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Trinity College Library, Cambridge

@trincolllibcam

The Trinity College Library in Cambridge comprises the modern student library, the Wren Library, and significant rare books, manuscript and archive collections. https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/library/home/ https://trinitycollegelibrarycambridge.wordpress.com/

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Latest posts by Trinity College Library, Cambridge @trincolllibcam

O.15.49 - The James Catalogue of Western Manuscripts

Correspondence between Michael Faraday and William Whewell has been digitised and can be seen here:
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/O...

06.03.2026 10:42 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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William Whewell, influential British polymath & philosopher, coined words physicist & scientist, proposed new terminology for discoveries in chemistry by Faraday & in geology by Lyell. Mentioned in Trollope’s Barchester Towers; died #OTD 1866.
Professor, Master, Chancellor Trinity College Cambridge

06.03.2026 05:42 πŸ‘ 30 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 1
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Don't be fooled by the appearances! At first glance, these look like early printed books, but it is an ingenious chest of drawers. Has anyone seen this elsewhere?

06.03.2026 07:58 πŸ‘ 70 πŸ” 20 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 3
And initial G with two figures dressed white robes looking at a book. to the left of them is a lions face in a lattice work design all decorated with gold leaf.

And initial G with two figures dressed white robes looking at a book. to the left of them is a lions face in a lattice work design all decorated with gold leaf.

The books in the library are glittering in the spring sunshine today. M.S. B.11.3
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

#worldbookday

05.03.2026 09:45 πŸ‘ 42 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
A diagram drawn in red and black ink showing the Earth in the centre and the positions of the moon and the sun.

A diagram drawn in red and black ink showing the Earth in the centre and the positions of the moon and the sun.

A labyrinth drawn in red ink.

A labyrinth drawn in red ink.

Did anyone else enjoy seeing the full moon last night?
This diagram showing the phases of the moon comes from MS O.2.45-
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/O...
This labyrinth comes from the same volume. Can you get to the centre?

03.03.2026 11:15 πŸ‘ 23 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
Taoiseach of Ireland announces the first Childers Professor of Irish History, 20 February 2026.
Taoiseach of Ireland announces the first Childers Professor of Irish History, 20 February 2026. YouTube video by Cambridge History Faculty

Watch now on YouTube: Taoiseach of Ireland @micheal-martin.bsky.social announces Professor Alvin Jackson as first Childers Professor of Irish History @cam.ac.uk

Speeches also from Vice-Chancellor Deborah Prentice and @lucydelap.bsky.social

@trincolllibcam.bsky.social

πŸ”— youtu.be/rNynCzuh0CA?...

02.03.2026 10:01 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
An advert for a shop selling China, glass and pottering decorated with 3 pink octopuses and a large plant.

An advert for a shop selling China, glass and pottering decorated with 3 pink octopuses and a large plant.

Advert for a shop in Cambrige decorated with monkeys an octopus and a fish.

Advert for a shop in Cambrige decorated with monkeys an octopus and a fish.

Planning a visit to Cambridge? What a shame isn't still here.
Keramopolion must have been a wonder in the 1880s. These tissue paper thin prints are tucked into a scrapbook in the archive.
#Fridayfeeling

27.02.2026 11:19 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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November 24, 2022 – Trinity College Library, Cambridge 1 post published by trinitycollegelibrary1695 on November 24, 2022

We are very proud to have hosted this event. Read more about Erskine Childers at Trinity here: trinitycollegelibrarycambridge.wordpress.com/2022/11/24/

23.02.2026 09:35 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, welcomed the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), MicheΓ‘l Martin, to Cambridge to celebrate the appointment of the University’s first Childers Professor of Irish History.
Photo of Prof Alvin Jackson, Taoiseach MicheΓ‘l Martin, and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice standing in the Great Court, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Photo credit: University of Cambridge

The text of the Taoiseach's speech is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/speeches/address-of-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-martin-announcement-of-the-first-childers-professor-of-modern-irish-history-at-cambridge-university-trinity-college-cambridge-friday-20th-february-2026/

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Deborah Prentice, welcomed the Taoiseach (Prime Minister), MicheΓ‘l Martin, to Cambridge to celebrate the appointment of the University’s first Childers Professor of Irish History. Photo of Prof Alvin Jackson, Taoiseach MicheΓ‘l Martin, and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deborah Prentice standing in the Great Court, Trinity College, Cambridge. Photo credit: University of Cambridge The text of the Taoiseach's speech is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-the-taoiseach/speeches/address-of-taoiseach-miche%C3%A1l-martin-announcement-of-the-first-childers-professor-of-modern-irish-history-at-cambridge-university-trinity-college-cambridge-friday-20th-february-2026/

