The Library

The Heraldic Institute Library consists of books, documents and ephemera from historic bequests and donations from current Fellows and the public.

The first major donation to the Heraldic Institute was made before the Institute was even properly conceived of. During his lifetime the late Cpt Barrie Harcourt Kent RN donated the heraldic portion of his library for the use of the public. Cpt Kent compiled the indexes for the Heraldry Society, so we are pleased to have a complete set of "The Coat of Arms", which he bound himself in leather.

This was in 2007 and since then the collection has grown. The former American Air Force librarian and bibliophile collector Frank Gadbois contributed several precious leather-bound volumes to the collection over the years.

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Most recently the heraldic books of the late Cpt Edward George Lawrence KStJ were incorporated into the library, marking the most significant contribution to the collection to date, including specialist items pertaining to the Order of St John and its sister organisations.

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The library continues to grow slowly, but surely from contributions from the general public and the Fellowship. Many authors have been generous enough to donate their work to us, for which we are most grateful.