University of Oxford
Researcher
Doctor of History
Oxford, United Kingdom
manuchar.guntsadze@area.ox.ac.uk
Abstract
When discussing the development of Georgian Studies and Georgian materials in Great Britain, particularly in Oxford, the names of Marjory and Oliver Wardrops naturally come to mind first. Their contribution was indeed significant and exceptional. However, it is also important to examine, from a methodological and organizational perspective, how Georgian Studies developed and how library collections were enriched with Georgian materials and Georgian-language books.
A valuable source for this purpose is the Weston Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries network, which holds rich archival materials. These archival collections contain documents concerning the expansion of the library’s Georgian holdings, as well as materials related to Emilia Lorimer, who was actively involved in enriching the library’s collection with Georgian-language books and who also studied the Georgian language herself.
The archives also preserve materials concerning the processes of forming the Georgian community and developing its organizational statutes. Such sources provide a complete chronological framework for tracing the development of Georgia-related studies in Oxford.