MS 521
Reference code
MS 521
Title
Collection of papers related to M R James
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
James, Montague Rhodes (1862-1936)
Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) was an English medievalist scholar and author. He was the youngest of four children born to the Reverend Herbert James (1822–1909) and Mary Emily Horton (1818–1898).
Educated at Temple Grove School in East Sheen, Eton College (where he was a King's Scholar), and King’s College, Cambridge, James developed a lifelong fascination with medieval manuscripts—first kindled in College Library at Eton and deepened during his years at Cambridge. After graduating in 1886, he was elected to a fellowship at King’s College and was soon after appointed Dean, a position he held for over 20 years. He also served as Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum (1893–1908), Provost of King’s College (1905–1918), and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1913–1915).
At Cambridge, James became a distinguished scholar in three principal areas: biblical apocrypha, the archaeology of the Christian Church and the study of English medieval manuscripts. He was a meticulous and prolific cataloguer, producing detailed descriptive catalogues of more than 6,000 manuscripts held in the college libraries of Cambridge and later in other public and private collections. These catalogues not only set a new standard for cataloguing manuscripts but also provided a complete history survey by illustration of the medieval manuscript in England. His catalogues are noted for their thoroughness of description of illustration and for their quality, enduringness and influence.
A side interest that brought him wider public recognition was his writing of ghost stories, originally composed for the entertainment of his friends. These tales were later published to critical acclaim and have since influenced many prominent writers of supernatural fiction.
In the final chapter of his career, M R James returned to Eton as Provost (1918–1936) — the place he described as being closest to his heart — where he also made a lasting impact. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Order of Merit in 1930. He died in 1936 at the age of 73.
Montague Rhodes James (1862–1936) was an English medievalist scholar and author. He was the youngest of four children born to the Reverend Herbert James (1822–1909) and Mary Emily Horton (1818–1898).
Educated at Temple Grove School in East Sheen, Eton College (where he was a King's Scholar), and King’s College, Cambridge, James developed a lifelong fascination with medieval manuscripts—first kindled in College Library at Eton and deepened during his years at Cambridge. After graduating in 1886, he was elected to a fellowship at King’s College and was soon after appointed Dean, a position he held for over 20 years. He also served as Director of the Fitzwilliam Museum (1893–1908), Provost of King’s College (1905–1918), and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (1913–1915).
At Cambridge, James became a distinguished scholar in three principal areas: biblical apocrypha, the archaeology of the Christian Church and the study of English medieval manuscripts. He was a meticulous and prolific cataloguer, producing detailed descriptive catalogues of more than 6,000 manuscripts held in the college libraries of Cambridge and later in other public and private collections. These catalogues not only set a new standard for cataloguing manuscripts but also provided a complete history survey by illustration of the medieval manuscript in England. His catalogues are noted for their thoroughness of description of illustration and for their quality, enduringness and influence.
A side interest that brought him wider public recognition was his writing of ghost stories, originally composed for the entertainment of his friends. These tales were later published to critical acclaim and have since influenced many prominent writers of supernatural fiction.
In the final chapter of his career, M R James returned to Eton as Provost (1918–1936) — the place he described as being closest to his heart — where he also made a lasting impact. In recognition of his achievements, he was awarded the Order of Merit in 1930. He died in 1936 at the age of 73.
Date
1828 - 1997
Extent & medium
2 boxes
Content description
Material collected by Eton College Librarians on M R James, former Provost of Eton College, comprising writings of M R James, inserts removed from his publications in Eton College Library; papers relating to friends, colleagues and acquaintances of M R James, his lectures and speeches and family papers. The papers provide interesting additional material relating to M R James's catalogues, particularly in comments and assistance received from his wide circle of friends and fellow scholars
Provenance
A collection of material assembled partly by M R James as Provost and partly by Librarians at Eton College during the 1970s to1990s. The details of the archival history and provenance of some of the items in the collection is not known.
Arrangement
An artificial order has been imposed by the archivist.
The archive has been arranged into the following series:
01 Writings of M R James
02 Correspondence and papers inserted into, associated with or relating to publications of M R James
03 Papers relating to friends, colleagues and acquaintances of M R James
04 Speeches and lectures of M R James
05 Family papers of M R James
The archive has been arranged into the following series:
01 Writings of M R James
02 Correspondence and papers inserted into, associated with or relating to publications of M R James
03 Papers relating to friends, colleagues and acquaintances of M R James
04 Speeches and lectures of M R James
05 Family papers of M R James
Associated material
ECL MS 932: A catalogue of the manuscripts in Eton College Library (1895-2105), interleaved and annotated by M R James and Eton College Librarians
Manuscript drafts of the following Ghost Stories by M R James, acquired separately, are catalogued in Eton College Library catalogue:
MS 365 The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
MS 366 Mr Humphrey and his inheritance
MS 367 The uncommon prayerbook
MS 368 Martin's Close
MS 369 The Mezzotint
MS 438 Shane Leslie archive includes papers relating to M R James
Manuscript drafts of the following Ghost Stories by M R James, acquired separately, are catalogued in Eton College Library catalogue:
MS 365 The Treasure of Abbot Thomas
MS 366 Mr Humphrey and his inheritance
MS 367 The uncommon prayerbook
MS 368 Martin's Close
MS 369 The Mezzotint
MS 438 Shane Leslie archive includes papers relating to M R James
Publication note
See publications of M R James catalogued separately in Eton College Library
Location of this record in the archive hierarchy
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Number 33 of 107 at this Level
Beneath this record in the archive hierarchy
- Writings of M R James, MS 521 01, (1913 - 1935)
- Correspondence and papers inserted into and associated with or relating to publications of M R James, MS 521 02, (1895 - 1970)
- Papers relating to friends, colleagues and acquaintances of M R James, MS 521 03, (1895 - 1970)
- Speeches and lectures of M R James, MS 521 04, (1922 - 1934)
- Family papers of M R James, MS 521 05, (1835 - 1841)