Help support the transcription and translation of an important manuscript

The Richard III Society, American Branch, asks you to consider making a gift to support the work of a graduate student transcribing and translating portions of a manuscript genealogy of King Edward IV, now called Ms. Roll 1066, in the collections of the University of Pennsylvania Library. This roll is 37 feet in length and has two separate chronicles, one on each side. It is unique among manuscripts of this kind.

As many American Branch members already know, our contributions resulted in the restoration of another genealogy of Edward IV in another Philadelphia library, the magnificent Free Library of Philadelphia Ms Lewis E201. That manuscript was exhibited in 2001 and again in 2007, and has resulted in recognition of the Richard III Society by an international community of medieval scholars and art historians. It is almost unbelievable that two of the most significant genealogies of Edward IV should come to one American city, but the unbelievable has happened.

Our gifts can make it possible for this second manuscript to come to the attention of a worldwide community of scholars and shed new light on our understanding of the political climate of this important period. The Executive Board has already agreed to match individual contributions up to $2,500 from the portion of our Schallek Fund that was retained by the American Branch in order to help the University of Pennsylvania Library carry out this wonderful project. The librarians tell us that our gift will serve as "seed money" to encourage other donors and foundations to continue the work that we have made it possible for them to begin.

The University of Pennsylvania Library is investing considerable funds in this project to make it possible to "scroll through" this magnificent manuscript online. It is also in discussions with the Free Library of Philadelphia to apply the same technology to their manuscript. This will allow all of us to have an experience of these two manuscripts very much like the one their original owners and readers had.

Our part of this project would provide funding for another important aspect. Like its sister roll, Ms. Roll 1066 is written in Latin and is very difficult to read. As Professor Emily Steiner writes in the attached project report, "Scholars tend to be interested in these kinds of mid-15th century rolls for their propagandistic aims, the ways in which they bolster a contender's claim to the throne or a noble family's claim to ancient lineage. During the war of the Roses -- which was as much a propaganda war between the York and Lancastrian factions as it was a series of bloody battles -- it was nearly impossible for a historian to maintain a fiction of neutrality." Our funding would provide for a medievalist graduate student to transcribe and translate critical portions of the roll and to create a searchable index of names and events in the roll.

Although times are difficult for us all, we are hoping that Ricardians will recognize the importance of this project and make a gift to support a graduate student in work that will deepen and enrich our understanding of the swirling political currents around Richard and his family. You can send your tax-deductible contribution via PayPal -- send payment to payments@r3.org and note in the comments section that this is for the Edward IV Roll Matching Gift Program.

[Download more information on this manuscript in Adobe Acrobat format.]