Reference code: GB-0033-FOS
Title: I.J.C. Foster Papers
Dates of creation: 1950-1972
Extent: 4 metres
Held by: Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections
Origination: Ian John Charles Foster (1908-1978), formerly Keeper of Oriental Books in Durham University Library
Language: English
Ian John Charles Foster (1908-1978) was appointed to the staff of Durham University Library in 1946, and until 1950 worked on cataloguing early printed books in the Routh Collection. From research carried out in this period on 17th and 18th
century paper and printing he published an article, with Kenneth Povey, on turned chain lines. In 1950 a separate Oriental Section of the University Library was formed, and he was appointed Assistant Librarian (from 1950 Keeper of Oriental Books) in
charge of it. During the period until his retirement in 1973 he developed the section into an Oriental library of national importance, containing material in more than thirty ancient and modern languages, of most of which he had at least a working
knowledge himself. At the same time he carried forward his own research work in the field of early Christian architecture, particularly the shape and contents of early churches. He built up a large book and pictorial collection on the subject, which
he bequeathed to the University Library. Some of this research he communicated in a notable series of illustrated lectures to the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, the slides for which are in the collection, but
he died without producing a book on the subject.
Primarily lectures, notes and research materials on early Christian architecture.
Also 765 35mm slides of early Christian architecture and antiquities, made from illustrations in a wide range of published works and from postcards and private photographs.
Also 741 postcards and photographs mounted in 9 albums. The first five albums (FOS 5/1-5) relate to a tour of the Middle East (particularly Syria, Palestine and Turkey) made by Foster in 1953. These volumes also contain some pictures of sites and
buildings in Greece and Italy. The other four albums (FOS 5/6-9) relate almost entirely to Italy, although there are a few pictures of buildings in Paris in FOS 5/8. The contents of all the albums strongly reflect Foster's research interest in early
church architecture, but they also include some postcards on subjects as varied as the souks of Aleppo, Turkish folk dancing, and classical sites in Greece.
Bequest by the collector, 1978. With some additions provided by A.I. Doyle. Palaeo-Christian studies bibliography added 2018.
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from the Sub-Librarian, Special Collections (e-mail PG.Library@durham.ac.uk) and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist
where possible with identifying copyright owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
Largely in the order as bequeathed by Foster, with some adjustments by Ed Preece.
1. Transcripts and drafts of Foster’s Lectures.
2. Research material relating to the Lectures.
3. Lantern Slides.
4. Visual Index to the Lantern Slides; and other photographic material.
5. Albums of Foster’s travels.
6. Miscellaneous.
7. Additional guide books and postcards given by Dr A. I. Doyle.
None expected.
The 35mm slides require a projector and/or slide viewer and/or light box.
Inventory in Edward Preece's 2017 Durham MA thesis “The Life and Lectures of I.J.C. Foster” (DUL Add Ms 2054).
Durham University Library Oriental Library archive
UND/EA3
Lecture transcripts and draftsFOS 1/1 [1960 x 1961]
Drafts to the first lecture delivered on 25 February 1961 to the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, entitled, “The Earliest Church Buildings: The Domus Ecclesiae and its Development.”
FOS 1/1/1
Folder, “The development of Early Christian church buildings – Part 1 – top copy bottom copy.” Contains a complete draft of “The origin and early development of Christian ecclesiastical buildings.” Inserted within are edited pages to update into
the main body of the lecture. Examples of insertions to be added are the introductory welcome page, a brief word on catacombs, and a section on the basilica.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/2
Wallet file, “Christian Archaeology Preliminary.” A complete draft of the lecture but highly annotated. The additional sheets from 1/1 have been incorporated with a range of further amendments.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/3
An early and highly annotated draft.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/4
A full but not final draft with a few annotations.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/5
A handwritten draft.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/6
Loose sheets with revised and edited comments. They are arranged into the order in which they would appear in the lectures for quick reference and have been cross examined against any areas of doubt or missing clarity in the main lectures.
Paper file
FOS 1/1/7
Early draft of lecture.
