects and preserves the originals.  The works are freely available online enabling anyone, anywhere, to have the opportunity to engage with the writings and life of this remarkable early dissenting female.  Thanks to generous funding from the Manchester Academy Trust all six Savage volumes held by College have been digitised, the other four being available on request.

In addition to our Savage volumes, four volumes of the early minute books of the influential and celebrated dissenting academies of Warrington and Manchester are available.  The two academies are significant in the development of higher education in the 18th & 19th centuries, especially in the establishment of religious toleration.  It is hoped that the availability of the volumes will enable scholars to trace educational theories and practices, curriculum development, as well as track the involvement of individuals working and studying at these two pioneering establishments.  

The material is all available on the Digital Bodleian, a platform that provides access to over one million images of rare books, manuscripts and other items from the Bodleian and College libraries.  The College is delighted to be able to contribute to the richness of the collections on offer, particularly in being being able to provide access to unique items that will enhance the study and understanding of dissenting history.

_{Some of the selection of Sarah Savage notebooks held in the Archive.  Two have been made available on the Digital Bodleian site while the others are available (digitally) on request.}