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Welcome to The Sloane Letters Project

sloaneA pilot of this project, Sir Hans Sloane’s Correspondence Online, was first launched at the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 to coincide with the 350th anniversary of Sir Hans Sloane’s birth. The project was renamed The Sloane Letters Project when it moved to this site in 2016.

The correspondence of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) consists of thirty-eight volumes held at the British Library, London: MSS 4036-4069, 4075-4078.  The letters are a rich source of information about topics such as scientific discourse, collections of antiquities, curiosities and books, patients’ illnesses, medical treatments and family history. Most of the letters were addressed to Sloane, but a few volumes were addressed to others (MSS 4063-4067) or written by Sloane (MSS 4068-4069).

So far, we have entered descriptions and metadata for Sloane MSS 4036-4053 and 4075, as well as several letters from each of the following: Sloane MSS 4054-4055, 4066, 4068-4069 and 4076. Several of these entries also include transcriptions. Further entries and transcriptions are being made available gradually.

Please, explore the website and database. You can search through the letters, learn about Sir Hans Sloane or the letters written to him, and peruse blog posts about interesting letters!

Random Letter

Author:
Recipient:

[fol. 48] Magdalen College June 15th 1730 Sr. Tho I have not the Honour to be known to you any otherwise, than as a small Tenant at Chelsea, Yet I promise myself your Candour will excuse, what your Publick and known Character prompts me to request of you, that you would oblige the university in the consenting to sit for your Picture, which they and myself are desirous may have a place in Our Picture Gallery amongst other Great Men. I discovered my Inclinations to ask this favour of You, to Mr Palmer of Little Chelsea, when in Oxford, who encouraged me, from the Honour He had to be very well acquainted with you, to hope I might succeed in this request; This disposes me to think You will at least excuse the application, and gives me a farther pleasure in the opportunity, it affords me of assuming you that I am, with true Respect, Yr most obedient & very humble servt Edward Butler
Read more- Letter 3772


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4,545 Document summaries
Documents transcribed
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1,527 Medical Cases
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