When Father Oliver Kapsner, OSB, and his team came to Melk Abbey in late 1965, it was only the fifth library for HMML’s microfilming project, but it was the largest collection they had filmed thus far. In fact, the Melk collection doubled the size of HMML’s holdings at that time.

The Benedictine abbey, founded in 976, possesses a large manuscript collection which has fortunately survived three fires (1297, 1682, 1738). Its collection offers a broad and diverse range of materials, with manuscripts relating to all areas of research. While a few manuscripts date from the 9th to 11th centuries, the bulk of the microfilmed collection dates from the 12th to 16th centuries, including materials associated with the monastic school that flourished at Melk. Many of the later manuscripts reflect the relationship between the Abbey and faculty from the University of Vienna (founded in 1365). View now