Nelson's letter of January 1801,
requesting requesting texts
for seamen
- Did you know that SPCK provided texts for seamen? Horatio Nelson wrote to us in January 1801 saying "I am again a Solicitor for the goodness of the Society ... to hope that the Society will again make a present of Books ..."
- Perhaps you've heard that SPCK founded church schools for both boys and girls in the 18th Century?
- Were you aware that the SPCK helped produce the first Tamil New Testament in 1714?
- Or that SPCK is the third oldest English publishing house still operating today, after the University presses of Oxford and Cambridge?
- Maybe your ancestors worked for SPCK or were involved in their projects both here in the UK and overseas and you'd like to know more?
Whatever your query about SPCK's history, our archives, which date back to our origin in 1698, are now part of the collection of the University of Cambridge.
The Manuscripts Department holds all non-printed materials, including the following:
- Minutes, including various Committees and Sub-Committees.
- Annual and monthly reports.
- Accounts books.
- Legacies and grants.
- Correspondence, mostly in the 18th century, as later correspondence has unfortunately been destroyed.
- District committees.
- Foreign missions and bishoprics.
- Charity schools.
The Rare Books Department holds printed materials, mostly, but not exclusively, SPCK publications, in four categories:
- Children's books.
- General books.
- Tracts, from the 17th to 19th centuries.
- Foreign language material, e.g. Bibles and prayer books.
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge
CB3 9DR
Tel: 01223-333000
Email:
Manuscripts contact: Peter Meadows
Tel: 01223-333141
Email:
