Skip to main content

Archive of Robert Finch

 Collection

  • How to
    request

Archive of Robert Finch, consisting of personal papers, including:

  1. Letters to Finch, arranged alphabetically by correspondent
  2. Journals, 1813-18, written in Portugal, England, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey, giving detailed historical, architectural, archaeological and topographical accounts of places visited
  3. Diaries, 1815-30, in a summary tabular form, written in Italy, Greece, Turkey and Switzerland
  4. Seven commonplace books, c. 1800-10, containing extracts and notes on classical, literary and antiquarian subjects, with copies of letters by Finch, and of Oxford University prize essays and poems, 1773-1804

Also includes manuscripts collected by Finch, 12th-19th century

Dates

  • Creation: 12th-19th century

Extent

5.95 Linear metres (81 boxes)

Language of Materials

  • English
  • Latin
  • Italian
  • French
  • Arabic

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Finch b. 1, fols. 1-2].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Full range of shelfmarks:

MSS. Finch b. 1, c. 1-3, d. 1-30, e. 1-21, e. 23, e. 24*, e. 25-40, f. 1-7, g. 1

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 12954

Abstract

Archive of Robert Finch (1783-1830).

Biographical / Historical

Robert Finch (1783-1830) was an antiquary. Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Other Finding Aids

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. II, nos. 46792-872.

Our best descriptions for medieval items in this collection are in Medieval Manuscripts in Oxford Libraries under MSS. Finch.

Custodial History

Robert Finch bequeathed his plate to Balliol College and his library, pictures, coins and medals to the Ashmolean Museum. In 1918 it was agreed that his books and manuscripts should come to the Bodleian Library, with the exception of certain books in foreign languages and dealing with archaeology and fine arts, which were to go to the Taylor Institution and the Ashmolean Museum respectively.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The manuscripts were transferred from the Taylorian to the Bodleian in March 1921

Bibliography

  • Finch's personal papers were used by Elizabeth Nitchie in The Reverend Colonel Finch (New York, 1940).
Title
Catalogue of the archive of Robert Finch
Status
Published
Author
Collection Level Description by Emily Tarrant; EAD version 2019 by Pauline Soum-Paris
Date
EAD version 2019
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom