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Leeds University Library

Address. University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, England [Map]
Telephone. (0113) 233-6388
Fax. (0113) 233-5561
e-mail. [library@library.leeds.ac.uk]
Internet. http://www.leeds.ac.uk/library/

Governing body or responsible institution. University of Leeds
Functions. Research and teaching library.
Subjects. All subjects.

Access. Open to researchers, who should contact the library before their visit. - Opening hours (Special Collections): Monday to Friday 9.30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Special facilities. Photocopiers; microfilm and microfiche readers and reader-printer; PCs linked to university and national/international networks; photography by arrangement.
Travel directions. The library is about 20 minutes' walk from the railway station. There are numerous bus services from the city centre. - Limited parking.

1. HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY AND ITS COLLECTIONS

1.1 The University has its origins in the Leeds Medical School (founded 1831) and the Yorkshire College of Science (founded 1874). In 1885 the library had only 4,000 books (excluding the medical books); by 1997 there were over two million books and pamphlets, as well as other materials (manuscripts, microfilms, etc.). Already in the 1890s there was a professor of German in the University, and German-language materials have been important for scholarly collections in many subject areas. Although the library has long sought to add to the historical collections by second-hand purchases, it was particularly in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s that great efforts were made to build up a research collection by the purchase of older German literary works. Gifts have also been very significant in adding older material. The Brotherton Collection brought incunables and other early-printed books. This collection has been developed from the private library of Edward Allen Brotherton, Baron Brotherton of Wakefield (1856-1930), which was presented in 1935. At present it comprises c. 53,000 vols (252 incunables). All Souls' College gave theological works printed in the 17th and 18th centuries, and Dr Hans Rosenbusch (1883-1966) bequeathed a library rich in first editions of German literary works from the Romantic period onwards.

2. OUTLINE OF THE COLLECTIONS

Chronological outline and analysis by language

2.1 The total number of German-language and German-printed volumes which date from before 1901 cannot be stated with any accuracy, but may be in the region of 5-6,000. The library's published catalogue of 17th- and 18th-century German literary books and journals (see below 3.2) lists 639 items (perhaps 1,500 vols); there are also non-literary works published in this period. The collection comprises around 100 relevant incunables, and a few 16th-century books. There must be several thousands of volumes printed in the 19th century, but there is no way of producing a reliable estimate. 2.1 Subject outline

2.2 The library has good research collections in German language and literature and in German and Austrian history. The literary collections are strong in editions of works, and they include many minor writers, as well as the more celebrated authors. German-language books are prominent in many other subject areas, especially philosophy, theology, classics and ancient history; also in the older scientific collections.

2.3 Medieval and 16th-century. Early editions of medieval texts go back as far as Chriemhilden Rache und die Klage (1757) and Der Nibelungen Liet (1782), and there are 19th-century editions by Lachmann and others. A complete set of the Monumenta Germaniae historica (1829 ff.) provides the largest collection of historical sources. Other collections of texts include the Bibliothek des Literarischen Vereins in Stuttgart (1842 ff.) and Die Chroniken der deutschen Städte vom 14. bis ins 16. Jahrhundert (1862 ff.).

2.4 Incunables. There are about 100 incunables printed in German cities (including Basel and Strasbourg). Most of these are Latin works. There are Latin bibles printed by Koberger (Nuremberg 1478) and by Froben & Petri (Basel 1498). A few examples of the Latin works are: Albumasar, Flores astrologiae (Augsburg: Ratdolt 1488); St. Bernard, Sermones super Cantica canticorum (Strasbourg: Flach 1497); Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae (Nuremberg: Koberger 1473); Gregory the Great, Moralia in Job (Nuremberg: Sensenschmidt 1471), and his Dialogi (Augsburg: Wiener c. 1477); Pope Gregory IX, Decretales (Nuremberg: Koberger 1493); Jerome, Vitas patrum (Nuremberg: Koberger 1478); and Salomon, Bishop of Constance, Glossae ex illustrissimis collectae auctoribus (Augsburg: Sorg, before 1475). Illustrated incunables include Alphonsus de Spina, Fortalitium fidei (Basel: Richel c. 1475); Sebastian Brant, Stultifera navis (Basel: Bergman 1497 - the Latin translation, but with the original woodcuts); Bernhard von Breydenbach, Peregrinatio (Mainz: Reuwich 1486); Werner Rolewinck, Fasciculus temporum (Speyer: Drach 1477 and Strasbourg: Prüss c. 1488); and Hartmann Schedel, Liber chronicarum (``Nuremberg chronicle'; Nuremberg: Koberger 1493). The German-language texts are: Schatzbehalter, oder schrein der wahren reichtumer des heils unnd ewyger seligkeit (Nuremberg: Koberger 1491, with fine woodcuts), and Von der kinthait unnsers herren Iesu Cristi (Augsburg: Schaur 1494), an edition of Die neue ehe und das passional von Jesu und Mariae leben.

