Editing Radcliffe Camera (section)

===History as an independent library===
[[File:1 radcliffe camera night 2012.jpg|thumb|Night view]]
The library's collection grew only slowly.<ref name="Gillam 1958 xxix"/> The first book to be placed in the library was identified by one contemporary account as [[Thomas Carte]]'s ''A General History of England''.<ref name="gillamxxi"/> The first donation was some 50,000 pamphlets from a Mr Bartholomew of University College, subsequently gifted to the Bodleian in 1794.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xxvii}}</ref> The first major purchase was books to the value of £45 from a seller in Newport in 1751, although they were kept in private possession until 1755.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxix–xxx}}</ref> In 1754, the library received a number of books from the estate of James Gibbs, mostly concerning architecture. A number of classical and history books by the bequest of [[Richard Frewin]], [[Camden Professor of Ancient History]], and law books of [[Charles Viner (lawyer)|Charles Viner]], the founder of the [[Vinerian Professorship of Common Law]], were also added to the library. Early purchases also included the purchase of the manuscripts of James Fraser to the value of £500, and those of [[George Sale]] for £157 10s., both concerned with the Middle East – the first on the advice of [[Thomas Hunt (Arabic scholar)|Thomas Hunt]], [[Laudian Professor of Arabic]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xxx}}</ref> The texts appear to have suffered from poor care after their acquisition.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxxi–xxxii}}</ref> Three further collections were purchased before Wise's death in 1767. Even at this early stage, the Trustees appear to have collaborated with the Bodleian to avoid duplication.<ref name="gillamxxxii">{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xxxii}}</ref> The Library quickly became known as 'the Physic Library'. Despite its name, its acquisitions were varied for the first sixty years, but from 1811 its intake was confined to works of a scientific nature. During the first half of the 19th century the collections included coins, marbles, candelabra, busts, plaster casts, and statues. These collections have since been moved to more specifically appropriate sites.<ref name=bh/>

A [[muniment]] room was created in 1753 to house the collection documents relating to Radcliffe's will and the accumulated deeds of the land on which the library had been built.<ref name="gillamxxxii"/> Despite regular inspections, in 1817, a number of deeds were found to have degraded completely. Although the Trustees did not believe that the particular documents lost were likely to cause many future problems, the remaining manuscripts were moved to the main Library to prevent further damage.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xxxiii}}</ref> In other respects, Wise's tenure was marked only by his poor (and worsening) health and poor relations with the university. University members expected to be admitted and the vice-chancellor made it clear to Wise that he believed the library part of the university and thus under his overall control. Wise did not agree, threatening at one point to padlock the library and refer any man who cut it to the courts. The vice-chancellor took this as an unprovoked insult and turned to consideration of the university statutes and the imposition, if they did not already exist, of such statutes as would compel the ageing Wise to attend to his duties from which he was now regularly absent.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxxiii–xxvi}}</ref> Five years before his actual death in 1767, a satirical death notice was placed in the London papers announcing the "greatly regretted" death of Wise "[his death] occasioned by a violent cold, contracted by too close attendance on the duties of his respective offices". In those last years, Wise was so ill that he could no longer attend the library. Upon his death, his collection of coins was presented to the library.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxxvi–xxxvii}}</ref>

He was replaced by [[Benjamin Kennicott]] who served as librarian until his death in 1783. His librarianship saw the purchase of more Arabic, Hebrew and Persian works, the subject of study of Kennicott. Despite several reparative measures, the building continued to fall into disrepair, with Kennicott immersed in his academic study.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxxvii–xxxix}}</ref> Comments at the time of his death noted that the collection was "so far from being 'one of the first collections in the Universe,' that it is even inconsiderable and invaluable when compared, not only with the Bodley collection, but perhaps others in Oxford."<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xxxix–xl}}</ref> Kennicott's successor, [[Thomas Hornsby]], did nothing to improve the situation, devoting much of time to his other post of [[Radcliffe Observer]]. There are no records of any books being bought before his death in 1810. There was, however, one controversial benefaction of a series of marbles, with a custodian appointed and funded (along with the cost of securing the statues) by Sir [[Roger Newdigate]]. It was eventually accepted, although not without opposition from Hornsby who believed it would distract from the library's academic purpose and block readers' light.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xl–xlii}}</ref> Upon Newdigate's death, the statues had not been purchased and his executors added to the opposition. The benefaction was reassessed and finally rejected. In the last years of his tenure, Hornsby was asked to provide a catalogue, but no such document was put together before his death.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xlii}}</ref>

