Named after the donor Mr. Walter S. Underwood, the Underwood Prayer Book Collection is the centerpiece of the Frances Donaldson Library’s stock of rare books. Mr. Underwood was a prominent Chicago attorney and senior partner in one of the largest law firms in Chicago: McLease, Spray, Price & Underwood. A long-time parishioner of the Church of the Ascension, he served as Chancellor of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. His gift arrived at Nashotah House in 1977 and has been used in support of the House’s courses ever since. In recent years, items from the Collection have also been exhibited at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the museums of Marquette University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since 1977, The Underwood Foundation has provided financial support for the library’s efforts to preserve and publicize the Collection.
Among the highlights of the Underwood Collection are two magnificently illuminated, late medieval manuscripts. The first of these is a Sarum Use Book of Hours, circa 1400. The volume features many finely painted scenes, illuminated capitals, and extensive decoration. The second illuminated medieval manuscript in the Collection is known as the Boies Penrose II Manuscript. This volume contains many lovely illuminated capitals, with handsome decoration on most pages. In addition, the Underwood Collection includes first editions of the Books of Common Prayer of 1549 and 1552, as well as the Prymer of 1554, commonly called Queen Mary’s Book. Most important subsequent editions of the Book of Common Prayer are also represented in the Collection, including two versions of the 1662 book, the so-called Provisional Prayer Book of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America of 1786, and the first authorized edition of the American Book of Common Prayer of 1790.
The Underwood Collection Bibliography, with Mr. Walter S. Underwood's notes and links to HouseCat records.
A beautiful, well-preserved manuscript, the oldest volume in the Underwood collection, containing 23 full-page miniatures and 23 historiated initials. Border illuminations executed in a Netherlandish style, with three exceptions that are executed in an English style. Vernacular annotations to all calendar pages. One of these inscriptions reads: "This is the book of Anna [Byllaski]." Bound in red velvet with traces of missing metal cross-shaped decoration, stored in a green leather case. Contents: an introductory series of prayers, the Calendar, a series of prayers, Suffrages to the Saints, the Hours of the Virgin, the Joys of the Virgin. a series of prayers, the Penitential Psalms, the Litany, the Office of the Dead, the Passion Psalter, St. Jerome Psalter, and a concluding cycle of prayers.
This volume has been included in three museum exhibitions: "Turn the Pages Slowly: Rare Books and Manuscripts," (Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University, 2008), "Hidden Treasures: Illuminated Manuscripts from Midwestern Collections" (the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, December 18, 2010-February 27, 2011), and "The Art of Devotion: Illuminated Manuscripts from Local Collections" (The Milwaukee Art Museum, March 1-June 16th, 2019). Purchased by Mr. Underwood from Brentano's (Chicago) on 6/6/52.
Read a sample
HouseCat Record60. Lambert, Miss (F.) Church needlework : with practical remarks on its arrangement and preparation. London : J. Murray, 1844.
HouseCat RecordThrough generous donations from the Underwood Foundation, two of the oldest books in the library's collection and several of the earliest Books of Common Prayer have been digitized.
Watch a brief video showing highlights from the Book of Hours Sarum Use Manuscript c. 1400 or read a sample online.
Watch a Video Read a Sample
