Re: VMs: Kelley letters/mss etc...?

[Adam McLean <alchemy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Nick,

The problem with libraries and collections of manuscripts,
is that often some scholar draws up a catalogue or list, and numbers
these sequentially not using the library shelf numbers. Often you
have to contact the librarian to get the catalogue number translated
into an access number. Another thing one must realise is that there
are very few catalogues of manuscripts online. Libraries just don't 
have funds to pay for the research necessary to describe each manuscript.
It can take over a day to draw up even a skeleton description of 
a manuscript which might have many components. At the present
rate it will be centuries before most manuscripts will be described on
the internet.


>>[Dresden MS. N. 36 is] the catalogue numbers from the old pre-war
>>printed catalogue
>Doesn't appear to be in their mss database (though I could be wrong): it may have moved libraries since the war?

There is a complex history to the Dresden manuscripts. They were 
moved long before the Dresden raid and so escaped conflagration.
I seem to remember they were in a state of limbo somehow for 
many years.  I believe they are now back in Dresden. I have a 
photocopy of the early 20th century printed catalogue from which 
I drew the description.


>>>Österreichische Nationalbibliothek
>>>                MS. 11526 [Rec. 327.] [18th Century.]
>>>                MS. 11323c [Rec 1786. 9.]
>
>Again, I didn't have any luck with these: they too might have been rearranged post-war?

These are the sequential numbering in the modern period manuscripts
printed catalogue which is in a number of volumes. These have 
summarised descriptions.
The librarian at the Austrian National Library can translate this into
the actual call number. However, I don't think it will of much use to you
as I don't believe these items have been described and made available 
through an internet database. That is why I originally went through these catalogues finding alchemy related manuscripts. One can't really do serious
research into books and manuscript sources using internet only resources in 
obscure subjects like alchemy. I estimate only a few percent (at best) of all 
alchemy related material is available on the internet. We still need to visit 
libraries or buy microfilms of these items! I don't think you will find much 
about these manuscripts through the internet.


With best wishes,

Adam McLean

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