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University letters, 1453 - 1910

 Series
Reference Code: GBR/0265/UA/Lett.

Scope and Contents

University letters were exchanged with the Crown, ministers of state and dignitaries. They covered a wide range of subjects, including the University's rights and privileges, internal governance, religious observance, legal disputes and formal orations delivered on celebratory occasions.

Also included in this category are letters of royal patronage, or 'mandates', for the award of degrees and offices. The latter practice was at its greatest from the reign of Elizabeth I to that of James II. Shortly after the Revolution of 1688 it was agreed between the Crown and University that the Sovereign would only issue letters mandatory at the receipt of a petition from the Chancellor, and that the Chancellor should not petition unless he had received a certificate, signed by the majority of the heads of houses, recommending the applicant as intellectually qualified.

Dates

  • Creation: 1453 - 1910

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

From the Management Group:

The University Archives are generally freely available to the holder of a reader's ticket for the Manuscripts Reading Room at Cambridge University Library, West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DR. Restrictions on access are imposed on certain categories of sensitive record: financial, governmental and personal, by order of the originating body or under data protection legislation. Access information, including opening hours and how to obtain a reader's ticket, appears as part of the Library's web site (www.lib.cam.ac.uk).

Extent

21 volume(s) : paper

Language of Materials

English

General

The online catalogue was completed in October 2004.

Date information

DateText: start date is a mid-sixteenth century copy; original letters date from 1564-1868.

Finding aid date

1998-03-20 17:19:09+00:00

Repository Details

Part of the Cambridge University Library Repository

Contact:
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge CB3 9DR United Kingdom