Thomas Bewick  

There are several places to go to start your research on Thomas Bewick:

• UM Library Catalog - Information on how to search the University of Maryland library catalog for materials by or about Thomas Bewick.

• Bibliography - An complete guide to the Bewick Manuscripts in the Rare Books Collection in Hornbake Library.

• Suggested Titles - A selection of books from the University of Maryland Libraries, written by, about, or featuring the artwork of Bewick.

• Additional Resources - A list of online resources and digitized collections relating to Thomas Bewick.

Welcome to the University of Maryland College Park Reference Guide for Thomas Bewick. This website will serve as an introduction to the many Bewick works and resources in Special Collections at the University of Maryland, as well as providing biographical information and links to outside resources.

Thomas Bewick (b. August 12, 1753 - d. November 8, 1828) was an English wood engraver and ornithologist.

A General History of Quadrupeds appeared in 1790 and Bewick's greatest achievement, the History of British Birds, was published from 1797-1804 in two separate volumes, "Land Birds" and "Water Birds", with a supplement in 1821. The Quadrupeds is an encyclopedia of mammals from around the world and has particularly detailed entries regarding domestic creatures. The Birds is specific to those species indigenous to Britain and is incredibly accurate due to Bewick's personal knowledge of the habits of birds in the wild acquired during his frequent bird-watching expeditions. Bewick's autobiography, Memoirs of Thomas Bewick, by Himself, appeared in 1862.

Bewick's woodcarvings are considered a pinnacle example of the medium. Bewick, unlike his predecessors and contemporaries, would carve in harder woods, against the grain, using fine tools normally favored by metal engravers. This technique proved to be far superior, and has been the most prevalent method used since.

There are more than 65 titles in the University of Maryland's Libraries Collection written by, featuring the artwork of, or relating to Thomas Bewick, with a majority of them accessible through the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library.

For more about the life and works of Thomas Bewick, visit the Biography page of this guide.

The Maryland Room is located on the first floor of Hornbake Library and provides access to many of the University's Special Collections, including the Rare Books, Historical Manuscripts, and the Maryland Collection.

The Maryland Room is open to University of Maryland students, faculty, and staff; faculty, students, and staff from other colleges and universities; local, national, and international scholars; and members of the general public.

Materials accessed in the Maryland Room are only available to view in the reading room, and do not circulate.  For more information about policies for the Maryland Room, please visit the Using the Maryland Room website.

For directions, hours, and other information, please visit the Maryland Room homepage. 

Helpful links:

• Using the Maryland Room

• Duplication of Materials Policy
  

• Digitization Policy
  

• Use of Scanners and Cameras

• Research Using Primary Sources