John Rylands Library
The
John Rylands Library (inaugurated October
1899) is a collection of historic
books and
manuscripts in
Manchester,
England. In
1972, it merged with the library of the
Victoria University of Manchester to form the
John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Notably, the John Rylands Library holds the oldest extant
New Testament document,
Rylands Library Papyrus P52, the so-called
St John's Fragment.
The library was founded by Mrs
Enriqueta Augustina Rylands in memory of her late husband,
John Rylands. In
1890, having purchased a site on Deansgate at the heart of
Manchester city centre, she commissioned a design from
architect Sir
Basil Champneys. Mrs Rylands had originally intended the library as a principally
theological collection and the building, a very fine example of
Victorian Gothic, has much of the appearance of a
church. The core of the library was formed around the collection of 40,000 rare books assembled by
George John Spencer, which Mrs Rylands purchased in
1892. The library was finally opened to readers on
January 1,
1900.In 1972, it merged with the library of the Victoria University of Manchester to form the John Rylands University Library of Manchester. Today it forms part of The John Rylands University Library, The University of Manchester.
The library became a Grade I
listed building on
January 25,
1952. [
1]
*
Edward Gordon Duff, (
1899-
1900), joint Librarian with
Henry Guppy until 1900
*
Henry Guppy, (
1899-
1948)
*
The University of Manchester*
The John Rylands University Library*
The John Rylands University Library - Special Collections Division*
Plan of the library