https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/CamTrinity-MS-1388 

Flyleaves from MS 1388, Gesta Romanorum, Trinity College, Cambridge.
The three flyleaves at the beginning are fragments of an account roll of cent. xiv, xv. On one side, well written, are portions of an Irish rental. 
Among the names that occur are
1. Ballythormoth Β· Ballybrodyn Β· MologhrathΒ· Balyrothe ...Henr. Adameson.Christopher de Holywode.Manerium de Trym.
2. Nouum castrum de Lyones Tasshagard.... Joh. Humbleton... Laurencius Neweton....fratres Carmelitarum leghlyn... Galfr. de Vale miles.Cromlyn.Bally Margg.Capella Isold et saltus salmonum... Walt. de la Hyde... Edw.Perrers... Will. Wellesley... Th. Monyn... Will. Kylmyngton.Walt. Eure... Prior S. Joh. Jerusalem hibern.
3. Balyskeagh.Manerium de demore.Castelricard.Maneria de Rathtoirith(?) Ardumlghan Β· Moylagli Β· Kyldalk


Each paragraph ends with a statement of what is due to the King: "itaque domino Refi," "et sic Regi" etc
On the other side in a rougher hand are some more accounts, viz
Rentale Johannis Shordich
and
copenhanger doune.

See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

https://virtualtreasury.ie/item/CamTrinity-MS-1388 Flyleaves from MS 1388, Gesta Romanorum, Trinity College, Cambridge. The three flyleaves at the beginning are fragments of an account roll of cent. xiv, xv. On one side, well written, are portions of an Irish rental. Among the names that occur are 1. Ballythormoth Β· Ballybrodyn Β· MologhrathΒ· Balyrothe ...Henr. Adameson.Christopher de Holywode.Manerium de Trym. 2. Nouum castrum de Lyones Tasshagard.... Joh. Humbleton... Laurencius Neweton....fratres Carmelitarum leghlyn... Galfr. de Vale miles.Cromlyn.Bally Margg.Capella Isold et saltus salmonum... Walt. de la Hyde... Edw.Perrers... Will. Wellesley... Th. Monyn... Will. Kylmyngton.Walt. Eure... Prior S. Joh. Jerusalem hibern. 3. Balyskeagh.Manerium de demore.Castelricard.Maneria de Rathtoirith(?) Ardumlghan Β· Moylagli Β· Kyldalk Each paragraph ends with a statement of what is due to the King: "itaque domino Refi," "et sic Regi" etc On the other side in a rougher hand are some more accounts, viz Rentale Johannis Shordich and copenhanger doune. See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

The Statue of Kilkenny's ban on mixed marriages being enforced. 1396/7. 

Translation of entry on Page 32 of MS 3104:

J.W. is indicted because he took Finowle Γ“ hAnluain, an Irish woman, in cayff and held her for two years feloniously, contrary to the form of the Statute of Kilkenny. And he pleaded for pardon. 20 Richard II, roll 7.
(Trans. P. Crooks)

See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

The Statue of Kilkenny's ban on mixed marriages being enforced. 1396/7. Translation of entry on Page 32 of MS 3104: J.W. is indicted because he took Finowle Γ“ hAnluain, an Irish woman, in cayff and held her for two years feloniously, contrary to the form of the Statute of Kilkenny. And he pleaded for pardon. 20 Richard II, roll 7. (Trans. P. Crooks) See more Cambridge MSs in VRTI: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

See Irish historical records shared by Cambridge and other British and Irish research libraries at our online exhibition:
https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

See Irish historical records shared by Cambridge and other British and Irish research libraries at our online exhibition: https://www.virtualtreasury.ie/collecting-history-exhibition

Welcome remarks by @micheal-martin.bsky.social at @trincolllibcam.bsky.social
Irish + British histories are bound together:
sometimes literally! virtualtreasury.ie/item/CamTrin...
often personally - virtualtreasury.ie/item/CUL-MS-...
and collaboratively πŸ‘οΈ
πŸ‘€ ALT text
@camlibresearch.bsky.social

22.02.2026 14:49 πŸ‘ 18 πŸ” 10 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ladies and Gentlemen, the Weekend!

#medievalsky

@trincolllibcam.bsky.social B.11.22, f. 142v

20.02.2026 09:21 πŸ‘ 33 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A painting of a detail of a horse head wearing a gold bridle on red decorated background.

A painting of a detail of a horse head wearing a gold bridle on red decorated background.

Happy Lunar New Year!
B.4.1 mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

17.02.2026 17:28 πŸ‘ 31 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Image of the tree of life with a naked figure entwined by a snake

Image of the tree of life with a naked figure entwined by a snake

Check out our newly-updated resource - Darkness Visible - for studying alumnus John Milton's 'Paradise Lost'.

darknessvisible.christs.cam.ac.uk
www.christs.cam.ac.uk/news/darknes...

