Morgan Library Awarded $2.5m to Make Historic Manuscripts Accessible

The Morgan Library & Museum has received a $2.5m grant from the Lilly Endowment's Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative to support The Morgan Illuminated, a major project that will expand access to the Morgan's collection of medieval and Renaissance religious manuscripts through a new digital portal, educational resources, and public programming.

Hosted on the Morgan’s website, The Morgan Illuminated will provide free, cover-to-cover access to hundreds of the collection’s most significant illuminated manuscripts through a searchable digital portal, scheduled to launch in 2029.

In addition to high-resolution images and search tools, the platform will feature educational resources and interpretive content exploring these manuscripts and the role of religion in shaping history, art, and culture.

“This project reflects the Morgan's commitment to making its extraordinary collections accessible to all, while creating meaningful opportunities for audiences to engage with the ideas, beliefs, and artistic achievements that have shaped our shared history,” said Colin B. Bailey, Katharine J. Rayner Director. “Long a priority of the Department of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, we are deeply grateful to the Lilly Endowment for its generous support that makes this vision a reality.”

The Morgan’s collection of medieval and Renaissance manuscripts is among the most significant in the world, spanning nearly 10 centuries and comprising more than 1,300 manuscripts and 300 papyri. Through The Morgan Illuminated, approximately 300 of the collection’s most important religious manuscripts representing roughly 120,000 pages will be digitized following a comprehensive process of conservation, photography, metadata creation, and digital preservation.

Beyond expanding digital access, the project will ensure the long-term preservation of these works, enabling broader and safer physical access for generations to come.