Paper file
FOS 1/2 [1962 x 1963]
Drafts to the second lecture delivered on 23 February 1963 to the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, entitled, “The Earliest Church Buildings: Christian Cemeteries and Christian Funeral Customs.”
FOS 1/2/1
Three drafts (top, middle and bottom carbon copies) of the lecture. Late edition with annotations present. “The earliest church buildings. II. Christian cemeteries and Christian funeral customs.”
Paper file
FOS 1/2/2
Two drafts of “The earliest church buildings. II. Christian cemeteries and Christian funeral customs.” They are complete copies but not final drafts.
Paper file
FOS 1/2/3
The earliest church buildings. II. Christian cemeteries and Christian funeral customs. Handwritten notes and loose sheets.
Paper file
FOS 1/2/4
Draft of “The earliest church buildings. II. Christian cemeteries and Christian funeral customs.” Labelled as: “Final Form, Top Copy, Lecture as given 26/1/63.”
Paper file
FOS 1/2/5
Loose draft of the lecture with significant differences in content that has been incorporated into other drafts of the lecture.
Paper file
FOS 1/2/6
Heavily annotated draft of the lecture, early edition.
Paper file
FOS 1/2/7
Folder with a copy of the lecture labelled as “Lecture delivered at Ushaw, 23/2/63, Top Copy.”
Paper file
FOS 1/2/8
Folder, “Lecture delivered at Ushaw, 23/2/63, Middle Copy.”
Paper file
FOS 1/2/9
Folder, “Lecture delivered at Ushaw, 23/2/63, Bottom Copy.”
Paper file
FOS 1/3 [1965 x 1966]
Drafts to the third lecture delivered on 26 February 1966 for the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, entitled, “The Earliest Church Buildings: The Martyr Cult and Martyrium.”
FOS 1/3/1
Folder entitled: “Origin and development part 3 – As delivered – Feb 26. 1966”. Inside is a final draft with a few minor annotations to wording and format.
Paper file
FOS 1/3/2
Late draft with a few annotations of the lecture but still with the original title of: “The martyr cult and the martyrium in the third, fourth and fifth centuries.”
Paper file
FOS 1/3/3
2 Copies of a highly annotated late draft with a large amount of handwritten additions and omissions to be made to the lecture.
Paper file
FOS 1/3/4
Loose pages with edited and revised content.
Paper file
FOS 1/4 [1968 x 1969]
Drafts to the fourth lecture delivered on 22 February 1969 for the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland, entitled, “The Influence of the Cult of Martyrs and other Saints upon Church Buildings.”
FOS 1/4/1
Folder entitled: “Lecture 22/2/69 – Typed up copy available.” Inside is a very early draft of the lecture, much of it handwritten.
Paper file
FOS 1/4/2
Folder entitled: “Christian Archaeology – Preliminary”. Inside is the carbon copy of the final draft but missing the written annotations.
Paper file
FOS 1/4/3
Folder entited: “Mr. Foster – Lecture IV – As Given. 22/2/69”. Inside is the last draft, with a few written annotations entitled: “The Influence of the cult of martyrs and other saints upon church buildings. Amalgamation of the domus ecclesiae
and cemetery cults.”
Paper file
FOS 1/5 [?1961 x 1963]
Lecture without title or official introduction. It shares the same theme and similar content to lecture 2 but is too different, and too complete, to be the same lecture in different stages. It follows on seamlessly from lecture 1 which could mean
it was initially intended to follow on from it (a hypothesis supported by the fact that the closest thing it has to a title is “Part 2”). From its content it seems to be a proto-version of lecture two, perhaps written in 1961 with lecture 1 but not
delivered on account of it being too long to deliver in one lecture. If this was so then it was significantly revised and re-written into what became the 1963 lecture. A number of inscriptions are also included among this draft.
FOS 1/5/1
Folder containing 2 copies of the same lecture, no title, but simply labelled: “Part II – bottom copy”.
Paper file
FOS 1/5/2
Folder containing a draft of the lecture, “Part II – Top Copy”.
Paper file
FOS 1/5/3
Draft of the same lecture missing the first page.
