Gilbert: Historical and Municipal Documents of Ireland

Gilbert, J.T. Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, 1172-1320: From the Archives of the City of Dublin. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1870.

Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, A.D. 1172–1320, from the Archives of the City of Dublin , was published in 1870. It contains muniments from the Dublin Corporation, dating back to the 12th century, which he had been requested to inspect in 1865. As Gilbert notes in the preface, it is the first collection published of original and unabbreviated Latin and French texts connected with the civil history of Ireland of the period over which it extends.

Gilbert, J.T. Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, 1172-1320: From the Archives of the City of Dublin. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1870.

Gilbert, J.T. Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, 1172-1320: From the Archives of the City of Dublin. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1870.

Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, A.D. 1172–1320, from the Archives of the City of Dublin , was published in 1870. It contains muniments from the Dublin Corporation, dating back to the 12th century, which he had been requested to inspect in 1865. As Gilbert notes in the preface, it is the first collection published of original and unabbreviated Latin and French texts connected with the civil history of Ireland of the period over which it extends.

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John Thomas Gilbert (1829–98) was born in Dublin. He was raised Catholic, being educated at St Vincent's seminary, Usher's Quay and at Prior Park College, Bath. He worked for several years in the family business, importing cider and wines from Devon and the Continent. However, his true calling was as a historian, librarian and archivist.

From 1951 he became a founding member and editor of the Irish Quarterly Review, to which he contributed numerous articles and reviews. It was the publication of his History of the City of Dublin (1854–9) that helped secure his reputation as a scholar and historian. The publication also contributed to his election to the Royal Irish Academy in 1855 where he became librarian, as well as serving on the committee of antiquities. 

He campaigned at great length for the publication of Irish records, while highlighting the improper way in which the records were being catalogues and housed. His call for a centralised location to house public records was answered in 1867 with the formation of the Public Records Office.

Gilbert published numerous works on Irish history and records throughout his lifetime with his papers currently being held at the National Library of Ireland, Dublin City Library and Archive, and the Royal Irish Academy. The Gilbert Library is housed in the Dublin City Library and Archive.

Historic and Municipal Documents of Ireland, A.D. 1172–1320, from the Archives of the City of Dublin , was published in 1870. It contains muniments from the Dublin Corporation, dating back to the 12^th century, which he had been requested to inspect in 1865. As Gilbert notes in the preface, it is the first collection published of original and unabbreviated Latin and French texts connected with the civil history of Ireland of the period over which it extends.