Museum Visitors’ Book, 1702-3

Ralph Thoresby's fascination with history and archaeology led him to create his own museum in his home in Leeds. A catalogue of his collection, which included many donations acquired through his correspondence network with important antiquarians, naturalists and scientists, was published in his 1715 history of Leeds, Ducatus Leodiensis. Not only was he a great letter-writer, he also found time to write a diary covering 1677-1724 (YAS/MS1-26). Pictured is the visitors' book for his museum (YAS/MS27)

Knaresborough Workhouse daybook

This fascinating record of daily life was written by the Master of Knaresborough workhouse between 1788 and 1791. It is a unique social document and an important record for the study of Yorkshire dialect. (YAS/MS439)

A Spy's Passport?

A licence to leave the country, and to stay abroad for 3 years, was issued to William Middelton of Stockeld by Queen Elizabeth I in 1579. Middelton was subsequently arrested in Naples and was accused of working for Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth's Secretary of State and notorious spy-master. Whether the accusations of spying were true no one knows. (YAS/MD59)

Knaresborough Map

This beautiful early map of Knaresborough was made by local map-maker Solomon Swale in 1629. It is part of the Slingsby family of Scriven papers which are a rich source for the history of the Knaresborough area. (YAS/DD56/K)

Portrait of Queen Elizabth

Royal deeds often contain portraits of the monarch, but few are as impressive as this depiction of Elizabeth I. It features on a deed of 1574 granting lands near Thirsk to George Lamplugh as a reward for his loyalty during the Rising in the North in 1569-70. Interestingly, 'Carlton Miniott' is here written as 'Carleton Nunyate' suggesting the (presumably southern) scribe was unfamiliar with the place name. (YAS/DD56/Add (1952)/4)

Map of Silsden, Brunthwaite and Gill Grange

Not just a beautifully drawn and coloured map, but unusual in that the map-maker has retained the original shape of the parchment (i.e. the shape of a sheep-fleece). The map appears to have been made for one of the Earls of Cumberland in relation to a dispute over mining rights around 1614 because one of the mines is labelled 'the cole pitt in question'. (YAS/DD174) Further papers relating to the Skipton Castle estates can be found in YAS/DD121 & DD214.

Diary of a Yorkshire doctor

Dr John Deakin Heaton (1817-1880) was an eminent physician and public-spirited townsman in Leeds. His diaries dating from the 1850s to 1880 are an important source for the local history of Leeds as well as the Victorian family and role of doctors in society. (YAS/MD477)

Costume of Yorkshire

The Society is lucky enough to possess the original watercolours made by George Walker in the early 19th century and published as the Costume of Yorkshire in 1814. Many of Walker's depictions of Yorkshire life such as 'The Collier' and 'Woman spinning' have become iconic images of the county, but many are less well-known, such as this painting depicting Filey fishermen. (YAS/MS1000)

Grant of land to Fountains Abbey

The Society's collections are rich in deeds, many of them dating back to the medieval period. This 13th-century deed is just one item relating to Fountains Abbey within the YAHS collections. (It also contains a 15th-century register of livestock (MD335/4/2 and a lease book YAS/MS284). An amusing human story lies behind this deed, for on its reverse the scribe has noted that he had forgotten to copy it into the abbey's cartulary 'hec non scribitur in registro propter oblivionem'. (YAS/MD335/4/1/3)

Uprore at Hull

This striking pamphlet, published in 1641, describes the murder of Captain Edward Walbrucke by his own men. It is just one example from the impressive collection of English civil war pamphlets donated to the YAHS by Sir Thomas Brooke. (YAS 0476)

Waterloo

One would not expect to find a copy of the French surrender after the battle of Waterloo in a Yorkshire collection! However, this document of national importance found its way into the Duke of Leeds collection via the widow of Colonel Felton Bathurst Hervey (the man who negotiated the surrender on behalf of the Duke of Wellington). The signature of Le Prince d’Eckmuhl, Napoleon’s Minister of War, is in the top right hand corner. (YAS/DD5/35/6)

Manor of Wakefield court records

The Wakefield Court Rolls (written on rolls of parchment) are an important record of the lives of ordinary people who lived within the manor from the 13th to the early 20th centuries and the sequence is almost complete. The first line of each Court record often begins with a decorated and usually amusing initial letter. The manor itself was enormous, covering not just Wakefield itself but much of modern day Kirklees and Calderdale. Their national significance has been recognised by their inclusion on the UNESCO UK Memory of the World Register. (YAS/MD225)

Antiquarian notices of Lupset, the Heath, Sharlston, and Ackton

This special copy of Joseph Hunter's 1851 history of Lupset was illustrated by G D Tomlinson of Huddersfield in 1877. (YAS 0954)

Britain, or, A chorographicall description of the most flourishing kingdoms

The Society owns a first edition of Holland's translation of William Camden's description of the antiquities of Britain (1610). 'Camden's Britania' was first published in Latin in 1586 and laid the foundation for all subsequent study of British history and pre-history. This copy bears the inscription 'John Waterhouse his booke purchased at York February 1646' and was part of the founding-bequest of the Society's library by Miss Mary Turner of Hopton. (YAS 1996)

History of the famous and magnificent great eastern window in St Peter's Cathedral, York

Perhaps the most fully illustrated and ambitious book produced by York publisher Thomas Gent – it contains an impressive fold-out depicting the great East window in York Minster. This particular copy of the 1762 edition is unusual as it has a soft marbled-paper binding and has adverts for some of Gent's other works pasted in. (YAS 0327)

Early Man in North-East Yorkshire

This copy of Yorkshire archaeologist and geologist Frank Elgee's 1930 work belonged to the famous Leeds engineering family, the Kitson Clarks. The volume was given to Edwin by his daughter, Mary (the future archaeologist, 1905-2005) as a Christmas present. (YAS 0084). Family papers of the Kitson Clarks can be found at YAS/MD446, MD461, MS1267 & MS1882.

Peterloo

An account of the Peterloo massacre, which occurred at St Peter's Field, Manchester on 16 August, 1819, was published in instalments by the Manchester Observer. This, the third edition published in 1819, contains 'an accurate alphabetical list of the names and places of residence of those who were killed, wounded and maimed, by the sabre or otherwise, with an account of the nature of the injuries sustained.' (YAS 0454)

The Praise of Yorkshire Ale

This amusing 17th-century publication contains illustrations of dialect in different areas of Yorkshire as well as examples of Yorkshire words and sayings. (YAS 0277)

Yorkshire poet Andrew Marvell's political poem.

An unusual, possibly unique, broadsheet printing of Yorkshire poet Andrew Marvell's political poem. Originally written in 1653, the poem remained unpublished until 1665, when a revised version appeared in support of war with the Dutch. This version omitted original lines which referred to the English republic, and added a new 8 line conclusion, praising the Duke of York, King Charles II's brother. (YAS/MS1344)

Margaret Savile's recipe book

A volume containing 17th-century medicinal and culinary recipes belonging to Margaret Savile. After Margaret's death, aged 15, of smallpox, it was completed by J Brooke, curate of Methley, by order of Lady Savile. (YAS/DD148/108)