US Friends of Gladstone’s Library
Project Title
For support for digitization of Gladstone's correspondence
Date
Dec. 07, 2017
Duration
68 months
Description
William Ewart Gladstone, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1868 to 1894, endowed a library to ensure that his personal collection would be accessible to the public in perpetuity. While the Gladstone Library has grown to include more than 150,000 books, journals, and pamphlets since its founding in 1894, the heart of the collection is Gladstone’s 15,000 letters and 5,390 annotated books. These documents provide insight into the thinking of one of England’s most renowned statesmen, a man Andrew Carnegie once called “the world’s greatest citizen.” As Gladstone is known for his progressive thinking on human rights, democracy, and religious tolerance, his correspondence and annotations are of great value to anyone studying nineteenth-century social and political history. However, these materials are only available by special appointment to patrons who are able to visit the library in person. To prevent deterioration, Gladstone’s correspondence is stored in archive boxes in a fireproof and climate-controlled strong room. The restrictions placed on the materials significantly limits their use. With Corporation support, these books and letters will be digitally preserved and made accessible online to a global audience.