Alex Noel-Tod papers

Finding Aid

Prepared by Edith Serkownek, June, 2007; Last Updated: September 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1976-1987
Extent: 1.5 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Biographical Note: Alex Noel-Tod worked as a subject-specialist librarian for the University of East Anglia, UK. His publications include The Bodleian Library in the eighteenth century with reference to Oxford College libraries and the Radcliffe Library and A select, annotated bibliography for the history of antiquarian and secondhand bookselling in twentieth century England. He was also a contributing author to Academic libraries in Greece: The present situation and future prospects.

Scope and Content: This collection documents the bibliographic research interests of Alex Noel-Tod. It includes Noel-Tod's background research, correspondence and notes regarding his publication, The Bodleian Library in the eighteenth century with reference to Oxford College libraries and the Radcliffe Library. This research and correspondence dates from the late-1970s to 1981. The collection also includes a series of notebooks illustrating "Examples of Bookbindings" arranged chronologically from 820-1948 and "Books- Title pages, typography, illustrations, etc" arranged chronologically from 1450-1948. It is not known when these notebooks were compiled. This collection also includes a notebook containing the published working papers of the West Midlands Book Trade Project, an effort by the Birmingham Bibliographical Society to "produce a directory or dictionary of printers, stationers, booksellers, bookbinders, papermakers and allied trades carried on the West Midlands up to 1850." These working papers were published between 1976-1987. 

Books from this collections have been catalogued in KentLINK.

Aquisition Information: Kent State University Special Collections and Archives acquired Noel-Tod's collection of books on the history of bookbinding and related topics in 1997.

Statement of Arrangement: The papers have been arranged into the following series: 

• Series 1: Bodleian Library Research
• Series 2: Bookbinding and Construction Research
• Series 3: West Midland Book Trade Project  papers

Series 1: Bodleian Library Research
Scope and Content: Alex Noel-Tod's background research, correspondence and notes for his publication, The Bodleian Library in the eighteenth century: with reference to Oxford College libraries and the Radcliffe Library [Aberystwyth]: College of Librarianship, Wales, 1980.

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 1 of 6: late-1970s
2. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 2 of 6: late-1970s
3. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 3 of 6: late-1970s
4. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 4 of 6: late-1970s
5. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 5 of 6: late-1970s
6. Background research including pamphlets, postcards, photocopied pages from research publications, and Noel-Tod notes and notebook: Folder 6 of 6: late-1970s
7. Correspondence: 1977-1981
8. The Bodleian Library in the eighteenth century with reference to Oxford College libraries and the Radcliffe Library, an essay with accompanying correspondence informing Noel-Tod he had received the Thacker Scholarship from the West Midland Branch of the Library Association: Spiral bound notebook: June, 1977 and August, 1977
9. Review of The Bodleian Library in the eighteenth century in Library History: Journal of the Library History Group of the Library Association, volume 5, number 5 (photocopy): Summer, 1981

Series 2: Bookbinding and Construction Research
Scope and Content: Box 2 includes the contents of two notebooks labeled "Examples of Bookbindings, Illustrations from sale catalogues. Arranged chronologically + section on curiosities (at end)." Catalog images and notes are pasted on each page with Noel-Tod notes added. Box 3 includes the contents of three notebooks, labeled "Books- Title pages, typography, illustrations, etc." Material organized chronologically. Catalog images and notes are pasted on each page with Noel-Tod notes added. The notebooks are undated. 

Box 2
Folder -- Contents

1. Examples of bookbindings: circa 820-1499
2. Examples of bookbindings: 1500-1549
3. Examples of bookbindings: 1550-1599
4. Examples of bookbindings: 1600-1649
5. Examples of bookbindings: 1650-1699
6. Examples of bookbindings: 1700-1749
7. Examples of bookbindings: 1750-1774
8. Examples of bookbindings: 1775-1799
9. Examples of bookbindings: 1800-1899
10. Examples of bookbindings: 1900-1948
11. Examples of bookbindings: "Curiosities: Fore-edge paintings, miniature books, etc."

Box 3
Folder -- Contents

1. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1450-1474
2. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1475-1499
3. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1500-1524
4. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1525-1549
5. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1550-1599
6. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1600-1649
7. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1650-1699
8. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1700-1799
9. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1800-1899
10. Books, title-pages, illustrations, etc: 1900-1948

Series 3: West Midland Book Trade Project Papers
Historical Note: The West Midlands Book Trade Project was an effort by the Birmingham Bibliographical Society to "produce a directory or dictionary of printers, stationers, booksellers, bookbinders, papermakers and allied trades carried on the West Midlands up to 1850."

Box 4
Folder--Contents

1. West Midlands Book Trade Project, Birmingham Bibliographical Society: Introduction and Working Papers #1-7: Notebook: Miscellaneous publication dates 1976-1987