Project Status: Ongoing

The Wren Digital Library is the digital archive of the Wren Library at Trinity College, Cambridge. The Wren is home to over 1,000 medieval manuscripts from the 10th century onwards, of which the digital archive has published over 800 in addition to many early printed books and modern manuscripts. The ongoing project of the digital platform is to digitally publish all manuscripts in M.R. James’ 1901-1903 print catalog of the library’s holdings.

As of 2020, the library has no search function, but one can filter manuscripts by title, shelfmark, and date. Each entry includes catalog information in addition to a bibliography. Images are available in IIIF format and can be downloaded free of charge, though high-resolution images can only be obtained by contacting the repository.

Resource details:

Resource Type: BibliographyCatalogImagesList FormatManuscripts/Facsimiles

License: Creative CommonsMust provide creditNo Fee

Modern Language: English

Medieval content details:

Dates: 900 - 1600

Subject: ArtCodicologyDiplomaticsManuscript Decoration/IlluminationManuscript StudiesMapsMaterial CulturePaleographyPrint History

Type/Genre of Medieval Primary Source Material: Art and ArtifactsManuscriptsMaterial EvidencePrinted Books

Geopolitical Region: British Isles and IrelandEnglandEurope

Original Language: EnglishFrenchLatinMiddle EnglishOld English