Description
Description
The collection consists of 47 bound volumes chiefly of Babi texts in Arabic and
Persian composed or copied between 1846 and 1923 in a numbered series of 45 octavo
and two quarto bound books. This collection was purchased by Miller from Saʻid Khan
Kurdistani (Dr. Saeed Khan). See the notes in William McElwee Miller papers,
1931-1979, C0385, Box 4. One volume is a blue line copy of an original text; another
volume is a lithograph. Some volumes contain multiple texts.
Collection Creator
Biography
William McElwee Miller (1892-1993) was a Presbyterian clergyman and missionary in Iran
from 1919 to 1962, the author of two books on Bahaism and the translator of a third
work.
Collection History
Acquisition
Gift of William McElwee Miller (1892-1993).
Custodial History
Formerly owned by Saʻid Khan Kurdistani (Dr. Saeed Khan).
Processing Information
Finding aid written in 2010.
Bibliography
The following works were consulted in identifying texts and authors:
Āghā Buzurg al-Ṭihrānī, M. Al-Dharīʻah ilá Taṣānīf
al-Shīʻah. Maṭbaʻat al-Ghará: Najaf, 1936.
Browne, E. G. Catalogue and Description of 27 Bábí
Manuscripts, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society (1892), p. 433-499, 637-710.
Browne, E. G. Some Remarks on the Bábí Texts Edited by Baron
Victor Rosen, in Journal of the Royal Asiatic
Society (1892), p. 259-322.
Browne, E. G. Materials for the Study of the Bábí
Religion. Cambridge University Press, 1918.
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Oriental Mss. Belonging to the
Late E.G. Browne. Ed. Reynold A. Nicholson. Cambridge University Press,
1932.
Jānī, M. Kitab-i Nuqṭat al-Kāf. Ed. E. G. Browne. E. J.
Brill: Leiden, 1910.
McCants, W. and Milani, K. The History and Provenance of an
Early Manuscript of the Nuqtat al-Kaf Dated 1268 (1851-1852), in Iranian Studies 37:3 (Sept. 2004), p. 431-449.
McEoin, D. The Sources for Early Bābī Doctrine and History: A
Survey. E. J. Brill: Leiden, 1992.
Notes on Babi Manuscripts by Dr. Saeed Khan and Miscellaneous Correspondence;
1955-1982; William McElwee Miller Papers, Box 4, Folder
8; Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton
University Library. Link to Notes.
Writings published on H-Bahai web site (accessed July 2, 2010).
Writings published on Hurqalya Publications web site (accessed July 2,
2010).
Writings published on The Religion of Bayan web site (accessed July 2,
2010).
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
This collection is not open for research use; however digital copies are available in
PDF format.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of
copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library
does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be
requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special
Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the
collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of
copyright.
Preferred Citation
William McElwee Miller Collection of Bābī Writings and
Other Iranian Texts; 1846-1923, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
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