Booth Family Center Collection of Middle East Manuscripts
Scope and Contents
This collection contains manuscripts written in Persian and Turkish (in Arabic script) as well as a number of Arabic dialects. It is an artificial collection compiled by past archivists of previously donated or purchased Arabic script materials. The texts vary widely in subject matter and include Korans and other religious works; books of history and poetry; and a Kama Sutra. The provenance and dates of acquisition vary from item to item and are noted, when known, at the box level. Note that the contents of Box 1 were originally identified in 1985, with Boxes 2 and 3 described in 2024.
Dates
- Creation: 1544-1800s
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.
Conditions Governing Use
Researchers are solely responsible for determining the copyright status of the materials being used, establishing who the copyright owner is, locating the copyright owner, and obtaining permission for intended use.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet (3 boxes and 6 oversize folders)
Language of Materials
Arabic
Persian
Turkish, Ottoman (1500-1928)
Metadata Rights Declarations
Processing Information
Mohamed Ali, Dr. Irfan Shahid, Dr. Mouldi Hadiji, and Ryan Zohar helped identify the materials in this collection.
The collection's title was changed from "Arabic Script Manuscripts Collection" to "Booth Family Center Collection of Middle East Manuscripts" in July 2024 to better reflect its contents.
Shāfi’ī Legal Manual added to the collection in July 2024. This item has previously been a part of Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection 2020 (GTM-200402).
Miscellaneous documents in Arabic script (accession no. GTM-0069), previously included in the Nicholas Cleary Collection (GTM-0020), were added to this collection in October 2024 and placed in Shared Boxes 20 & 22.
- Title
- Booth Family Center Collection of Middle East Manuscripts
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- James Helminski
- Date
- 1985
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2023: Edited for DACS compliance by John Zarrillo.
- 2024: Preliminary inventories added for Boxes 2 and 3 by Aleksandra Kinlen and Ryan Zohar.
- 2024-07: Collection title edited by John Zarrillo.
- 2024-07: Shāfi’ī Legal Manual added to the collection by John Zarrillo.
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