#ChristsCollegeCambridge #Cambridge #Milton350 #JohnMilton #UniversityOfCambridge #CambridgeUniversity

17.02.2026 12:01 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A drawing of male head wearing a hat with an arm and hand pointing at written text.

A drawing of male head wearing a hat with an arm and hand pointing at written text.

Imagine your documents were marked up for editing with this guy. Terrifying! MS.B.2.25 mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

#marginaliamonday
#medievalsky

16.02.2026 13:06 πŸ‘ 88 πŸ” 23 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 4
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Gale’s Herbarium Manuscript O.2.48 is a medical miscellany combining the works of various authors. Part of a well-known group of manuscripts, the Herbarius corpus, the Trinity copy – donated by Roger Gale in …

To learn more about this manuscript, read our blog entry here: trinitycollegelibrarycambridge.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/g..., or see the whole thing here: mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/O...!
Here's to Women and Girls in Science, past and present! πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬πŸ‘©β€πŸ”¬

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A female doctor in the centre with her assistant, offering an herbal remedy to a man in a hood, f. 29v from MS O.2.48

A female doctor in the centre with her assistant, offering an herbal remedy to a man in a hood, f. 29v from MS O.2.48

And women as physicians.

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
The woman on the left offers a cup, containing an herbal remedy to a woman on f. 102v of MS O.2.48.

The woman on the left offers a cup, containing an herbal remedy to a woman on f. 102v of MS O.2.48.

Woman healing one another:

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A woman in the centre offers a remedy to an older bedridden woman while an older man looks on, f. 99v of MS O.2.48.

A woman in the centre offers a remedy to an older bedridden woman while an older man looks on, f. 99v of MS O.2.48.

Women tending to the aged:

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A group of three woman engaged in discussion, f. 95v of MS O.2.48.

A group of three woman engaged in discussion, f. 95v of MS O.2.48.

Women collaborating (about how to quicken labour):

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
A monk and a woman gesture towards one another on f. 54v in MS O.2.48.

A monk and a woman gesture towards one another on f. 54v in MS O.2.48.

Women debating:

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

In commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we're featuring MS O.2.48 in which we see: πŸ§΅πŸ‘‡

11.02.2026 16:36 πŸ‘ 22 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

Sorry, not sorry you got side tracked. We love your prints.

10.02.2026 11:53 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Latest crafting obsession: Linocutting!

First piece was inspired by a watermark in the fifteenth-century accounts from King's Hall, Cambridge, housed @trincolllibcam.bsky.social. I was looking for female employees and tenants for an article but became a little obsessed with the various watermarks.

10.02.2026 11:37 πŸ‘ 19 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
A doodled face in coming out of text in a manuscript.

A doodled face in coming out of text in a manuscript.

A doodled face in coming out of text in a manuscript.

A doodled face in coming out of text in a manuscript.

How is Tuesday going for you? These folk found in MS. B.2.25 have been waiting for a tea break since the 14th century. mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

10.02.2026 10:34 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 18 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Building the Wren Library In an earlier blog we learned how, by the seventeenth century, the existing library at Trinity was proving inadequate. The ambition to build a new library is popularly ascribed to Isaac Barrow, Mas…

And the south end of The Wren Library peeping out from the elevation. There's a series of posts about the building of The Wren Library on our blog. trinitycollegelibrarycambridge.wordpress.com/2019/03/15/b...

09.02.2026 09:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ladies and Gentlemen, the Weekend!

#medievalsky

@trincolllibcam.bsky.social B.11.22, f. 88v

06.02.2026 08:21 πŸ‘ 38 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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2nd February is Candlemas Feast, it marks Christ being presented at the temple. Candles are blessed for the year. It also marks mid winter, half way between winter solstice and the equinox. B.11.3
mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...

#medievalmonday
#marginaliamonday

02.02.2026 12:36 πŸ‘ 32 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A photograph of a velvet cap.

A photograph of a velvet cap.

Happy Birthday to Lord Byron, born #OTD 1788. Byron was a student here at Trinity College. As well as printed volumes of his work and collections of correspondence the library has his hat.

archives.trin.cam.ac.uk/index.php/le...

#byron

22.01.2026 13:00 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
a painting of a red squirrel climbing a rope.

a painting of a red squirrel climbing a rope.

This is squirrel is going somewhere. Click here to find out where: mss-cat.trin.cam.ac.uk/Manuscript/B...
B.11.22 is a 13th/14th c. Book of Hours bursting with beautiful and amusing illustrations.
#squirrelappreciationday

21.01.2026 12:16 πŸ‘ 115 πŸ” 32 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 4

One week left to apply!

16.01.2026 11:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

One week left to apply!

16.01.2026 11:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0