British Antiquarian and Archaeological Archives at the Ashmolean Museum:

Historic Ashmolean Museum Archives

The Department of Antiquities' archive contains catalogues and papers relating to the early history of the Ashmolean Museum. For many years these documents were housed in the Ashmolean Museum Library, but were returned to the department in the mid-1990s, prior to the Ashmolean libary being incorporated in the Sackler Library ( opened in 2001). Most of the documents were conserved and rehoused 1999-2001, thanks to a grant from the National Manuscripts Preservation Trust. The collection was originally catalogued into a basic manuscript (AMS) and printed (AP) series by Mr R.F. Ovenall, Librarian of the Ashmolean Museum 1947-1972. The full catalogue was compiled by Dr Arthur MacGregor and a team of volunteers from 1997-2006.

Most of the manuscripts and books originally held by the Ashmolean were transferred to the Bodleian Library in 1860. These include manuscripts donated by Elias Ashmole, John Aubrey, William Dugdale, Martin Lister, and Anthony à Wood.

Ashmolean Manuscript Series (AMS)

AMS 1
Scrapbook, early 19th century, entitled "Regulations of the Museum", containg various documents relating to the history of the Ashmolean Museum. Volume dismounted and contents inserted in two fasicules, with Platt Catalogue and Rawlinson will housed in seperate envelopes, 2001.

AMS 1/1, Fasicule One
  AMS 1/1a  Elias Ashmole's 'Statutes Orders and Rules for the Ashmolean Museum in the University of Oxford' [draft and copies], 1683-87.
  AMS 1/1b  Letter from Elias Ashmole to the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Lloyd, about his proposal to give his rarities to the University of Oxford; and a bill of accounts for the year 1686-7.
  AMS 1/1c  Statute concerning the use of books and manuscripts in the Museum, 1751.
  AMS 1/1d  Manuscript

AMS 1/2, Fasicule Two
  AMS 1/2a  Various letters and notes
  AMS 1/2b  William Huddesford's deed of appointment as Keeper of the Museum, 1755.
  AMS 1/2c  Memorandum of medals, 1724.
  AMS 1/2d  Copy of the will of Sir Samuel Hellier, proved 1784.
  AMS 1/2e  Papers relating to several benefactions given to the museum, 1724-1758.
  AMS 1/2f  Accounts for the year 1824.

AMS 1/3
The Deed of Trust and will of Richard Rawlinson, London, 1755.

AMS 1/4
List of fossils presented to the Ashmolean Museum by Joshua Platt, 1765.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 229-238.

AMS 2
Ashmolean Museum "Book of Benefactors", 1683-1766. Large 4to volume of vellum leavescontaining a list of benefactors to the museum beginning with Elias Ashmole. Pages ruled in red, coloured coats-of-arms and ornamented initial letters. Includes, loose, an order for payment of £40 to John Tradescant for work done at Oatlands, 1648.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 1-14.

AMS 3
Volume of benefactions and donations to the Ashmolean Museum, 1757-59 and 1824-29. At the end some notes on objects in the Museum.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 239-250.

AMS 4
Guard-book entitled 'Ashmole MS. 1821 - Miscellanea', containing various letters about donations of Egyptological, mineral and natural history specimens to the Museum together with lists, 1718-1766. Included are letters from Richard Graves, Dr. Woodward and William Borlase; manuscript catalogues of the Lethieullier, Pennant and Angerstein collections, 1759.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 223-228.

AMS 5 Account books for the Museum recording money received from visitors and expenditure accounts,1684-1804.
  AMS 5/1 Account book for 1684-1694
  AMS 5/2 Account book for 1714-1718
  AMS 5/3 Account book for 1718-1722
  AMS 5/4 Account book for 1722
  AMS 5/5 Account book for 1723-1724
  AMS 5/6 Account book for 1724-1725
  AMS 5/7 Account book for 1725-1726
  AMS 5/8 Account book for 1726-1727
  AMS 5/9 Account book for 1728-1729
  AMS 5/10 Account book for 1729-1730
  AMS 5/11 Account book for 1730-1731
  AMS 5/12 Account book for 1731-1733
  AMS 5/13 Account book for 1733-1735
  AMS 5/14 Account book for 1735-1736
  AMS 5/15 Account book for 1736-1737
  AMS 5/16 Account book for 1737-1739
  AMS 5/17 Account book for 1739-1741
  AMS 5/18 Account book for 1742-1743
  AMS 5/19 Account book for 1743-1745
  AMS 5/20 Account book for 1745-1746
  AMS 5/21 Account book for 1746-1752
  AMS 5/22 Account book for 1752-1753
  AMS 5/23 Account book for 1757-1765
  AMS 5/24 Account book for 1765-1768
  AMS 5/25 Account book for 1768-1771
  AMS 5/26 Account book for 1771-1774
  AMS 5/27 Account book for 1774-1779
  AMS 5/28 Account book for 1779-1786
  AMS 5/29 Account book for 1798-1804. Accounts on the blank pages of a volume entitled 'A Catalogue of Ores, &c'.

