English Historical Library of Wallace Notestein

Wallace Notestein (Class of 1900) was an internationally known scholar of British literature and social history. The collection reflects his many interests, with more than 1,200 imprints from the 17th century.

Many of the materials in the collection served as primary source material for Notestein's own research. Two of the more outstanding pieces are early witchcraft tracts that Notestein used to write his work, "A History of Witchcraft in England from 1558 to 1718." Notestein's copy of "The Severall Factes of Witch-crafte Aprooved and Laid to the Charge of Margaret Harkett of the Towne of Stanmore in the Countie of Middlesex" (1585) is thought to be the only copy in existence. The second tract, "A Detection of Damnable Drifts, Practized by Three Witches" (1579) [imperfect title page], is one of two known copies, with the other being held by the British Museum.

Also included in the collection are a collection of "Fast-Day Sermons" (1640-1647) and such sets as "The Harleian Miscellany," "A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe," publications of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, and publications printed for the Camden Society.

All titles have been catalogued and appear in the CONSORT and OhioLINK databases