2.5 German literature, 17th-19th centuries. In 1973 the Brotherton Library published a catalogue of the German literary works published in the 17th and 18th centuries, and in 1976 added a supplement (see below 3.2). The total number of items recorded is 639 (c. 1500 vols altogether). In building up this collection special attention was given to acquiring editions of authors whose works were not later reprinted. (The journals are mentioned below 2.8.) A few early editions which may be mentioned are: Aegidius Albertinus, Der Welt Tummel und Schaw-platz (Munich 1613); Wolfgang Helmhard von Hohberg, Georgica curiosa aucta (Nuremberg 1682-1715); Daniel Caspar von Lohenstein, Ibrahim Sultan (Frankfurt and Leipzig 1679); Heinrich Mühlpforth, Teutsche Gedichte (Breslau 1686-1687); and Heinrich Anshelm von Ziegler und Kliphausen, Täglicher Schauplatz der Zeit (Leipzig 1700).

2.6 There is far more literature from the 18th century than from the 17th, and contemporary editions of 19th-century writers are also very numerous. Among 18th-century literary authors may be noted Thomas Abbt (e.g. Vom Tode für das Vaterland, Berlin 1761), Emilie von Berlepsch, Barthold Heinrich Brockes (e.g. Irdisches Vergnügen in Gott, Hamburg 1736-1739), Gottfried August Bürger (e.g. Vermischte Schriften, Göttingen 1798-1821), Johann Arnold Ebert, Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (e.g. [Werke], Karlsruhe 1774 and 7 other items), Salomon Gessner (10 items), Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg, Johann Wilhelm L. Gleim and of course Goethe (6 items before 1800). There are also seven 19th-century editions of Goethe's collected works, from the Vollständige Ausgabe letzter Hand (1827-1834) to the Grossherzogin Sophie-Ausgabe. Other literary authors to be noted are Johann Christoph Gottsched (3 items), Luise Adelgunde V. Gottsched, Friedrich von Hagedorn (3 items), Johann Herdegen (a representative of the ``Pegnitzer Blumenorden' in Nuremberg), Johann Gottfried Herder, Ludwig Heinrich C. Hölty, Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling, Ewald Christian von Kleist and Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (5 items). Also to be noted are August von Kotzebue, Sophie von La Roche, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, Karl Philipp Moritz, Friedrich Christoph Nicolai, Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener, Jean Paul (Richter), Schiller, Christian Friedrich D. Schubart, Christian Graf Stolberg-Stolberg, Christian Felix Weisse, Christoph Martin Wieland (4 items), and Just Friedrich W. Zachariä.

2.7 The collection contains a great variety of well-known and less known poets and literary authors, but also a number of critics such as Johann Jakob Bodmer, Johann Joachim Eschenburg, Johann Christoph Gottsched, August Wilhelm Schlegel and Johann Georg Sulzer. There are numerous plays, e.g. the Samlung von Theaterstükken (Leipzig 1788; not listed in Gödeke), as well as a considerable number of translations from the French (e.g. from works by Boileau, Philippe Néricault Destouches or Voltaire). Finally, a number of religious writings should be noted (e.g. Franz Anton Graf Sporck, Geistliche Todts-Gedancken, Passau und Linz 1753) as well as some historical publications (e.g. Friedrich Karl Moser, Patriotisches Archiv für Deutschland, Frankfurt, Leipzig und Mannheim 1784-1790) or examples of travel literature (e.g. Christoph Friedrich Nicolai, Beschreibung einer Reise durch Deutschland und die Schweiz, Berlin und Stettin 1783-1796). The collection, substantially enriched by the library of Dr Hans Rosenbusch (see above 1.1), is representative of 18th-century German literature and criticism - also of minor authors - and serves a wide range of interests in the historical, theological and literary fields. 2.7

