Manuscript and Miscellanies

Manuscript miscellanies are handwritten collections that juxtapose multiple works, often from different authors, genres, and sources. Miscellanies vary widely in size, scope, and material presentation, ranging from small stitched pamphlets to lavish, professionally bound volumes. Some manuscript miscellanies evince careful planning, while others were assembled on a catch-as-catch-can basis. They could be created by one person working alone, shared by a group, or added to by many people over several decades. Although manuscript miscellanies have traditionally been associated with elite (and predominantly male) contexts, women from all social classes interacted with them as readers, compilers, and authors. Manuscript miscellanies are, therefore, important records of early modern womens participation in literate culture. They preserve evidence of womens reading and writing as well as the diverse roles women played in preserving and transmitting texts.