My colleagues and I will be conducting research at a variety of institutions during the seminar. Much of our work, however, will be centered in the Bodleian Library, which is the main research library at Oxford. We received a wonderful introduction to the library from David Vaisey, former director of the library. Mr. Vaisey pointed out that the early history of the library is intimately tied to our areas of interest, namely the Protestant Reformation, and the revolution that was printing. Duke Humphrey gave a large collection of manuscripts in the 15th century, but during much of the 16th century the library declined. Thomas Bodley donated books and supported renewed growth, and "Bodley's Library" was formally opened in 1602. In 1610 the library began to receive a copy of every book registered with the Stationers' Company in London, and so the collections are unusually extensive. The Bodleian developed as a bastion of Protestant scholarship.