Paper file
FOS 1/6 [1960s]
Folder containing a full lecture entitled: “The earliest church buildings. Developments of the fifth and following centuries.”
FOS 1/7 1950 - 1972
A green wallet file relating with a variety of administrative documents (letters, memoranda, etc.) relating to Foster’s work as Keeper of Oriental Books for the University Library. A green folder entitled, “Documents for Library History to Keep.”
Letter correspondences and official files relating to the Oriental Section of the University Library. An interesting folder which contains official documentation as well as personal letter correspondence between the Director of the School of
Oriental Studies, T. W. Thacker, and Foster. This has a lot of interesting material including the letter correspondence but also more information on the founding of the Oriental School and building of the Library.
FOS 1/7/1 7 August 1950 - 15 January 1951
Letter correspondence with T. W. Thacker. 14 letters.
Paper file
FOS 1/7/2 21 November 1972
Confidential memorandum to Miss McAulay, on the subject of Foster’s successor.
Paper
FOS 1/7/3 6 February 1963
Memorandum from T. W. Thacker, outlining the Oriental School’s official policy on the Hayter Committee’s Report.
Paper
FOS 1/7/4 [?c.1960]
Undated Appendix entitled: “Oriental Studies and the Faculty of Arts” – discusses the justification for a separate faculty of Oriental Studies or the founding of a new faculty rather than the enlarging of an existing department.
Paper file
FOS 1/7/5 [?c.1960]
Undated notes about the library by Foster: “The Oriental Section of the University Library, Durham.”
Paper file
FOS 1/7/6 [1966]
“Information Pamphlet. University Library, Durham: Oriental Section.” All information regarding opening times, borrowing, and contents of the Oriental Section. Stapled to this is another Notice to readers with the date January 24th, 1966
(presumably from the same time).
Paper leaflet
FOS 1/7/7 18 February 1963
Letter to Oriental Sections (x2 copies) of the new procedure of book purchasing following the Hayter Report and the new Hayter Fund Book Committee.
Paper
FOS 1/7/8 13 September 1969
Letter: “Durham University Library, Oriental Section” (x2 copies) concerning inter-library loans.
Paper
FOS 1/7/9 12 February 1963
Letter, “Bookbuying procedure at the Oriental Section. Changes incidental to the setting up of the Oriental departmental book-committee and the introduction of the Hayter scheme.”
Paper
FOS 1/7/10 14 February 1963
Letter clarifying Foster’s approach to purchasing books following the Hayter Report – clearly some confusion arose to the resentment of Foster.
Paper
FOS 1/7/11 13 November 1967
Letter to Ian E. Graham, concerning the possible removal of the Oriental Section of the Library at Elvet Hill and incorporating it in a larger Arts library.
Paper
FOS 1/7/12 [?1960s]
Undated Letter, “Siting of the proposed new University Library.” Foster gives his opinion of where the library should be expanded to given the lack of space at Palace Green and his view that it should be in the building between Elvet Riverside
and Dunelm House (central location and sizeable) rather than the proposed location of the Science site in the space then occupied by the Dawson Building.
Paper
FOS 1/7/13 20 April 1967
Letter from H.S. Offler, giving Foster support for some matter regarding the library.
Paper
FOS 1/7/14 11 May 1967
Detailed letter to the University Librarian, David Ramage, on the subject of the university's proposed restructuring of the library.
Paper
FOS 1/7/15 19 June 1962
Letter to Thacker from Foster, about a level of distress Foster feels regarding Mr Ramage.
Paper
FOS 1/7/16 30 May 1962
Letter from K B. Gardner to David Ramage with a questionnaire and invitation for Durham to send a representative to a SCONUL museum at the British Museum on 10 July (x2)
Paper
FOS 1/7/17 6 June 1962
Letter from K.B. Gardner, Keeper of Oriental Printed Boks and Manuscripts at the British Museum, again on the subject of the 10 July meeting and other matters re the development of the Oriental Section of the Library. (x2)
Paper
FOS 1/7/18 10 July 1962
Agenda for the British Museum meeting and talking points to discuss. (x2)
Paper
FOS 1/7/19 [1962]
Ramage’s questionnaire reply (x2).
