Axed Root Library

A collection of locally-owned or available resources for a variety of Medieval and Renaissance topics. Resources are listed with call numbers for Ames Public Library (APL) or Iowa State University Libraries (ISU), if they are available. If members of the populace own a copy, those people are listed in the last column (if they choose to be listed publicly).

TitleAuthorPublisher/DateDescriptionAPLISU Members who own a copy
Dress in the Middle AgesF. Piponnier & P. Mane; translated by C. BeamishYale Univ. Press, 1997GT575 P5613 1997
Tudor TailorN. Mikhaila & J. Malcom-DaviesCostume & Fashion Press, 2006Well-researched, illustrated guide to creating authentic 16th C. costume.391 MIK 2006GT734 M55x 2006
The Medieval Tailor's Assistant: making common garments, 1200-1500S. ThursfieldCostume & Fashion Press, 2001good illustrations of who wore which garments and whenGT575 T58x 2001
Velvet: history, techniques, fashionF. de' Marinis, ed. ; English translation A. ShugaarIdea Books, 1994NK8906 V4513 1994b
Dress in Anglo-Saxon England, rev. ed.Gail Owen-CrockerBoydell Press, 2004GT372 O94 2004
Medieval Dress & FashionMargaret ScottBritish Library, 2007Illustrations from manuscripts in the British Library collection; text covers years circa 840 to 1570 C.E.GT575 S36x 2007
Visual history of costume: the 16th CenturyJane AshelfordBatsford, 1983part of a series391 ASH 1983GT733 V57 1983 v.
Hispanic Costume: 1480-1530Ruth Matilda AndersonThe Hispanic Society of America, 1979*THE* book about late(ish) period Spanish garb.
Medieval Clothing and Textiles, vol. 1-7G. Owen-Crocker & R. Netherton, eds.Boydell Press, 2005-published annually; 8-10 articles on various topics; interesting info not covered elsewhereGT575 M4354x
History of costume: from the ancient Egyptians to the 20th centuryBlanche PayneHarper & Row, 1965Ch. 6-13 deal with the SCA period.391 PAYGT510 P292h
Dressing Renaissance Florence : families, fortunes, and fine clothingCarole Collier FrickJohns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2002Cultural background, historical detail; no patterns.TT496 I82 F574 2002
Visual history of costume: the 14th & 15th CenturiesMargaret ScottBatsford, 19861st volume of a 6-volume series391 SCO 1986GT733 V57 1983 v.0
Hooked-clasps & eyesBrian ReadPortcullis Publishing, 2008Catalog of metal finds from archaeological sites in England from the Roman period to post-medieval; amazing detail and variety. Hooks, eyes, loops, rings, toggles; good source for metal-workers as well as costumers.GT2280 .R43x 2008
Medieval calendar yearB. A. HenischPenn. State Univ. Press, 1999
In Public and in Private: Elizabeth I and her WorldSusan WatkinsThames and Hudson, 1998U.S. title: Public and Private Worlds of Elizabeth I920 Elizabeth I c.1998DA355 .W34 1998
Books of hoursJanet BackhouseBritish Library, 1985
Daily life in the Byzantine EmpireMarcus RautmanGreenwood Press, 2006If you have an Eastern Mediterranean persona, this is the book for you.DF521 .R37 2006
Masters and servants in Tudor EnglandAlison SimSutton Publishing, 2006DA320 .S556x 2006
Inside the Renaissance houseElizabeth CurrieV & A Publications, 2006Interior design in 15th/16th century ItalyNK2052 .C87x 2006
To be a pilgrim: the medieval pilgrimage experienceSarah HopperSutton Publishing, 2002Nice blend of research with popular writing; explains the importance of medieval pilgrimages, in terms that 21st century readers can understand.BR747 H67x 2002
Pleasures and pastimes in medieval EnglandC. ReevesAlan Sutton Publishing Limited, 1995DA185 .R44x 1995