Hornsby's successor was chosen as [[George Williams (physician)|George Williams]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xliii}}</ref> It was under his tenure that "a new era dawned" for the Radcliffe Library.<ref name="gillamxlv">{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xlv}}</ref> Williams, a physician in the [[Radcliffe Infirmary]] and [[Sherardian Professor of Botany|Professor of Botany]], adopted an approach which had been mooted a couple of years before to fill the library's shelves not with a general collection of works, but rather specifically scientific books. Huge sums were spent from funds which had accumulated from previous years: £2000 in 1814, and around £500 annually for the years after. Dr. [[Abraham Robertson]] was asked to donate a copy of the [[Radcliffe Observatory]]'s records each year in exchange for being allowed to borrow certain books.<ref name="gillamxlv"/> In 1814, the library hosted a banquet for the visiting [[George IV of the United Kingdom|Prince Regent]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xlv–xlvi}}</ref> The Library also received a number of marble busts and a collection of 1,000 marble specimens.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xlvi–xlvii}}</ref> The grounds of the library were enclosed by railings in 1827 at a cost of £1,310, although the ascertainment of the exact extent of the Trustee's holdings required careful examination and a previous overlooked transfer completed.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xlvii}}</ref> Upon Williams' death in 1834, the Trustees gave an unprecedented statement of thanks; it was echoed by a report in ''[[The Gentleman's Magazine]]'' which read: "In carrying into effect these great national as well as academic purposes, the Trustees found in Dr. Williams's extensive reading, retentive memory... exact judgment, comprehensive views and philosophical mind, the very talents and accomplishments which were necessary to ensure the successful execution of their design".<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xlvii–xlviii}}</ref>

Williams was succeeded by [[John Kidd (chemist)|John Kidd]], [[Regius Professor of Medicine (Oxford)|Regius Professor of Medicine]].<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xlviii–xlix}}</ref> Gas heating and lighting was introduced into the library, a third member of staff (an assistant) hired at a salary of £25 per annum, and insurance taken out against the risk of fire – £10,000 to cover the buildings and a further £10,000 for the books.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=xlix}}</ref> In 1835, the library catalogue was finally published, for which Kidd received £100 by way of bonus. He was, however, unsuccessful in three attempts to secure a pay rise. The book collection continued to expand, with Kidd required to provide a memorandum of books added each year to the library, and the first proper bookcases installed. A visitors' book was created to distinguish students and academics from "those who visit the Library from mere motives of general curiosity".<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=xlix–l}}</ref> In other respects Library life was unremarkable for the rest of Kidd's tenure, which ended with his death in 1851.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=l–li}}</ref>

[[Henry Wentworth Acland]] succeeded Kidd as Librarian. He made several structural alterations, creating a reading room, improving the lighting and heating and adding a hot water system.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=li}}</ref> More significantly, in light of the sum of £200 to be spent on books annually, which Acland considered insufficient, he set out a detailed proposal to bring the library under the leadership of the university. In 1856, he laid out his plan to the Trustees, at which point the library contained between 14,000 and 15,000 volumes: "[I fear] the Library be found wanting in some standard work of reference [or] the ordinary Scientific Literature... [while] it is supposed by visitors... that the great collection of scientific works in Oxford is to be found in the Radcliffe Library... the Bodleian Library is far richer in scientific transactions and periodicals; it receives, or ought to receive, without cost all British books... the Radcliffe Library must be accounted to be, and will remain, of much less public utility than is generally supposed."<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=li–liii}}</ref> The Radcliffe Library building was to become a reading room of the Bodleian, and the collection transferred to the new 'Museum Library' being constructed (now the [[Radcliffe Science Library]]).<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=lii–lvi}}</ref> The plan was accepted by both parties and on 23 October 1861 the keys to the Radcliffe Library building were handed to Bodley's Librarian.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|p=lvii}}</ref> It took four more years to finalise everything. The Radcliffe Library building thus became the Radcliffe Camera as the library ceased to be fully independent. The Trustees retained the freehold to the building, which was finally transferred to the university in 1927.<ref>{{harvnb|Gillam|1958|pp=lvii–lviii}}</ref>