Christ Church Library and the Bodleian Library have joined efforts in a digitization project with the aim of opening up the rich repository of manuscripts and rare early printed books at Christ Church. Over the course of the next few years, thousands of pages from this outstanding collection will be made freely available online to researchers and to the public.

Support and partners

The initiative to digitize the collection of manuscripts is a project in collaboration with the Bodleian Library and was made possible due to the generous support of the Christ Church Governing Body, alumni, Polonsky Foundation and Rothschild Foundation Hanadiv Europe.

Detail of a music manuscript

Music Manuscripts

Christ Church holds an internationally renowned collection of music materials, both manuscript and print.
View the Music manuscripts
Detail from an illustrated manuscript

Western Manuscripts

Christ Church Library is one of the largest and richest for research material in Oxford outside the Bodleian.
View the Western manuscripts
Hebrew Manuscript, detail, Christ Church Library

Hebrew Manuscripts

The Hebrew library at Christ Church is an impressive and unique collection of over 3,000 early printed books and medieval and early modern Hebrew manuscripts. 
View the Hebrew Manuscripts
Byzantine manuscript, detail, Christ Church Library

Greek Manuscripts

The collection includes patristic writings, Biblical texts, chorographies, as well as mathematical treatises. This is one of the most valuable and least known collections of Greek codices in England.
View the Greek manuscripts
Detail from Hawkhurst map

Maps

The map collection located in Christ Church Library and Archives is probably among the least known in Oxford.
View the Maps
Detail from W.a.5.12

Early Printed Books

Numbering well over 80,000 items, the early printed books and pamphlets collections make Christ Church one of the largest and richest libraries for research material in England.
View the Early Printed Books
Detail from Carroll-G10

The Lewis Carroll Collection

Christ Church holds three distinct collections of material relating to Lewis Carroll, including autograph letters, manuscripts, original photographic prints, proof sheets and presentation copies.
View the Lewis Carroll Collection