Paper file
FOS 1/7/20 5 February 1963
Letter from J.A. Haywood replying to a Library memorandum Foster sent him on his misgivings with the suggested library committee; his reply discusses the wise spending of funds given the exhaustion of Thacker’s private donations and the
dissipation of funds to three separate depts; give thanks to Hayter; e.g. discusses the lack of Arabic drama but is still praising of Foster’s work; agrees with Foster’s issues but thinks the old system needs renewing given the changes to funding.
Paper
FOS 1/7/21 12 February 1963
Letter from C.G.S on the future development of the library, discussing issues of purchasing following the joint funding under Hayter with Geography and Social Sciences.
Paper
FOS 1/7/22 December 1949
5 Letters reviewing Foster’s proposed scheme for classifying books – all with a very positive view - addressed to Thacker or Ramage from influential people in the department.
Paper file
FOS 1/7/23 11 April 1952
Osservatore Romano. A summary of a discourse addressed to the Supreme Pontiff to professors, students, and lecturers of the Society for Old Testament Society; present from Durham were Prof. Mary Williams and Foster. There is also a Miss Foster
from London who may be Foster’s sister, Olive Norman.
Paper file
FOS 1/7/24 [c.1950]
Copies of the Schools timetable for the Arab world and Persia. No date is cited for the year but the individuals listed are: Mr. Haywood, Mr. Bagley, Mr. Dabbagh, Mr. Farouki, Mr. Hill, Mr. Ismail, Mr Holmes, and Prof. Fisher. (That there are few
professors perhaps indicates that this is a v. early document from before the university had established professorships on the Arab world.)
Paper file
FOS 1/7/25 15 October 1960
Letter relating to the Hayter Committee visiting Durham for its report. The visit was to take place on 31 October 1960.
Paper
FOS 1/7/26 18 October 1960
Letter from Richard Hill asking for information on contributions given for the 1960 issue of
the Bulletin of Oriental Studies.
Paper
FOS 1/8 1960 - 1967
Documents further relating to the administration and running of the Oriental Library, comprising 30+ receipts, invoices, print requests, rejections, and cancellations for books. They are in a range of European languages (English, French, German,
Italian, etc.). Books are often rare or out of print hence many are letters of rejection. The documents are from established institutions such as Leiden, Ann Arbor, Aquileia, Oxford University Press, and Xerox (presumably for out-of-print books).
FOS 1/9 1960s
Two folders relating to the lectures – invitations, organisation, content, dates, titles - including correspondence with the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland. Also letters relating to Foster’s research about
the lectures. The 2nd folder is entitled 'Palaeochristian Studies correspondence other than correspondence red books'.
FOS 1/9/1/1 19 -29 May 1963
3 letters from Gibby to Foster. On the final letter Foster has written that he replied on 3/6/63. The second letter gives an apology over an error of Gibby’s “concerning your third lecture” and that he will be willing to give it by the winter of
1964-65. Gibby says that he is lucky enough to get “Rawson” for Jan. 25th 1964 and the letter concludes with “P.S. I will keep my ears open for comments on your lecture, but I shall be greatly surprised if I hear any adverse ones. W.G.” In the third
letter Gibby is confirming Foster for what must be his lecture: “I will put you down for February 1965, I hope that we are both still alive!”
Paper file
FOS 1/9/1/2 [c.1965]
A bottom copy inscription of Abercius of Hieropolis (end of 2nd century)
Paper
FOS 1/9/1/3 15 May 1963
Letter to [Rosemary] Cramp providing her with requested information on the earliest monastic buidlings.
Paper
FOS 1/9/1/4 7 December 1965
Invitation to a lecture by Dr G. Stričević on “Early Christian Semicircular Tables”.
Paper
FOS 1/9/1/5 [mid 1960s]
Correspondence with individuals about potential giving a lecture on Early Christian architecture e.g. Arthur Candeland of Newcaslte Upon Tyne Theological Society
Paper file
FOS 1/9/1/6 [1960s]
Variety of letters on Foster’s research with the addresses of individuals and correspondents for research.
