Ernest Cushing Richardson Collection of Papal Seals

Richardson, Ernest Cushing (1860-1939)

Ernest Cushing Richardson (1860-1939) was an American librarian, theologian and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of American librarianship. He was the University Librarian for Princeton University from 1890 to 1925, and during his tenure invented a new cataloging system that was specific to the Princeton library, often called the "Princeton system" or the "Richardson system". In 1925, Richardson became consultant to the Library of Congress. He died in Switzerland in 1939.

Richardson, Ernest Cushing (1860-1939)

Ernest Cushing Richardson (1860-1939) was an American librarian, theologian and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of American librarianship. He was the University Librarian for Princeton University from 1890 to 1925, and during his tenure invented a new cataloging system that was specific to the Princeton library, often called the "Princeton system" or the "Richardson system". In 1925, Richardson became consultant to the Library of Congress. He died in Switzerland in 1939.

This collection consists of twelve papal seals, including seals for Pope Paul III and Pope Urban VIII. Papal seals were made of lead instead of sealing wax. They were attached to the bottom of documents by chords and called bullas, which caused papal documents to be referred to as papal bulls. The seals were collected by Ernest Cushing Richardson, a former University Librarian.

Gift of Ernest Cushing Richardson (AM 2017-142).

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This collection was processed by Chloe Pfendler in April 2017. Finding aid written by Chloe Pfendler in April 2017.

No materials were separated from the collection during 2017 processing.

Use

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Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Ernest Cushing Richardson Collection of Papal Seals, Box and Folder Number; Manuscripts Division, Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Publisher

Manuscripts Division

Finding aids author

Chloe Pfendler

Date

2017

Creator

Richardson, Ernest Cushing (1860-1939)

Subject

Seals (Numismatics)

People

Paul, Pope, III (1468-1549)

Urban, Pope, VIII (1568-1644)

Language

Latin