Joseph Burton's Commonplace Book, 1685
Scope and Contents
A bound commonplace book of the late 17th century containing reading notes, poems, extracts, and diary entries all written by hand. The book is identified in a note on the front pastedown as belonging to one Joseph Burton, the great-grandfather of noted American civil servant Joseph Nourse (1754-1841). The note appears to have been copied from Joseph Nourse’s library catalog at Highlands in Washington DC by an R. Nourse in 1850 – this is likely Rebecca Nourse (1793-1885), the wife of Joseph’s eldest son Charles Josephus Nourse (1786-1851). The book is tall and narrow in the style of a ledger or account book, and bound in brown leather over board, now deteriorating. The covers are both now detached from the rest of the volume and are tied on with string.
Dates
- 1685
Conditions Governing Access
Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.
Extent
From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Italian
From the Collection: Welsh
From the Collection: Danish
From the Collection: Swedish
From the Collection: Spanish
From the Collection: German
From the Collection: Norwegian
From the Collection: Persian
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: Russian
From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)
Creator
- From the Collection: Scheetz, Nicholas B., 1952-2016 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057
speccoll@georgetown.edu