Scope and Contents
The William Bowyer Papers consist of correspondence and other papers related to William Bowyer (1699-1777), a prominent London printer during the eighteenth century. The papers, which span the years 1674-1874, are housed in 2 boxes (including 1 oversize box), and have been organized into two series: Correspondence, and Other Papers.
Series I, Correspondence , is arranged alphabetically by correspondent in folders 1-32, and 39-42 (oversize). The correspondence consists of incoming letters to William Bowyer, as well as two items written by Bowyer, and a few letters addressed to his partner John Nichols. Letters written prior to 1737 may have been addressed to the elder William Bowyer (1763-1737).
The bulk of the correspondence is from William Clarke, his son Edward Clarke, and Jeremiah Markland. All three were scholars and their letters concern printing, various scholarly subjects, languages, including Greek and Hebrew, and family matters. Edward Clarke's correspondence includes three letters to John Nichols after Bowyers's death in 1777.
Additional correspondents include Edward Clarke's son James Stanier Clarke; Jeremiah Markland's sister Catherine Markland; William Strode, a friend and student of Jeremiah Markland; Welsh scholar Moses Williams; and scholar William Wotten, William Clarke's father-in-law. The correspondence also includes two letters written in Latin to unidentified recipients. Signed "Ambrosius Bonvicus," the letters were probably written by Ambrose Bonwicke (1652-1722) as a student at St. John's College, Oxford.
Series II, Other Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 33-38. Other papers consist of a manuscript address for a Mr. Stawell to give to the Duchess of York, an engraving of William Bowyer, an 1874 collection inventory by James Crossley, proof sheets of an unidentified history of Bowyer's printing business, a manuscript list of letters "written before Mr. B's father died," and the binding from which these papers were disbound.
Series I, Correspondence , is arranged alphabetically by correspondent in folders 1-32, and 39-42 (oversize). The correspondence consists of incoming letters to William Bowyer, as well as two items written by Bowyer, and a few letters addressed to his partner John Nichols. Letters written prior to 1737 may have been addressed to the elder William Bowyer (1763-1737).
The bulk of the correspondence is from William Clarke, his son Edward Clarke, and Jeremiah Markland. All three were scholars and their letters concern printing, various scholarly subjects, languages, including Greek and Hebrew, and family matters. Edward Clarke's correspondence includes three letters to John Nichols after Bowyers's death in 1777.
Additional correspondents include Edward Clarke's son James Stanier Clarke; Jeremiah Markland's sister Catherine Markland; William Strode, a friend and student of Jeremiah Markland; Welsh scholar Moses Williams; and scholar William Wotten, William Clarke's father-in-law. The correspondence also includes two letters written in Latin to unidentified recipients. Signed "Ambrosius Bonvicus," the letters were probably written by Ambrose Bonwicke (1652-1722) as a student at St. John's College, Oxford.
Series II, Other Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 33-38. Other papers consist of a manuscript address for a Mr. Stawell to give to the Duchess of York, an engraving of William Bowyer, an 1874 collection inventory by James Crossley, proof sheets of an unidentified history of Bowyer's printing business, a manuscript list of letters "written before Mr. B's father died," and the binding from which these papers were disbound.
Dates
- 1674 - 1874
Creator
Language of Materials
Materials in English and Latin.
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The William Bowyer Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Transferred from Manuscripts and Archives, October 1980.
Extent
1.33 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Correspondence and other papers relating to William Bowyer's (1699-1777) work as a printer in London. The bulk of the correspondence consists of incoming letters to Bowyer from the scholars Edward Clarke, William Clarke, and Jeremiah Markland, concerning printing, scholarly subjects, languanges including Greek and Hebrew, and family matters. Other correspondents include James Stanier Clarke, Catherine Markland, William Strode, Moses Williams, and William Wotten. Also includes two items written by Bowyer and a few letters addressed to Bowyer's apprentice and partner John Nichols. Letters prior to 1737 may have been addressed to the elder William Bowyer. Two letters in latin, signed "Ambrosius Bonvicus," were probably written by Ambrose Bonwicke as a student at St. John's College, Oxford.
Other Papers include a manuscript address for a Mr. Stawell to give to the Duchess of York, an engraving of William Bowyer, an 1874 collection inventory by James Crossley, and proof sheets of an unidentified history of Bowyer's printing business.
Other Papers include a manuscript address for a Mr. Stawell to give to the Duchess of York, an engraving of William Bowyer, an 1874 collection inventory by James Crossley, and proof sheets of an unidentified history of Bowyer's printing business.
WILLIAM BOWYER, 1699-1777
William Bowyer (1699-1777) was the son of printer William Bowyer (1663-1737). He was placed by his father as a sizar at St. John's College, Cambridge, in 1716. Without finishing his degree, Bowyer began working for his father in 1722. Bowyer often printed scholarly and literary works. In 1729 he was appointed to print votes of the House of Commons, and in 1761 was appointed printer for the Royal Society. He also wrote and published some of his own works. A notable apprentice of Bowyers's was John Nichols, whom Bowyer later made a full partner.
- Bonwicke, Ambrose, 1652-1722
- Bowyer, William, 1663-1737
- Bowyer, William, 1699-1777
- Clarke, Edward, 1730-1786
- Clarke, James Stanier, 1765?-1834
- Clarke, William, 1696-1771
- Markland, Catherine
- Markland, Jeremiah, 1693-1776
- Nichols, John, 1745-1826
- Philology
- Printers -- England -- London
- Printers -- Great Britain
- Printing -- Great Britain -- 17th-18th centuries
- Strode, William, 1600 or 1601-1645
- Williams, Moses, 1685-1742
- Wotton, William, 1666-1727
- Title
- Guide to the William Bowyer Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- by Michael Rush
- Date
- June 2005
- Description rules
- Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.