2.8 Early journals (to c. 1815). The published catalogue (see below 3.2) lists 57 titles. These include: Allgemeine deutsche Bibliothek (1765-1794), with 20 vols of the Anhang; Annalen der Philosophie und des philosophischen Geistes (1795-1796); Beyträge zur critischen Historie der deutschen Sprache, Poesie und Beredsamkeit, ed. by Johann Christoph Gottsched (1732-1744); Bibliothek der schönen Wissenschaften und der freyen Künste (1757-1765), and Neue Bibliothek ... (1765-1784; 1786-1789 and 1791); Bibliothèque germanique (1720-1741) and Nouvelle bibliothèque germanique (1746-1760); Chronologen, ed. by Wilhelm Ludwig Wekhrlin (1779-1780); Deutsche Blätter (1-4; 6 and n.s. 1-2, 1813-1715); Eudämonia (1-3, 1795-1796); Fliegende Blätter (1794); Das graue Ungeheuer (5-12, 1785-1787); Historisches Journal, ed. by Friedrich von Gentz (1799-1800); Journal von und für Deutschland (1784-1792, but 1786-1787, 1790 and 1792 are incomplete); Neue Beyträge zum Vergnügen des Verstandes und Witzes [i.e. Bremer Beiträge] (1744-1750); Das Neueste aus der anmuthigen Gelehrsamkeit, ed. by Gottsched (1751-1762); Der Patriot [Hamburg] (1728-1729); Propyläen (1798-1800); Der Teutsche Merkur, ed. by Christoph Martin Wieland (1773-1789), and 32 vols of Der neue teutsche Merkur (1790-1806). Der Redliche, ein Wochenblatt [Eisleben] (1-51, 1755-1756) is unrecorded in bibliographies.

2.9 Anglo-German studies: English authors. The Anglo-German Collection (c. 2,000 vols) contains many English works in German translations published from the 17th to the early 19th century. The catalogue of German literature lists 154 works and 6 journals translated from English (c. 350 vols altogether). The early translations of Shakespeare are by Johann Joachim Eschenburg (1778-1780), Schlegel (1810-1818) and Johann Heinrich Voss (1818-1829). Other literary authors include Addison, Samuel Butler, Congreve, Fielding, Goldsmith, Eliza Haywood, Sophie Lee, James Macpherson, Milton, Otway, Pope, Richardson, Sheridan, Smollett, Steele, Sterne, James Thomson, and Edward Young. Boswell's Historisch-geographische Beschreibung von Corsica deserves special mention among travel works. Philosophical writers include Bacon, Burke, Hume, Paine, Priestley, and Shaftesbury. Religion is well represented, with works by Richard Baxter, William Beveridge, Bishop of St Asaph, Bunyan, William Cave, Richard Cumberland, Bishop of Peterborough, Philip Doddridge, John Gauden (Eikon basilike), Joseph Hall (a total of 8 works), Alexander Ross, Thomas and William Sherlock, Isaac Watts, J. Worthington and others. There are works on manners by Lord Chesterfield and others, and historical, biographical, and miscellaneous works. Christian Felix Weisse's Dramatische Unterhaltungen zur Belehrung und zum Vergnügen junger Personen, von der Verfasserin des blinden Kindes, a version of Mrs Pinchard's Dramatic conversations for young people (Leipzig: Gräff, n.d.), appears to be unrecorded in bibliographies.