AMS 6
Account book entitled 'Receipts for the income and expenditure of the Ashmolean Museum, 1735-1794'. Contains expenditure accounts and accounts of monies recieved by the Keeper. Audited by the Visitors.

AMS 7-14
Catalogues of collections, used by the Visitors in checking the contents of the Museum during their annual Visitations.

AMS 7
Liber Procuratoris Seniorus (Book of the Senior Proctor), 1684. Manuscript catalogue of shells.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 125-152.

AMS 8 [1685a]
Liber Domini Decani Aedis Christi (Book of the Dean of Christ Church), 1684-90 with later additions. Manuscript catalogue of minerals, gems, curiosities and paintings.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 33-66.

AMS 9
Liber Domini Vice-Cancellarii (Book of the Vice-Chancellor), 1685-6 with later additions. Manuscript catalogue of coins and medals.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 67-124.

AMS 10
Liber Domini Professoris Regii Medicinae (Book of the Regius Professor of Medicine), c. 1755. Manuscript catalogue of materia medica, marine plants, and gourds. A recension of the 17th-century catalogue (now missing). Incorrectly titled " Liber dni principalis coll Aenei Nasi".
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 159-172.

AMS 11
Liber Domini Vice-Cancellarii (The Vice-Chancellor's consolidated catalogue of all collections), 1695-96.
Published in MacGregor and Hook 2006.

AMS 12
Liber Domini Aedis Christi Decani (Book of the Dean of Christ Church), 1756. A recension of the 17th-century AMS 8.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 173-202.

AMS 13
Liber Domini Principalis Colegii Aenei Nasi (Book of the Principal of Brasenose), c. 1756. Manuscript catalogue of zoological specimens. A recension of the 17th-century catalogue (now missing).
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 203-216.

AMS 14
Liber Professorii Med: Reg:, 1775-1793.

AMS 15
Guard-book of letters, entitled 'Ashmolean Museum. Correspondence chiefly Mr. Duncans. 1820-1846'.Volume dismounted and contents inserted in six fascicules, 2001.
Publication, MacGregor and Heaton 2000.

AMS 16
Scrapbook of correspondence, 1836-1888. Volume dismounted and contents inserted in nine fascicules, 2001.
List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 16/1
Catalogue of curiosities from the Figi or Cannibal Islands, 1867. List of objects purchased in 1867. Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 253-4..

AMS 17
Scrapbook of correspondence, 1888-1897, also containing notices and notes concerning the museum and some earlier material. Volume dismounted and contents inserted in eight fascicules, 2001.
List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 18 [1685b]
Liber Procuratoris Junioris ( Book of the Junior Proctor), c. 1685. Manuscript catalogue of man-made curiosities, antiquities and ethnographic specimens. Incorrectly titled 'Ashmolean Museum catalogue of ‘artificial works’.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 15-32.

AMS 19
Viri Clarissimi Martinus Lister M.D. Conchae et Fossillia quae in Historia Animalium Anglicarum Describuntur, 1683. Manuscript catalogue of shells and fossils donated by Martin Lister.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 153-158.

AMS 20
'Catalogue Borlase', 1758. Manuscript cataloue of mineral specimens donated by William Borlase.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 217-222.

AMS 21
'Account of Ye coins missing before ye Year 1715. In Mr. Whiteside's Hand'. Held by the Heberden Coin Room.

AMS 22
'Description of portraits' in the Ashmolean Museum, about 1890s. In National Portrait Gallery printed form-book. Held by the Department of Western Art.

AMS 23
'Notes from MSS. & other Sources on the early history of the Ashmolean Museum' by Rachael Poole, before 1928.

AMS 24
Notes entitled 'Paleyian Museum', with some printed schemes of classification. Probably for Duncan's rearrangment of the Museum, c. 1826.
Publication, MacGregor and Heaton 2000.

AMS 25
'Anthropological Catalogue', 1886. A list of anthropological objects transferred from the Ashmolean to the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1886 (compiled in 1884). Two vellum-bound volumes. Held by the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Published in MacGregor et al. 2000, 255-414. Transcribed by Alison Petch.

AMS 26
Letters sent by William Huddesford, Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum 1755-1772, to William Borlase. Negatives and prints of letters now in the Morrab Library, Penzance.

AMS 27
Catalogue of the books and pamphlets in the Ashmolean Museum, post 1867.

