The Hebrew Collections in Oxford: A Treasure Grove for Jewish Studies
| Autor: | Piet van Boxel |
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| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | European Judaism. 41 |
| ISSN: | 1752-2323 0014-3006 |
| DOI: | 10.3167/ej.2008.410212 |
| Popis: | The Bodleian Library of Oxford University one of the oldest and largest in Europe is among the most celebrated libraries in the world. Its unrivalled collections of manuscripts and books have served generations of students, thus making Oxford a meeting place of international learning and the capital of the Republic of scholars. With its beginnings in the fourteenth century the library owes the first phase of its reputation to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the youngest son of King Henry IV, who donated his priceless collection of more than 280 manuscripts, including several important classical texts, to Oxford University. In order to accommodate this major donation the library was moved from its original location a room above the Old Congregation House, erected next to St Mary's church to the Divinity School, which was enlarged with a second storey that was completed in 1470. The gift is gratefully remembered in that this impressive reading room, still in use in all its restored glory, bears his name and is simply called 'Duke Humphrey's'. Restored glory it is, for Duke Humphrey's library survived in its original form for just over half a century. In 1550 it was virtually ransacked on orders from Richard Cox, Dean of the newly founded Christ Church and one of the most active agents of the Reformation. Cox was acting under legislation passed by King Edward VI designed to purge the English Church of all traces of Roman Catholicism, including 'superstitious books and images'. It is this looted library that some fifty years later drew the attention of the one who gave his name to Oxford University Library, Sir Thomas Bodley. Born in Exeter (England) the young Thomas Bodley (1545-1613) received his early education in Geneva, where the Bodley family, like many rich Protestants preferring exile to persecution, had found a safe haven during the reign of Queen Mary (1553-1558). In Geneva he studied Greek and Hebrew, languages which remained an enduring passion for him throughout his life. After Queen Mary's death Thomas returned with his father to England and soon after entered Magdalen College Oxford. In 1563 he took his B.A. degree, and was admitted a fellow of Merton College. He remained in Oxford in various roles as lecturer in Greek, proctor and deputy public orator until |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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