2.10 Anglo-German studies: German authors. Rele- vant works include Emilie von Berlepsch, Caledonia (Hamburg 1802-1804); Karl Philipp Moritz, Reisen eines Deutschen in England im Jahr 1782 (Berlin 1783); Sophie von La Roche, Tagebuch einer Reise durch Holland und England (Offenbach a. M. 1791); and Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Ausführliche Erklärungen der Hogarthischen Kupferstiche (Göttingen 1794-1816). Translations from German into English which were published in the 18th century are included in the published catalogue, and there are further translations published in the 19th century.

2.11 History and politics, to c. 1800. There are over 200 vols of contemporary sources for the study of politics and government in the 18th and early 19th centuries. The strongest part relates to the Austrian lands in the later 18th century, especially in the time of Joseph II: there are around 70 contemporary publications, including collections of laws, e.g. Sammlungen der k.k. landesfürstlichen Verordnungen und Gesetze in materiis publico-ecclesiasticis (3 vols, Prague 1782-1787); Gesetze und Verfassungen im Justizfache (6 vols, Prague and Vienna 1786-1790); Vollständige Sammlung aller seit dem glorreichsten Regierungsantritt Joseph des Zweyten für die k.k. Erbländer ergangenen höchsten Verordnungen und Gesetze (8 vols, Vienna 1788-1790), Joseph Kropatschek's Oestreichs Staatsverfassung, and many works of controversy. Other historical sources include 30 edicts (1713-1721) of Frederick William I of Prussia, dealing with beggars, deserters, distillation, markets, witch-trials, and many other matters; and a collection of 13 texts (1756-1758) on the beginning of the Seven Years' War. 19th-century works include Oeuvres de Frédéric le Grand (1846-1856).

2.12 History and politics, c. 1800-1900. There are many printed sources for political history, especially editions of personal papers, letters and speeches, providing material for the study of political movements throughout the century. Sources for the years to 1849 include a number of works by Friedrich von Gentz, and the later Tagebücher von Friedrich von Gentz (1873-1874) and Aus dem Nachlass Friedrichs von Gentz (1867-1868). There are works by Friedrich Ludwig G. von Raumer, Briefe aus Frankfurt und Paris, 1848-1849, Carl Wenzeslaus von Rotteck, Gesammelte und nachgelassene Schriften (1841-1843), Arnold Ruge, Die Gründung der Demokratie in Deutschland (1849), Stenographischer Bericht über die Verhandlungen der Deutschen Constituirenden Nationalversammlung zu Frankfurt am Main (1848-1849) and Eduard Bleich, Der erste vereinigte Landtag in Berlin, 1847. There is an incomplete set of the Preussischer Staatsanzeiger (Juli 1850-1857), and a collection of contemporary publications on the Franco-Prussian War includes German publications (books, proclamations, and caricatures).

3. CATALOGUES

3.1 General catalogues

Online catalogue

[includes all books catalogued since October 1991, and a large (and growing) proportion of the older stock]

Name catalogue

[records books catalogued down to October 1991]

Consortium of University Research Libraries (CURL)

[The University is a member of CURL, and all its library holdings recorded online are included in the COPAC union catalogue: http://copac.ac.uk/copac/.]

The incunables are recorded in the Incunabula Short Title Catalogue (ISTC).

3.2 Special catalogues

German literature printed in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. A catalogue of the library's collection. Leeds: Brotherton Library 1973; Supplement 1973-1975. Ibid. 1976

Langstadt, E.: Catalogue of an exhibition of German books and periodicals from the library's collection. Leeds: Brotherton Library [1968]

Symington, John Alexander: The Brotherton Library. A catalogue of ancient manuscripts and early printed books collected by Edward Allen, Baron Brotherton of Wakefield. Leeds 1931

4. ARCHIVAL SOURCES AND PUBLICATIONS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY

4.1 Archival sources

The library preserves archival material relating to its history.

4.2 Publications

Offor, R.: A descriptive guide to the libraries of the University of Leeds. Leeds: Brotherton Library 1947

Cox, D.: Leeds. University of Leeds Library. In: Encyclopedia of library and information science. New York 1968- . Vol. 14, pp. 130-140

Leeds University Library: Guides to source materials for research. German studies. [Leeds: Brotherton Library 1997]

See also: A directory of rare book and special collections ...2nd ed. London 1997, pp. 576-578

November 1997

Neil Plummer