AMS 28
Minutes of the Committee of the Visitors of the Ashmolean Museum and University Galleries nominated to discuss the scheme for reorganising the Institution as proposed by Ashmole's Keeper, November 22nd 1906, 1907. Also a transfer of coin cabinet from the Bodleian Library, 1912-1921; Ruskin School, 1922.

AMS 29
Ashmolean Museum’s Keeper’s department cash account, 1895-1910.

AMS 30
Oxford Exhibition of Historical Portraits minute book, 1901-1921. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 31
Oxford Exhibition of Historical Portraits letterbook, 1904. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 32
Oxford Exhibition of Historical Portraits letterbook, 1906. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 33
Accounts for the Ashmolean Society, 1831-1848. Contents inserted in eleven fasicules, 2001.

AMS 34
Correspondence 1854-1858, mostly natural history. Also documents and accounts relatin gto the purchase of models of ancient architecture, 1822-1824. Correspondence inserted in fasicule and model book in envelope, 2001.

AMS 35
Letters and papers relating to the publishing of the Ashmolean Catalogue, 1879-1881.

AMS 36
Manuscript catalogue, 1801: Henderson collection of vases and terracottas, nos. 146-288, 288-606, 595-734; Brick stamps, nos. 27-178; 'Things found in old cupboard' 1800; Prehistoric collection, nos. 1-491; notes on Egyptian collection.

AMS 37
Minute book of the Loan Exhibition of College Plate, 1928-1929. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 38
Letter book of the Loan Exhibition of College Plate, 1928-1929. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 39
Visitors book, 11 March 1909 to 29 October 1910.

AMS 40
Visitors book, 15 September 1911 to 1 June 1913.

AMS 41
Curators of the University Galleries minute book, 1844 to 31 May 1899. Contains loose manuscript copy of the first rules. Transferred to the Department of Western Art, 2001.

AMS 42
Ashmolean Museum papers, chiefly Mr. Duncan's receipted bills, 1823-1830. Contents inserted in thirteen fasicules.

AMS 43
Accounts, 1855-1858. Inserted in two fasicules.

AMS 44
Miscellaneous notes, 39 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 45
Miscellaneous notes, 13 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 46
Miscellaneous correspondence and notices, 41 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 47
Miscellaneous correspondence and notices, 46 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 48
Miscellaneous correspondence and notices, 31 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 49
Miscellaneous correspondence and notices, 30 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities. .

AMS 50
Miscellaneous correspondence and notices, 48 in number. List of contents available in the Department of Antiquities.

AMS 51
A catalogue of the brasses in the collection of the Oxford architectural and historical society, 1898.

Ashmolean Printed series (AP)

AP 1
Museum Tradescantium: or a collection of rarities preserve at south Lambeth near London. John Tradescant, 1765.

AP 2
Catalogus Librorum Manuscriptorum Viri Clarissimi Antonii à Wood (a catalogue of the manuscript collections of Antony à Wood). Deposited in the Ashmolean Museum ... by William Huddesford, Keeper. Oxford, Clarendon Press: 1761. 3 copies.

AP 3
Thomas Hearne's Life of Antony à Wood and catalogue of his manuscript collection. Extract from Gutch's edition, 1792. Presentation copy to the Museum from the editor.

AP 4
A Catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum: Descriptive of the Zoological Specimens, Antiquities, Coins and Miscellaneous Curiosities. P.B. Duncan, 1836. Oxford, S. Collingwood. Annotated. Copy of work available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 5
Box, labelled "Ashmolean Museum Catalogues", [2 volumes] including parts of Duncan's Catalogue and a list of donations to the Antiquarian and Ethnological collections in the Ashmolean Museum ... 1836-1868. 1870.

AP 6
An index to the manuscript collections of Sir William Dugdale, Knight; being part II of the Appendix to his Life, Diary and Correspondance, by William Hamper, Esq., F.S.A. 1826. Presentation copy to the Museum from the author. Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 7
A letter from Dr. Ducarel, F.R.S., F.S.A. to William Watson, M.D., F.R.S. upon "The early cultivation of botany in England, and some particulars about John Tradescant ...". London. 1773. Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 8
Tradescant der Aeltere 1618 in Russland. Der Handelsverkehr zwischen England und Russland in seiner Entscehung. Dr. J. Hamel, 1847. St. Petersburg and Leipsig. Translation of work available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 9
'Tradescant's Testament und Ashmole's Museum zu Oxford' . Extract from Mélanges Physiques et Chimiques tirés du Bulletin Physico-Mathématique. L'Academie Impérial des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg. Vol. I, Part 4, 336-354. Dr. J. Hamel, 1852.

AP 10
Story of Old Meopham. C.H. Golding-Bird. London, 1918.

AP 11
Poole, Rachael. 'An Outline of the History of the Critz family of Painters'. Walpole Society (1913), 45-68.