Artifice of Beauty: a history and practical guide to perfumes and cosmeticsSally PointerSutton Publishing, 2005Exactly what the subtitle says. An excellent, and often overlooked, book. Highly recommended.GT499 .P65x 2005
Gardens of New Spain: how Mediterranean plants and foods changed AmericaWilliam W. DunmireUniv. of Texas Press, 2004Good description of agriculture in Spain circa 1492.S451.7 D86 2004
Medieval panoramaedited by Robert BartlettJ. Paul Getty Museum, 2001maybe 100 pages of text & over 200 pages of color pictures, timeline and maps -- awesome!D117 .M42x 2001
Daily life in the Middle AgesPaul B. NewmanMcFarland, 2001A little of everything; not enough pictures but plenty of useful info.CB353 N46 2001
Atlas of medieval EuropeDonald MatthewFacts on File, 1983extensive text uses maps to explain political developments, growth of towns, art & industry, etc.911.4 MAT 1983G1791 M3 1983b
Daily life in Chaucer's EnglandJ. L. Singman & W. McLeanGreenwood Press, 1995Everything you need to create a 14th century persona.DA185 .S48 1995
Daily life in Elizabethan EnglandJeffrey L. SingmanGreenwood Press, 1995Everything you need to create an Elizabethan persona.DA320 S56 1995
Books, banks, buttons: and other inventions from the Middle AgesChiara FrugoniColumbia Univ. Press, 2003Lighthearted look at everyday items such as eyeglasses, playing cards, forks, etc. Lots of color illustrations.T17 .F7713 2003
Arms and armor: the Cleveland Museum of ArtStephen N. FliegelThe Cleveland Museum of Art, 2007355.8 FLI 2008
Treasures from the Tower of London: an exhibition of arms and armourA.V.B. Norman & G.M. WilsonLund Humphries, 1982Catalogue of a museum exhibition. Check the dates! because it has more than medieval & Renaissance examples.U804 .G72 L65 1982b
Medieval cuisine of the Islamic world: a concise history with 174 recipesLilia ZaoualiUniv. of California Press, 2007TX725 .A65 Z3613 2007
To the King's taste: Richard II's book of feasts and recipes; adapted for modern cookingLorna J. SassMetropolitan Museum of Art, 1975.Good introduction; recipes mostly from the late 14th C.TX705 .S33
Original Mediterranean cuisine: medieval recipes for todayB. SantichChicago Review Press, 1995Easy to read text; easy to follow recipes.
The medieval cookB. A. HenischBoydell Press, 2009medieval cooks in the context of time... how they functioned... and the expectations which faced them in different social settings""
Art, culture, and cuisine: ancient and medieval gastronomyP. P. BoberUniv. of Chicago Press, 1999See ch. 7 "Early Middle Ages" & ch. 8 "Late Gothic International Style"TX637 .B58 1999
Food in medieval timesM. W. AdamsonGreenwood Press, 2004Great "timeline"; tons of info.TX641 .A33 2004
Anglo-Saxon food and drinkAnn HagenAnglo-Saxon Books, 2006The "Bible" for this subject; everything you didn't know you needed to ask (but no recipes).GT2853 .G7 H332x 2006
Food and drink in Anglo-Saxon EnglandDebby BanhamTempus, 2004Describes available foodstuffs and methods of cooking; no recipes.GT2853 .G7 B36 2003
Tudor cookery: recipes & history (revised edition)Peter BrearsEnglish Heritage, 2003
Food, wine & song: music and feasting in Renaissance Europe[sung by] The Orlando Consortharmonia mundi, 2001CD with recipes included in the extensive liner notes; listen to the music while you cook!
The Modern Maker Vol. 1: Men's DoubletsM. GnagyMathew Gnagy, 2014Giovanni Loredan
The Modern Maker Vol. 2: Pattern Manual 1580-1640M. GnagyMathew Gnagy, 2018Giovanni Loredan