Durham University Collections

 

As part of a programme to restore the authority and dignity of the bishops of Durham after the English Civil War (1642-1660), Bishop John Cosin established the episcopal (that is: bishops’) library on Palace Green in 1669 for public use. But, how ‘public’ was a ‘public library’ in the 17th century? The library could be used by:

Take a look at this beaker, presented to Durham University’s Museum of Archaeology in 1980 and this 3D model created in Sketchfab this summer. What age is it from?

 

This is the famous Lanchester Diploma. A Roman Miltary Diploma issued around 150AD to Tigernos (Velvotigernus), a native of Lanchester, County Durham. The diploma granted him and his descendants Roman citizenship and the legal right of marriage. He earned it by serving in the Classis Germanica - the Roman fleet in Germany – and was honourably discharged upon his retirement.

But which Emperor issued the Diploma?

 

Durham University’s Oriental Museum has an extensive collection of Ancient Egyptian statues. This is the kneeling statue of the vizier Paser created in the Nineteenth Dynasty. Paser was a high-ranking official who served under Pharaoh Seti I and his successor.

Who was the successor to Pharaoh Seti I?

 

The university’s collection includes a manuscript of the works of Laurence of Durham, written in Durham, possibly as a memorial to Laurence, Prior of Durham. Laurence died in 1154 on his return journey from Italy after travelling there to confirm the election of which Durham Bishop?

 

In the University's Visitor Attractions ‘Explore From Home’ pages we have several virtual exhibitions. One is Norman Cornish: The Sketchbooks, which we hosted from November 2019 to February 2020. Norman was the last surviving member of the "Pitman's Academy" art school at the Spennymoor Settlement in County Durham.

In 1933 he started work as a miner.

How old was he?

 

(Explore the virtual exhibition here)

As part of the brilliant Catch Your Breath exhibition (now online) our 15th century copy of Geoffrey Chaucer’s Troilus and Criseyde is displayed. As described on this page, and according to Medieval physiological models, forces of vital spirits (through a mixture of air and blood) heated and animated the body, governing breathing.

From which organ did they originate?

 

(Explore the exhibition online here)

This is a list of everything owned by Edward Cosyn, a baker and beer-brewer from Newcastle. Cosyn died in 1645 and this list, or inventory, was made after his death. It is written in English and it takes a little while to get used to the handwriting. However, these probate inventories, created to help with the distribution of a person’s possessions after they died, are a valuable source of information about living conditions, the value of goods, and a person’s social status. Many probate inventories held at Durham University’s Archives and Special Collections have been digitised. Cosyn’s inventory lists several rooms.

What is the first room in the list?

 

This is our copy of Thomas More’s Utopia from 1516.

He was canonised as a saint by the Pope in which year?