Skip to main content

Locke Manuscripts

 Collection

  • How to
    request

Papers of John Locke, including:

  1. Journals, letters, and accounts
  2. Papers relating to books and Locke's library
  3. Papers relating to theology, religion and philosophy
  4. Papers relating to money and coinage
  5. Medical notebooks and papers
  6. Papers relating to trade and the colonies
  7. Collections of verse
  8. Papers of Peter King, 1st Baron King (1669-1734)

Dates

  • Creation: 17th-18th cent.

Extent

10 Linear metres (134 boxes)

Language of Materials

  • English
  • Latin

Preferred Citation

Oxford, Bodleian Libraries [followed by shelfmark and folio or page reference, e.g. MSS. Locke b. 1, fols. 1-2].

Please see our help page for further guidance on citing archives and manuscripts.

Full range of shelfmarks:

MSS. Locke b. 1-8, c. 1-47, d. 1-13, e. 1-17, f. 1-49

Collection ID (for staff)

CMD ID 8218

Abstract

Papers and correspondence of John Locke (1632-1704).

Biographical / Historical

John Locke (1632-1704) was a philosopher. Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Other Finding Aids

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. II, nos. 48033-166.

The manuscripts bought from Lord Lovelace are described in Philip Long, A summary catalogue of the Lovelace collection of the papers of John Locke in the Bodleian Library (Oxford, 1959). The manuscripts given by Paul Mellon, and three other manuscripts, are described by Philip Long, 'The Mellon donation...', Bodleian Library Record, 7 (1962-7), 185-93. Additions and corrections to some of the descriptions are given in Bodleian Library Record, 9 (1973-8), 81-2.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The major part of the papers and correspondence of John Locke was bought from Peter King, 4th Earl of Lovelace, in 1947, with help from the Pilgrim Trust and the Delegates of the Clarendon Press. Further manuscripts were given to the Library by Paul Mellon, 1960-71. Additional items have been acquired, 1961-70.

Title
Locke Manuscripts
Status
Published
Author
Collection Level Description by Emily Tarrant; EAD version 2019 by Pauline Soum-Paris
Date
EAD version 2019
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository

Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom