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There is a babel of languages in Special Collections.

Here at the Special Collections Research Center at George Mason University Libraries, a quick catalog search shows archival materials or rare books in the following languages:

• English
• German
• French
• Russian
• Italian
• Latin
• Greek
• Arabic
• Hebrew

In the Archives alone, untranslated material abounds. Whether it’s the Gustav Klemp German WWI Collection of untranslated German materials, the Michael La Vean French Documents Collection of French Revolution era documents, or the Kukryniksy Russian Cariacture Collection of Russian posters, these untranslated primary source materials present a unique opportunity for scholars, students, and researchers at George Mason.

Highlighted here are a few examples of rare books and archival materials in the many languages represented in the Special Collections Research Center.

• Biblia Sacra, printed in 1692 (Call Number: BR 75 1692)

“Biblia Sacra” is the Latin title for the Vulgate (Latin translation of the Christian Bible).

The Latin Bible faced challenges throughout the sixteenth century, as reformers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, William Tyndale and other figures of the Reformation questioned whether a Bible in the vernacular would be more accessible.

Translated into Latin in the fourth century by St. Jerome, the Vulgate was affirmed as the official Latin Bible of the Catholic Church during the Council of Trent (1545-1563).

This edition of the Vulgate was published in 1692.

• The Parson’s Guide, or the Law of Tithes: Where is Shewed, who must pay tithes, and to whom, and of what things, when and how they must be paid, and how they may be recovered at this day, and how a man may be discharged of payment thereof, by W.S., Esq. (Call Number: KD 8747.Z9 S54 1654)

Bound with the SCRC copy of “The Parson’s Guide” are extensive manuscript annotations on the text that follows.

• Tagliches Hand-Buch, in guten und bosen Tagen : das ist : Aufmunterungen, Gebete und Gesange, 1) fur Gesunde ; 2) fur Betrubte ; 3) fur Kranke ; 4) fur Sterbende ; wie auch Spruche, Seufzer und Gebete, den Sterbenden vorzusprechen, nebst den Fest-Andachten ; viel schone Buss-, Beicht-, Communion- und Wettergebete, Morgen- und Abend-Andachten auf alle Tage in der Woche, Trost- und Erquickungs-Gebete, sammt Gesangen, und Kriegs-, Theurungs-, Pest- und Friedens-Gebete, bei allen Angelegenheiten nutzlich zu gebrauchen,  und mit Kupfern gezieret ; Gebeten fur Schwangere, Gebahrende und fur Unfruchtbare ; als der funfte und sechste Theil dieses Handbuchs, compiled by Johann Starck (Call Number BV4834 .S7 1846)

Published in 1846, the above book is a book of German Lutheran prayers and devotional exercises.

• The Michael La Vean Collection of French Documents, C0078

Finally, from our Manuscript Collections comes this document from the Michael La Vean Collection of French Documents, C0078. Written on February 9, 1790, this documents is the receipt of a debt of 2,806 livres paid.

This collection contains many other documents dating to the French Revolution.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To search the collections held at Special Collections Research Center, go to our website and browse the finding aids by subject or title. For rare books, search the library catalog, limiting your search to Fenwick Special Collections.

You may also e-mail us at speccoll@gmu.edu or call 703-993-2220 if you would like to schedule an appointment, request materials, or if you have questions. Appointments are not necessary to request and view collections.