Morris Nellermoe Illuminated Manuscripts

Identity elements

Reference code

SDSU-Archives MA 059

Level of description

Collection

Title

Morris Nellermoe Illuminated Manuscripts

Date(s)

  • 13th century, 1440-1496 (Creation) (Creation)

Extent

1.58 linear feet (1 oversize box)

Name of creator

Biographical history

Morris Nellermoe was born in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and graduated from Watertown High School in 1944. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and earned a B.A. (1950) and M.A. (1952) from the University of South Dakota. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the Internationale Musik Akademie in Salzburg, Austria. Nellermoe worked as a translator for various organizations, including the United Nations, and later taught foreign languages at Colorado State University. He acquired the illuminated manuscript leaves from Ferdinand Roten Galleries in Baltimore.

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Scope and content

The H.M. Briggs Library holds five illuminated manuscript leaves, or single pages, consisting of religious texts dating from the 13th to the 15th centuries. One leaf is from the Biblia Sacra Latina (Vulgate Bible), handwritten on vellum and dating to the 13th century. It features wide margins, red and blue chapter numerals, historiated and illuminated initials, and intricate penwork ornamentation.

The remaining four leaves are from the Hours of the Virgin, a section of the Book of Hours, a devotional text widely used during the Middle Ages. These 15th-century vellum leaves originate from France, Flanders, and Paris, with one printed incunabula leaf produced by Philippe Pigouchet for Simon Vostre in 1496. The leaves include rubricated and historiated initials, decorative borders, and elaborate ornamentation in red, blue, and gold. The Hours of the Virgin, also known as the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, includes prayers, hymns, psalms, and lessons said at each of the eight canonical hours. The leaves were acquired from the estate of Morris Elmer Nellermoe, Jr. (1926–2004).

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Conditions governing reproduction

Reproduction of materials from the collection is subject to the following conditions:

  • Permission: Written permission must be obtained from the SDSU Archives for any reproduction, publication, or quotation of materials.
  • Copyright: Users are responsible for complying with copyright laws and securing any necessary permissions from copyright holders.
  • Fragile Materials: Some items may not be reproduced due to their fragile condition.
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  • Acknowledgment: Any reproduced material must include proper acknowledgment of the South Dakota State University Archives and Special Collections as the source.

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Languages of the material

  • English

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    Copyright and Use Statement

    In Copyright This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses, you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

    Materials in this collection may be subject to Title 17, Section 108 of the United States Copyright Act. Users are responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright, privacy, trademark, and other applicable rights for their intended use. Obtaining all necessary permissions is the user's responsibility. Written authorization from the copyright and/or other rights holders is required for publication, distribution, or any use of protected materials beyond what is permitted under fair use.

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