William Bowyer papers

The William Bowyer Papers consist of correspondence and other papers related to William Bowyer (1699-1777), a prominent London printer during the eighteenth century. The papers, which span the years 1674-1874, are housed in 2 boxes (including 1 oversize box), and have been organized into two series: Correspondence, and Other Papers.

Series I, Correspondence , is arranged alphabetically by correspondent in folders 1-32, and 39-42 (oversize). The correspondence consists of incoming letters to William Bowyer, as well as two items written by Bowyer, and a few letters addressed to his partner John Nichols. Letters written prior to 1737 may have been addressed to the elder William Bowyer (1763-1737).

The bulk of the correspondence is from William Clarke, his son Edward Clarke, and Jeremiah Markland. All three were scholars and their letters concern printing, various scholarly subjects, languages, including Greek and Hebrew, and family matters. Edward Clarke's correspondence includes three letters to John Nichols after Bowyers's death in 1777.

Additional correspondents include Edward Clarke's son James Stanier Clarke; Jeremiah Markland's sister Catherine Markland; William Strode, a friend and student of Jeremiah Markland; Welsh scholar Moses Williams; and scholar William Wotten, William Clarke's father-in-law. The correspondence also includes two letters written in Latin to unidentified recipients. Signed "Ambrosius Bonvicus," the letters were probably written by Ambrose Bonwicke (1652-1722) as a student at St. John's College, Oxford.

Series II, Other Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 33-38. Other papers consist of a manuscript address for a Mr. Stawell to give to the Duchess of York, an engraving of William Bowyer, an 1874 collection inventory by James Crossley, proof sheets of an unidentified history of Bowyer's printing business, a manuscript list of letters "written before Mr. B's father died," and the binding from which these papers were disbound.