St Andrews University Library Special Collections - University Muniments (archives)

Introduction

The University Muniment Collection - the archives of the institution itself and its constituent colleges - is held within the manuscripts department, under the care of the Keeper of Muniments, which post is at present combined with that of Keeper of Manuscripts.

The collection is divided into several parts: the records of the University as a body, of its constituent colleges, and of the Library. For brief descriptions of each of these collection areas, please refer to The Collections.

The Muniments date back to 1215 and represent the recorded history and corporate memory of the University of St Andrews. Much of the early material relates to the lands, titles and privileges of the University, which was founded by 1410-11 and confirmed by papal bull of Pope Benedict XIII in 1413.

There is material written in Latin, French and Scots as well as in English - indeed, Latin was the normal language for much of the written record up to the mid 18th century! The archive includes a huge range of material, including title deeds on vellum, some with medieval seals still attached, minutes, accounts, matriculation and graduation records and lists of students, maps and plans, photographs, administrative files and correspondence. The most recent material held is that which it has been decided is no longer of current administrative use.

There are various ways of finding out what is included within the University's archive. Details are given in the Access section below.

There are published editions of some of the core record series of the Muniments, and many books and articles which will illuminate aspects of the University's history. Details of a few particularly useful publications are given in the Publications section below.

Transferring Records

Material identified within the University as being of historical value and worthy of archival retention can be transferred to Muniments for permanent preservation. For details of how to do this, please contact Rachel Hart, Muniments Archivist. See How to contact us in the General Information page.

Access

Access to the Muniments Collection is available to the general public through the Special Collections Reading Room. There are further details in the GENERAL INFORMATION page.

Various finding aids,including an incomplete draft guide to the Muniments,and a series of hard-copy indices allowing place- and personal-name access to certain of the major series, can be consulted in the Department.

The Muniments Collection was a partner in a major collaborative listing project involving many Scottish universities from 2000-2002. For further details of this project (GASHE), please see the PROJECTS PAGE or go directly to the GASHE website. This incorporates searchable handlists to some elements of the collections and has administrative histories for the various sections of the collection, as well as biographical information about significant individuals in the history of the University. It also provides an innovative, functional approach to archival description.

In addition, a small amount of the Muniments Collection is listed on the searchable Manuscripts Database. To access this, click on the following telnet access, then use mssc as username and password when requested. Link to mss database.

The existing hard-copy handlists to the Muniments Collection are being incorporated into a new CALM database which is in preparation. It is anticipated that, once this is complete, there will be additional more detailed listing work done on the collections. It must be noted that there are restrictions imposed by legislation such as data protection which can affect access to some areas of the Muniments Collection.

The Collections

Each named collection below leads to a short description, and from that description you can navigate either to the description of the previous collection in the list or to the next in the list (or back to this index).

The University (UYUY)
St Salvator's College (UYSS)
St Leonard's College (UYSL)
United College (UYUC)
St Mary's College (UYSM)
University College, Dundee and Queen's College, Dundee (UYDC)
The University Library (UYLY)

St Andrews 600th Anniversary

The University of St Andrews will be celebrating the 600th anniversary of its foundation between 1410 and 1414 within the next few years. There are various proposals of different ways to mark this event. The School of History is playing host to a major research initiative focused on the history of the Scottish universities in their local, national and international contexts.

More details are available on the History of the University Project page.

Publications

R.G. Cant, The University of St Andrews: a short history. [St Andrews] St Andrews University Library, 1992.

R.G. Cant, The College of St Salvator. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1950.

J. Herkless and R.K. Hannay, The College of St Leonard. Edinburgh, William Blackwood and sons, 1905.

A.I. Dunlop, Acta facultatis artium Universitatis Sanctandree, 1413-1588, edited by A.I Dunlop. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1964.

J.M. Anderson, Early records of the University of St Andrews: the graduation roll 1413-1579 and the matriculation roll 1473-1579, transcribed and edited by J.M. Anderson. Edinburgh, Scottish History Society, 1926.

J.M. Anderson, The matriculation roll of the University of St Andrews 1747-1897, edited by J.M. Anderson. Edinburgh, Blackwood, 1905.

R.N. Smart, 'Literate Ladies - a fifty year experiment', St Andrews University Alumnus Chronicle, 1968(no.59), pp21-31.

Votiva tabella: a memorial volume of St Andrews University in connection with its Quincenterary festival 1411-1911. [Glasgow,] Robert Maclehose and Co., 1911.

J.S.G. Blair, History of medicine in the University of St Andrews. Edinburgh, Scottish Academic Press, 1987.

W.C. Dickinson,Two students at St Andrews 1711-1716, edited from the Delvine Papers by W.C. Dickinson. Edinburgh, Oliver and Boyd, 1952.

Duncan Dewar, a student of St Andrews 100 years ago: his accounts. With a commentary by Sir Peter Redford Scott Lang. Glasgow, Jackson, Wylie and Co., 1926.

J.B. Salmond (ed): Veterum laudes: being a tribute to the achievements of the members of St Salvator's College during five hundred years 1450-1950, Edinburgh, 1950.

R.N. Smart, Biographical Register of the University of St Andrews, 1747-1897. St Andrews, 2004.

Modern Records

Records Management across the University is currently being addressed by an Information Management Group. There are principles and policies at the Records Mangement page.For more information on Records Management, contact Mark Robinson (email mr39, tel. 1780) or Alison Aiton (email aa4, tel.3528). To access semi-current material which has already been sent to Muniments, please contact Rachel Hart, Muniments Archivist. See How to contact us in the General Information page.

Further Information

For further information about any aspects of the Muniment Collection, please contact the Muniments Archivist, Mrs Rachel Hart. See How to contact us in the General Information page.