Archive of ancient British 'filofaxes' goes online

Snippets of information were recorded during 15th to 18th centuries

By Paul Casciato
Reuters
updated 8:45 p.m. CT, Fri., May 14, 2010

A remarkable archive of antique manuscripts which opens a window on to the experiences, hopes, fears and interests of people who lived during the 15th to 18th centuries has been put online.

The University of Cambridge Scriptorium Project features thousands of pages taken from 20 different handwritten "miscellanies," some of which date back as far as the Wars of the Roses.

(University of Cambridge Scriptorium Project)

Project team leader Richard Beadle said miscellanies of this sort have not always received the treatment or attention that they deserve.
"But as Scriptorium shows, they in fact give us a fascinating view of early modern life and open up a whole new side of the period's literature and culture for people to explore," Beadle said in a statement.

Likened by some to filofaxes or personal organisers, the books were used to record snippets of information that people had read, been told, or overheard, at a time when paper was a scarce and expensive commodity.

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Theres a fair bit of description at the linked article, of some of the "files" being posted. There doesn't seem to be a lot of "organization" but lots of trivia of many kinds.

For those interested in "olden times" it would seem like this resource might be worth a look; and it might have just the right stuff to help solve some of those unintelligible lyric puzzles.

John