Paper file
FOS 1/9/1/7 10 March 1963
Letter to the Director at the National Museum, Syrian University Streetm Damascus 4, Syria for a photograph of a semi-circular stone altar at Malula of the Greek Cahtolic monastery of St. Sarkis. Foster says he saw this in 1953.
Paper
FOS 1/9/1/8 25 February 1961
Invitation by the Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland: “A lecture on THE EARLIEST CHURCH BUILDINGS: THE DOMUS ECCLESIAE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT will be given by Mr. I.J.C. Foster, M.A., B.Sc., Keeper of Oriental
books in the University Library, Durham, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 25th. 1961, in Lecture Room 20, Palace Green, Durham. The lecture will be illustrated with lantern slides.” It also says the visitors invited which Foster has crossed out and
then written “all members of the School of Oriental Studies.”
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/1 9 June 1964
Letter from the Master of University College L[en] Slater, granting Foster’s request to have a photograph copy of the Cuthbert Bede picture which hangs in the Ante Room to the Castle S.C.R.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/2 12 June 1964
Letter replying to Miss R. J. Cramp of 27, Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1 (from her reply, dated May 19th 1964) on the subject of annexed chapels.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/3 19 October 1965
A French letter with an attached diagram (replied 2/11/1965) appearing to comment on a structure in Malula, Syria.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/4 25 June 1966
Letter by Foster requesting special access to cemeteries in Rome not usually accessed for a planned trip with his sister Olive, addressed to the Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana and requesting to visit a Sign. Zenobili.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/5 26 February 1966
Architectural and Archaeological Society of Durham and Northumberland invitation for: “A lecture on THE EARLIEST CHURCH BUILDINGS; THE MARTYR CULT AND MARTYRIUM will be given by Mr I.J.C. Foster, M.A., B.Sc. Keeper of Oriental Books in Durham
University Library, at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 26th 1966, in Room 20, Palace Green, Durham. The lecture will be illustrated with lantern slides. Visitors are invited. Tea will be available at Alington house after the meeting.”
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/6 11 October 1967
Letter from George Stričević at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne thanking Foster for some photographs.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/7 [1968]
Correspondence with [William] Gibby, asking Foster to deliver another lecture in 1968-69 to which Foster obliges. Also a discussion on Sir John (?) and whether (between the two of them) he thinks he would be a good lecturer.
Paper file
FOS 1/9/2/8 [?1967]
Letter to Dr Stričević at the department of Classics from Newcastle giving an update and asking him for dinner.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/9 1 October 1968
Receipt from Oxford University Press sending Foster microfilms.
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/10 28 July 1968
Subscription confirmation letter to ASOS (American School of Oriental Studies).
Paper
FOS 1/9/2/11 [1960s]
Several other invoices and receipts.
Paper file
FOS 1/9/2/12 22 February 1969
Second invitation to: “A lecture on THE INFLUENCE OF THE CULT OF MARTYRS AND OTHER SAINTS UPON CHURCH BUIDLING[S] will be given by Mr. I.[J].C. Foster, B.Sc., M.A. Keeper of Oriental Books in the University of Durham, at 3 p.m., on Saturday,
22nd February, 1969, in Lecture Room 20, Palace Green, Durham.”
Paper
FOS 1/10 1960s
A range of files and sheets relating to Foster’s interest.
FOS 1/10/1 [1960s]
Numerous pamphlets and catalogues for Museums, Societies, and Universities – most relate to book subscriptions for Foster's his duties as Keeper of Oriental Books.
Paper file
FOS 1/10/2 [1960s]
Correspondence with universities, professors and museums on various subject matters, especially the acquisition of photographs or books relevant to Early Christian Architecture (stone altars, pipe-burials, etc.) or the broader topic of Oriental
Studies. For example a letter dated March 6th 1962 to Professor J. Lassus, Director of Service des Antiquités de L’Algérie, for the request of one photo of a funeral inscription of Aelia Secunda because of the importance it has for the funerary
feast of African Christians. This is one example of the type of letters that Foster sent and how detailed and meticulous his research was for objects and books.
