anuscripts, whether medieval or renaissance, the ordinary as well as the grand, are basic to our understanding of history, literature, and art. They are primary sources dually for the texts they contain and as archaeological artifacts. This small exhibition illustrates how manuscripts can be the subject of interesting and significant research for both students and faculty, and how they are, after all, a reflection of human history. Once considered treasures appropriate only for national libraries or for the great private collections of the very rich, medieval and renaissance manuscripts have since World War II been recognized by university libraries for their research value. This exhibition points out that it is still possible to form collections of medieval and renaissance manuscripts useful for teaching and research. Great libraries are formed by the collaboration of private and public resources, and by the cooperation of curators and faculty. We are happy to have been part of such a collaboration during our years at UCLA, and we trust that we shall continue to be so.

The two of us have spent our lives studying the history of medieval manuscripts, their production, their use, and the history of the medieval and renaissance libraries through which they passed. In the process, we have been welcomed into the cheerful fellowship of those who frequent manuscript rooms across Europe and America, readers and curators alike. We are fortunate to have had the pleasure of building a collection of manuscripts ourselves and, in the process, of rescuing some of these manuscripts from destruction. It is a pleasure to give the collection to the Young Research Library, knowing that it will survive and serve students and faculty alike in future years.

We gladly thank Octavio Olvera, Lucinda Newsome, and Laila Rashid for their welcome assistance in preparing this exhibition, and Victoria Steele for having made it possible.

Richard and Mary Rouse
7 September 2003