AP12
Memoirs of the Life of that Learned Antiquary, Elias Ashmole, Drawn up by Himself by Way of Diary, with an Appendix of original Letters (London, Charles Burman, 1717). Found with Lilly's History of his Life and Times, 2nd edition, 1717. Presentation copy to the Museum by Dr. Kidd.

AP 13
The lives of those eminent antiquaries Elias Ashmole, esquire, and Mr. William Lilly, written by themselves; ... (London: Davies, 1774). Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 14
Humphreys, A.L. 'Elias Ashmole'. The Berks, Bucks and Oxon Archaeological Journal, 28 (1924),

AP 15
Tuckett, J.E.S., 'Dr Richard Rawlinson and the Masonic Entrie in Elias Ashmole’s Diary'. Extract from Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.

AP 16
'Memoirs of the Life of Edward Llwyd...'. Transcribed from a manuscript in the Ashmolean Museum ... to which are added notes, historical and illustrative.

AP17
Lhwyd, Edward, Lithophylacii Britannici Ichnographia sive Lapidum aliorumque Fossilium Britannicorum (London, 1699). Presentation copy to the Museum from Martin Lister. Binding has label "Liber : Dni : Professoris Regii : in Medicina Parsi". Copy available on-line from Google Play.

AP18
Lluyd, Edward. Archaeologia Britannica, giving some account additional to what has been hitherto publish'd, of the languages, histories and customs of the original inhabitants of Great Britain: : from collections and observations in travels through Wales, Cornwal, Bas-Bretagne, Ireland and Scotland (Oxford, 1707). Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 19
Wood, S., 'Martin Lister, Zoologist and Physician'. Annals of Medical History, January 1929, 87-104.

AP 20
Tylor, Edward B., 'Notes on Powhatan’s Mantle'. Internationeles Archiv für Ethnographie, 1 (1888), 215-217.

AP 21
Quarrell, W.H. and Quarrell, W.J.C. (eds.), Oxford in 1710 from the Travels of Zacharias Conrad von Uffenbach (Oxford 1928). English translation of original German text, von Uffenbach's three volume Merckwürdige Reisen, 1753-4.

AP 22
Ashbee, H.S., Marat en Angleterre.

AP 23
Scrapbook of press-cuttings relating to the Museum, 1881-1894.

AP 24
Box of various manuscripts and printed documents, entitled 'M.S. Catalogues and Rescripts - Historical Notes on Collections:. Includes some material (photos etc) of the Tradescant house at Lambeth.

AP 25
Box of various manuscripts and printed documents, entitled 'The Tradescants and Elias Ashmole'. Includes genealogical notes on the Tradescants and various pamphlets on Ashmole.

AP 26
Box of various manuscripts and printed documents, entitled 'Ashmolean Data'. Includes further notes by R. Poole on the history of the Museum.

AP 27
Duncan, John Shute, Botano-Theology, an arranged compendium (Oxford, 1825) . Copy available on-line from Google Play.

AP 28
Annual Report of the Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, 1888.

AP 29
Scrapbook, 1881-1897.

AP 30
Ackland, H. W. and Ruskin, J., The Oxford Museum (London and Oxford, 1859). Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 31
'Memoirs of Edward Lluyd'. Memoirs of the lifes and works of Edward Llwyd. (1660-1709). Notes at back containing various letters concerning him. Transcribed from a manuscript and presented to the museum in 1924

AP 32
Duncan, John Shute, Analogies of organised beings (Oxford, 1831). Work detailing the classification of animals with reference to the Ashmolean. Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 33
Duncan, John Shute, Introduction to the catalogue of the Ashmolean Museum, c. 1826.

AP 34
Lyon, George Francis, The Private Journal of Captain G. F. Lyon, of H. M. S. Hecla, during the recent voyage of discovery under Captain Parry (London, 1825). Copy available on-line from the Internet Archive.

AP 35
Prideaux, H., Marmora Oxoniesia (Oxford, 1676), Copy available on-line from Google Play.

AP 36
Chandler, R., Marmora Oxoniesia (Oxford, 1763). Copy available from Arachne.

Further Information

MacGregor, A. with Mendonça, M. and White, J., Manuscript Catalogues of the Early Museum Collections 1683-1886, Part 1 (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum and British Archaeological Reports International Series, 2000).

MacGregor, A and Hook. M., Manuscript Catalogues of the Early Museum Collections - the Vice-Chancellor's Consolidated Catalogue 1695 (Oxford: Ashmolean Museum and British Archaeological Reports International Series, 2006).

MacGregor, A. and Heaton, A. Re-inventing the Ashmolean. Natural history and natural theology at Oxford in the 1820s to 1850s. Archives of Natural History, 27 (2000), 369-406.

Alison Roberts
October 2012