Paper file
FOS 1/10/3 [1960s]
Personal architectural scribbles of church buildings.
Paper file
FOS 1/10/4 [1960s]
Handwritten notes from Foster's travels.
Paper file
FOS 1/10/5 [1960s]
Newspaper cuttings for articles relevant to early Christian architecture.
Paper file
FOS 1/10/6 24 July 1963
The Times newspaper cutting: “Excavation in Turkey reveal more wall paintings.”
Paper file
FOS 1/10/7 26 June 1968
The Times newspaper cutting: “St. Mark’s return to Egypt.”
Paper file
FOS 1/10/8 [1960s]
The Times newspaper cutting: “Rich New finds on the Nubian Nile.”
Paper file
FOS 1/10/9 [1960s]
Personal green notebook with general notes.
Paper booklet
FOS 1/10/10 [1960s]
Personal red notebook with scribbles and drawings of altars.
Paper booklet
FOS 1/11 [1960s]
Collection of inscriptions which Foster translated and used in his lectures.
1 Extract from a letter of Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, written circa 404 A.D.
2 Epitaph of Abercius of Hierapolis, circa 190 A.D.
3 Inscription dated 299 A.D. found at Satafi, Algeria.
4 Extract from the Cena Trimalchionis.
5 Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. Book II, Chap. 25., circa 200-215 A.D.
6 Depositiones Episcoporum Romanorum
7 Depositio Martyrum
8 From a letter of Pope Innocent I to Bishop Decentius of Gubbio, 416 A.D.
9 Extract from a letter of Paulinus of Nola to Pammachius, consoling him on the death of his wife.
10 Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. Book V, Chap. 24., circa 190 A.D.
11 Rituale Romanum. Order for the commendation of the soul.
12 Two copies of an inscription composed by Paulinus of Nola in the early fifth century for a new church in southern France.
13 Graffiti found at the Memoria Apostolorum on the Appian Way, Rome.
14 Early translations of the inscriptions with annotations:
14.1 Extract from a letter of Paulinus of Nola to Pammachius, consoling him on the death of his wife. (Two copies, one handwritten).
14.2 Depositiones Episcoporum Romanorum.
14.3 Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. Book II, Chap. 25., circa 200-215 A.D. (Two copies, one handwritten).
14.4 From a letter of Pope Innocent I to Bishop Decentius of Gubbio, 416 A.D. (Two copies, one handwritten).
14.5 Eusebius. Ecclesiastical History. Book V, Chap. 24., circa 190 A.D. (Two copies, one handwritten).
14.6 Rituale Romanum. Order for the commendation of the soul. (Two copies, one handwritten).
14.7 Depositio Martyrum.
14.8 Extract from the Cena Trimalchionis. [First century A. D.]
14.9 Epitaph of Abercius of Hierapolis. [circa 190 A. D.]
14.10 Extract from a letter of Synesius, Bishop of Cyrene, written circa 404 A. D.
FOS 1/12 [1960s - 1970s]
General photographs of the Gulbenkian Museum with prestigious guests as well as of the Oriental School, with also some photographs of a visit Foster made to Israel, with printed dates of 1976.
Research material for lecturesFOS 2/A [1950s - 1960s]
Offprints and photocopies of research material which Foster used for his lectures, including dictionary and journal articles, and chapters in books, with over 100 articles in a range of languages.
FOS 2/B [1950s-early 1970s]
Card index manuscript bibliography of Palaeo-Christian studies, containing works up until the early 1970s; arranged into 99 subject categories, with table of contents at the start.
Lantern slidesFOS 3/A [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
150 slides
FOS 3/B [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
150 slides
FOS 3/C [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
120 slides
FOS 3/D [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
120 slides
FOS 3/E [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
175 slides
FOS 3/F [1950s - 1960s]
Lantern slides in glass with photographs, diagrams, illustrations, and more on the early Church. It was from this collection that Foster illustrated his lectures. A visual index created by Foster of the slides is in FOS 4.
