Papers of Cyril Ernest Wright on heraldry
Reference code
WRI
Title
Papers of Cyril Ernest Wright on heraldry
Date
1922-80
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and format
Five boxes and a portfolio.
Scope and content
Notebooks, papers, correspondence and photographs of Dr Cyril Ernest Wright, FSA, relating to heraldic manuscripts, together with his drawings, w/cols and etchings of landscape and architecture; 1922-80. A.J., 61 (1981), 456 (obituary).
Dr Cyril Ernest Wright (1907-1980), FSA 1941 was a member of the staff of the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum, now British Library from 1931 ending his career as the senior Deputy Keeper (1961-72). A talented artist he had a great interest in heraldry, serving on the Society’s Croft Lyons Committee 1957-80, and writing a book ‘English heraldic manuscripts in the British Museum’, 1973, which remains an invaluable introduction to the subject. The correspondence with Hugh Stanford London, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary and (Sir) Anthony R Wagner as Richmond Herald and Garter include many discussions about the rolls and other topics of mutual interest. During his later years at the British Museum the acquisition of the long-lost English Version of the Rous Roll led to an extensive programme of research on the Latin text at the College of Arms and early transcripts by Dugdale and other seventeenth century armorists which has enabled a more perfect collation of the rolls for the Aspilogia series than would otherwise have been possible. There is also an important collection of examples of sixteenth century antiquaries' handwriting with a selection of heraldic details from MSS and bindings in the B.L. and some examples of facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon. The topographical drawings, with some exceptions, were listed by his widow who was able to identify most of those lacking dates and places from Dr Wright's private diaries.
Dr Cyril Ernest Wright (1907-1980), FSA 1941 was a member of the staff of the Department of Manuscripts in the British Museum, now British Library from 1931 ending his career as the senior Deputy Keeper (1961-72). A talented artist he had a great interest in heraldry, serving on the Society’s Croft Lyons Committee 1957-80, and writing a book ‘English heraldic manuscripts in the British Museum’, 1973, which remains an invaluable introduction to the subject. The correspondence with Hugh Stanford London, Norfolk Herald Extraordinary and (Sir) Anthony R Wagner as Richmond Herald and Garter include many discussions about the rolls and other topics of mutual interest. During his later years at the British Museum the acquisition of the long-lost English Version of the Rous Roll led to an extensive programme of research on the Latin text at the College of Arms and early transcripts by Dugdale and other seventeenth century armorists which has enabled a more perfect collation of the rolls for the Aspilogia series than would otherwise have been possible. There is also an important collection of examples of sixteenth century antiquaries' handwriting with a selection of heraldic details from MSS and bindings in the B.L. and some examples of facsimiles of Anglo-Saxon. The topographical drawings, with some exceptions, were listed by his widow who was able to identify most of those lacking dates and places from Dr Wright's private diaries.
Creator
Wright, Cyril Ernest (1907-1980), palaeographer and bibliographer
Previous reference number(s)
SAL/MS/1010
Archival history
Received from his widow in accordance with his wishes, in April 2000.
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