The Rossell Hope Robbins Library is a non-circulating medieval studies library at the University of Rochester, with significant holdings in vernacular literatures, Arthurian studies, material culture, the medieval Mediterranean, medieval history, the history of science, art and stained glass, philosophy, theology, manuscript studies, the history of the book, witchcraft, critical theory, and medievalism. It also has a substantial collection of medieval manuscripts, early print and other rare and unique materials, and artist books. The core collection was donated by noted Middle English scholar Rossell Hope Robbins and his wife, Helen Ann Mins Robbins. Helen Ann, Rossell, and his sister, Marjorie Hope Robbins, endowed ongoing acquisition of material.
The Robbins Library is also home to the Koller-Collins Center for English Studies, a reference collection for literary and cultural study, with major holdings in literary history, critical theory, the history of the book, and the digital humanities.
Our collections and spaces are open to all users. We do not require appointments.
Collections, Resources, and Information
The Camelot Project
Arthurian texts, images, bibliographies, and basic information
METS (Middle English Texts Series)
Online full text of Middle English works, with glosses and notes
The Robin Hood Project
Texts, images, bibliographies, and basic information
The Crusades Project
The Crusades in English Literature
The Cinderella Bibliography
Annotated bibliography of Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast
Visualizing Chaucer
Images illustrating Chaucer's works and a bibliography of illustrated editions
Reclaiming the Death of a Beautiful Woman: Female Voices Adapting the Lady of Shalott
Digital exhibit by Margaret Sheble, exploring adaptations of the Lady of Shalott.
Student Projects and Publications (update in progress)
Malory's Morte d'Arthur (Kara McShane)
Medieval Hebrew Poetry (Esther Ben Ami)