50 slides
Visual index to lantern slides and other photographic materialFOS 4/1 [c.1960s]
Visual Index to Foster Slides F/A1 – C55. This contains the handwritten list with the basic details of what is on each slide e.g. source and reference.
FOS 4/2 [c.1960s]
Visual Index to Foster Slides F/C56 – F50.
FOS 4/3 [c.1960s]
Photographs and material relating to Foster’s interest in palaeochristianity. A large amount of these images are present in the lantern slides in FOS 3. Despite not being organised or put into folders many of the images are in good
condition.
FOS 4/4 [c.1960s]
Enlarged images on the same subject area as FOS 4/3. Again some are available in the Lantern Slides and they are in general of a good quality. Examples include photographs of Qalb Lôzé, Syria and Qal’at Sem’ân, Syria and also some from
Ravenna.
FOS 4/5 [c.1960s]
Photocopies of maps and illustrations, with many are those that are present in the slides.
FOS 4/6 [c.1960s]
Five photographic copies from the British Museum of images relating to palaeochristianity. The books from which they have been copied is not clear other than their being rare by the fact that they were only available from the British Museum. The
books from which they are copied are in Italian and German and one diagram is by Dyggve. They are primarily floor plans of early Christian basilicas.
FOS 4/7 [c.1960s]
Mounted images. Included is a colour version and a black and white print of a painting by Edward Bradley (c.1845-1849) called ‘Cuthbert Bede’ showing the celebration of the Eucharist at Durham Cathedral. The other images are of an altar
table.
Photograph albums of Foster's travelsDates of creation: 1953 - 1960s
There are 741 postcards and photographs mounted in 9 albums. Five albums relate to the 1953 Tour of the Middle East but include postcards and photographs of Greece and Italy which Foster visited as a part of the route. The other four albums
relate almost entirely to Italy, although there are a few pictures of buildings in Paris.
FOS 5/1 1953
Middle East Tour Post Cards: Istanbul, Bursa, Smyrna, Ephesus, Bergama, Ankara.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/2 1953
Middle East Tour Post Cards: Konya, Tarsus, Antakya, Aleppo, Palmyra, Damascus.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/3 1953
Middle East Tour Post Cards: Damascus contd., Bosra, Jerusalem, Jerash, Baalbek, Athens.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/4 1953
Middle East Tour Photographs: Palestine [Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jerash, etc.]. Also Enlargements of other photographs.
Card album with photos stuck in
FOS 5/5 1953
Middle East Tour Photographs: Ravenna, Athens, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon.
Card album with photos stuck in
FOS 5/6 [1950s x 1960s]
Postcards from Gubbio, Piza. [Included but not listed are Post Cards of Westminster Abbey, London].
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/7 [1950s x 1960s]
Postcards from Rome, Pompeii, Venice, Ravenna.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/8 [1950s x 1960s]
Postcards from Paris, Rome, Orvieto, Florence and Siena.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/9 [1950s x 1960s]
Postcards from Siena, San Gimignano, Cortona, Ravenna, Venice, Torcello, Murano, Grado, Aquileia, Portogruaro.
Card album with cards stuck in
FOS 5/10 [1950s x 1960s]
Box comprising loose postcards which were scattered among the boxes and had not been allocated to any specific place by Foster. Many of these were postcards sent to Foster from friends who were on holiday.
Postcards
MiscellaneousFOS 6/1 [1950s x 1960s]
A range of negatives. Some of the negatives are photocopies of full books, others are the negatives for the lantern slides.
Negatives
FOS 6/2 [1950s x 1960s]
Some negatives but primarily postcards and photographs from travels which Foster undertook also includes a Map of Jerusalem from 1952 which must relate to his 1953 visit there.
Postcards, photographs & negatives
AdditionalFOS 7 [1950s - 1960s]
Additional material (guide books, maps and postcards) given by A.I. Doyle
1. Guidebooks and maps of Italy.
2. Guidebooks and maps of mainly Spain, with also some for France, Belgium and the Holy Land.
3. Postcards for Spain and the Holy Land.
4. Postcards for Italy, France and Belgium.
